Orthodox have relaxed the rules on remarriage after divorce. Catholics who remarry after a divorce are barred from Communion unless they abstain from sexual relations.
If it can be shown that the first “marriage” was invalid, they can remarry and receive Communion.
A lot of people don’t like this. The Church’s rules are just as tough on divorced and remarried, indeed more so, than anything Bishop Tobin has laid on Kennedy.
Granted, a lot of people defy the rules. But that’s on their heads, just as Patrick Kennedy’s defiance of his bishop is on his head.
You admit you only know Orthodox practice and you don’t like it. Why not find out first about what Catholic practice is before denouncing it?
Say what you will, the Catholic Church is the only Christian group even faintly trying to hold the line against the tidal wave of sexual license and culture of Death.
There’s plenty to fault the bishops for. They’ve screwed up badly over the last 40 years. But the scene among Protestants and even Orthodox (on remarriage, contraception, abortion) is worse.
I brought it up because Orthodoxy is much like Catholicism without a Pope.
The marriages I referred to were from divorces due to adultery and the adulterer went on to marry the one they had the affair with.
On the other hand, shouldn’t this be between God and Kennedy or the people I described above? I think when we get into the man made doctrines of denominations, something gets lost. I am sure Protestants will say that what the Bible says is the ultimate answer.
I do not want to start a firestorm as I am just bringing this up for simple debate. I do not want anyone to be offended.