Free Republic

As the October meeting of the Synod of Bishops draws near, we’ll hear more and more about one question: Whether Catholics who are divorced and remarried should be allowed to receive the Eucharist. Clearly this is the question on the minds of reporters, the question being posed by liberal bishops, the question that agitates Catholics especially in the German-speaking countries. But this is not the question being asked by Pope Francis, or the question that was asked by Pope Benedict before him. Both Pontiffs spoke about the need to provide pastoral care for Catholics in these irregular unions. They both...

VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis on Thursday (Feb. 20) opened a major two-day meeting on the church’s approach to the complexities of modern family life, telling the world’s Catholic cardinals that the church needs a “pastoral” approach that is “intelligent, courageous and full of love” and not focused on abstract arguments. In brief introductory remarks released by the Vatican, Francis pushed the closed-door summit of about 150 cardinals to “deepen the theology of the family and discern the pastoral practices which our present situation requires.” He asked that they do so “thoughtfully” and by keeping the focus on “the beauty...

"It is fascinating to see how Pope Francis is encouraging, reviving and renewing the church. Our meeting with him was an excellent lesson on how to live the Gospel today," Cardinal Christoph Schönborn of Vienna said after a 90-minute audience with the pope during the Austrian bishops' "ad limina" visit to the Vatican in the last week of January. The Austrian bishops took the results of the recent Vatican questionnaire to Rome with them. Responses showed that 95 percent of those who had filled out the questionnaire in Austria were in favor of allowing divorced and remarried Catholics to receive...

Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CNS photo) Amid speculation that next year’s Synod of Bishops will discuss the possibility of allowing divorced and remarried Catholics to receive the Eucharist, the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has published a lengthy article arguing from Scripture and Church tradition that they cannot. The piece by Archbishop Gerhard Ludwig Müller was published in today’s edition of L’Osservatore Romano, and comes on the heels of the Vatican’s expressing disapproval of a move by the Archdiocese of Freiburg, Germany to allow...

The archdiocese of Freiburg recently signalled a willingness to allow remarried divorcées to receive communion. While far from revolutionary, the move reflects a desire to change doctrine long considered out of touch with reality. ... Catholic laity have long pressured the church to rethink its doctrine on several issues, and remarriage often lands near the top of the priority list. A dialogue with church leaders was praised on both sides, but there was no chance of real reform under Pope Benedict XVI and the conservative-dominated leadership of German Catholicism. But now discussion is brewing again in Freiburg, but this time...

This may seem like a round about way of dealing with this topic, and it does get your attention, but the scriptures are clear on this (adultery/marital unfaithfulness): Jesus said that a man would leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife, and the two would be one flesh. Jesus also said (Matthew chapter 5) that a man (or woman) may put away their mate for marital unfaithfulness and remarry. In light of this, since Jesus sanctioned the remarriage, and would not consider the former mate to be the man's wife any longer, this man can be a...

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The husband of a woman who disappeared in March is getting married this weekend, according to KKTV-TV. Deborah Ann Heriford, 51, has been missing since March 31. She was last seen walking her dog. The dog was found roaming by a business close to her house.

The fact-pattern: Christianity Today publishes an article entitled "When to Separate What God has Joined: A Closer Reading on the Bible on Divorce" which attempted to revise the biblical teaching on these questions so that it could be reconciled to the modern prevalence of divorce in secular societies well as Evangelical circles. David Van Biema covers the story for Time magazine, and it has become one of the most popular articles being read on the Internet. My take: A false assumption plagues this piece from the outset (all underlining mine): Last month, the cover story of the monthly Christianity...

Giuliani’s Catholic chameleon campaign Washington DC, Aug 10, 2007 / 10:51 am (CNA).- Presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani seems to want to have it both ways when it comes to being Catholic. As he campaigns for president, the Republican frontrunner brings up his Catholic background occasionally but refuses to say whether or not he is a practicing Catholic. When a voter asked this week if he is a ''traditional, practicing Roman Catholic,'' Giuliani insisted his faith should be private, according to the AP. ''My religious affiliation, my religious practices and the degree to which I am a good or not-so-good Catholic,...

Rudolph W. Giuliani's first inauguration as mayor here was a family affair. His 7-year-old son, Andrew, mugged for the cameras as Papa Rudy toasted his television hostess wife, Donna, as "my partner, my inspiration and my lover." Then daughter Caroline, 4, hid behind her hat as the couple kissed that Jan. 2, 1994. Thirteen years later, that familial unit is nowhere to be seen in the Giuliani presidential campaign. The once rambunctious Andrew, now a burly Duke sophomore, has indicated that he has no plans to stump for his father — he's too busy working on his golf game. Neither...

Divorce and remarriage have become common as civil law allows no-fault divorce. A husband or wife may dissolve a marriage for almost any grounds and remarry, regardless of the will of their spouse. The result is that many people marry without considering the teaching of the Bible. Is fornication (or adultery) the only Scriptural grounds for divorce, or does the gospel allow marriage to be dissolved for other grounds? Please consider this careful study of the Biblical teaching. Introduction: Many forces in society defend the practice of easy divorce. Divorce laws in America are so lax that almost anyone can...

by Fr. Jerome Magat Other Articles by Fr. Jerome Magat Marriage, in the Beginning 10/07/06 Of all the moral teachings that our Lord gave us during His time on earth, He was never more specific in His instruction than when He discussed marriage. The Pharisees tested Jesus on this particular teaching by referencing the law that permitted divorce which had been given to them through Moses. In order to fulfill the law, our blessed Lord both explains the rationale behind the concession that Moses made in regards to divorce and elevates our understanding of marriage by returning us to an original...

ROMA, July 25, 2006 – In the latest issue of “Teologia,” the journal of the Theological Faculty of Milan and Northern Italy, Alberto Bonandi proposes a new “path” for admitting to communion, under particular conditions, divorced and remarried Catholics. Bonandi, a priest of the diocese of Mantua, teaches fundamental moral theology and is one of the most authoritative theologians in his field. In 2003, he was among the main participants, together with cardinals Georges Cottier, Angelo Scola, Francis George, Camillo Ruini, and Joseph Ratzinger, at a conference organized in Rome by the Pontifical Lateran University on John Paul II’s encyclical...

Can I Divorce and Remarry? Question I am unhappily married and have several small children. My husband comes from an abusive background, and although he has not physically abused me or our children, he is extremely controlling and impossible to please. He has deeply wounded me emotionally, and I have kept it quiet to protect his reputation. Finally, I told him that I could not go on, and that I would be divorcing him. I did not file for divorce, but I was planning to. Sometime after this, I fell in love with another man and had an affair. This other...

From: milford@e... Date: Thu Aug 16, 2001 2:42 pm Subject: Some perspective on the Annulment Crisis Greetings! I am attaching the transcript of a thread initiated by one of our listmembers on another list, namely CDLEO, concerning annulments. Of particular interest to me, is how it illustrates the misleading nature of statistics, and the need to treat the illness, rather than the symptoms -- in this case, through better marriage preparation. Funny how some of the intellectual giants in the "orthodox" Catholic press never picked up on this. DLA '54 + + + From: pete_vere@y... Date: Fri Aug 10, 2001...

Mal. 2:16 For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously. Jesus told the woman at the well (John 4:18). John the Baptist told Herod (Matt. 14:4). Up until as recently as 50 years ago, divorce and remarriage was well acknowledged as adultery. What has changed? It hasn’t been the Word of God! The Word of God is quick and, sharper than a two-edged sword! Those who fear God and are led by...