Posted on 10/20/2014 6:24:46 AM PDT by marshmallow
Speaking to reporters in Rome on October 16, Cardinal Reinhard Marx defended the interim report released by the Synod of Bishops and reiterated his early statement of support for a change in Church teaching regarding the reception of Communion by Catholics who are divorced and remarried.
"Saying that the doctrine will never change is a restrictive view of things," the cardinal told reporters at a Vatican press office briefing. Cardinal Marx, who is president of the German bishops’ conference, said that most of the country’s bishops backed the proposal by his fellow German, Cardinal Walter Kasper.
“We cannot change the Church,” Cardinal Marx said, “but we have not understood everything yet.” He stressed that the Church should serve all of the faith, not dividing them “into first class or second class or third class.”
The German cardinal said that in his own country, pastors must take special care to help Catholics who marry others who do not share their faith.
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicculture.org ...
Pardon me, but this was predicted to happen, over 2,000 years ago. That there will be a great falling out. The majority of the churches, in order to become part of the world, will deny the teachings of GOD. The remnants of the people that will keep the word of GOD will be declared “HERETICS” and will be hunted down and punished, severely.
PFL
Someone needs to look up "unchanging" in the dictionary.
Better yet, look it up in the Bible. Hebrews 13:8 to begin with. Any doctrine that suggests to change over the course of time is a false doctrine.
OK. Maybe this is slightly off topic, but as I have always understood it, in the RC Church, the sacraments convey some type of saving grace.
If this is the case, then a denial of communion would be the same as sentencing a man to hell. Is this an inaccurate statement?
If it is not, would somebody please explain what effect a denial of communion would have upon the sinner?
If is is, isn’t this a lot of power for God to give to mortal man?
I’m not trying to pick a fight here, but I have never been able to pin this answer down.
Thanks.
Honest questions are appreciated.
I have always understood it, in the RC Church, the sacraments convey some type of saving grace. If this is the case, then a denial of communion would be the same as sentencing a man to hell. Is this an inaccurate statement?
Excommunication is a denial of the Sacraments. The Sacraments are the normative and sure means of receiving grace, but not the only way, since God is not bound by the Sacraments.
According to the Catechism:
1463 Certain particularly grave sins incur excommunication, the most severe ecclesiastical penalty, which impedes the reception of the sacraments and the exercise of certain ecclesiastical acts, and for which absolution consequently cannot be granted, according to canon law, except by the Pope, the bishop of the place or priests authorized by them. In danger of death any priest, even if deprived of faculties for hearing confessions, can absolve from every sin and excommunication.The primary purpose is not to punish, but to make the impenitent sinner aware of the gravity of his sin and the risk to his salvation.
In effect, what the Church is saying to the person is, "You are engaging in objectively sinful activity, acts that are endangering your salvation. You will be welcomed back into the Church upon your repentence."
The Church cannot and does not claim to judge the state of the person's soul. However, the Church makes every effort to determine whether the person knows that his actions are sinful, that they contradict Church Teaching, and that he is freely engaging in such acts.
If it is not, would somebody please explain what effect a denial of communion would have upon the sinner?
Denial of the Eucharist would cut the person off from the normal and most sure means of receiving grace. ("If you do not eat my flesh and drink my blood, you have no life in you.")
Nevertheless, God always offers actual graces, working outside the Sacraments, to bring sinners to repentance.
If is is, isn’t this a lot of power for God to give to mortal man?
Peter and the Apostles were both given the power to "bind and loose." This was a rabbinical saying, meaning "to forbid by an indisputable authority, and to permit by an indisputable authority."
Explanation of Excommunication from the old Catholic Encyclopedia.
Hope that helps.
Actually, it does.
Thank you.
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