Posted on 01/19/2017 4:48:12 PM PST by ebb tide
Bishop Mario Grech of Gozo, a Maltese island, has allegedly threatened priests that he will suspend them a divinis if they refuse Holy Communion to the divorced and civilly "remarried". The German website Katholisches reports that Bishop Mario Grech announced his decision to impose this canonical punishment immediately on returning from Rome. Bishop Mario Grech is the co-signatory with Archbishop Charles Scicluna of the document, "Criteria for the Application of Chapter VIII of Amoris Laetitia".
Archbishop Charles Scicluna and Bishop Mario Grech have instructed priests to allow the divorced and civilly "remarried", who are sexually active despite the existence of first marriage, to receive the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist if they believe, after a period of reflection, that they are at "peace with God":
If, as a result of the process of discernment, undertaken with humility, discretion and love for the Church and her teaching, in a sincere search for Gods will and a desire to make a more perfect response to it (AL 300), a separated or divorced person who is living in a new relationship manages, with an informed and enlightened conscience, to acknowledge and believe that he or she are at peace with God, he or she cannot be precluded from participating in the sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist (see AL, notes 336 and 351).
By allowing divorced and civilly "remarried" couples to be sexually active and to receive the sacrament of reconciliation and Holy Communion the bishops of Malta have abrogated binding magisterial documents of the Catholic Church, including the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 1650, Pope Benedict XVI, Sacramentum Caritatis, section 29 and Pope St John Paul II, Familaris Consortio, section 84.
Dr.Edward Peters, the respected canon lawyer and Referendary of the Holy See's Apostolic Signatura, wrote that in his considered opinion the Maltese bishops "have effectively invited the Catholics entrusted to them (lay faithful and clergy alike!) to commit a number of objectively gravely evil acts." Dr Peters spelled out the serious consequences for priests of their bishops' "disastrous" decision:
The Maltese bishops, by extending their document to the sacrament of Reconciliation, have basically instructed their priests not to withhold absolution from divorced-and-remarried Catholics who refuse to repent of their public and permanent adultery (CCC 2384) even to the point of abstaining from sexual (nb: sexual not conjugal) relations. Incredibly, such a directive raises the specter of green-lighting sacrilegious confessions and the commission of solicitation in confession. No priest should want either on his conscience, let alone both.
Comment
Bishop Mario Grech's alleged announcement that he will impose on priests the grave penalty of suspension a divinis for refusing to admit those in "public and permanent adultery" to Holy Communion has very serious implications. The suspension (a divinis) is a canonical penalty provided for by canon 1333. Such a suspension prohibits all or some acts of the powers of Holy Orders, such as celebrating Mass, hearing confession, and the power of governance, such as acting as a parish priest.
It would seem that priests in Gozo are now vulnerable to accusations from anyone that they are not implementing, "Criteria for the Application of Chapter VIII of Amoris Laetitia", with devasting consequences for their exercise of priestly ministry.
Maltese bishop threatens priests will be suspended a divinis for refusing communion to divorced/remarried
Ping
So, what happens now? Does Cardinal Burke bring these priests into his fold? I am certain the affected priests would be relieved to be relieved of their apostate bishop.
Pope Francis will do what? Stand there? Say absolutely nothing of correction? Of course. This is his baby. This is his goal. To split the Church is his aim.
Where is the College of Cardinals and what time do their planes land to gather for a correction of this “error” made ever so cheerfully and with “mercy” by this pope?
This is mockery of the highest order, of Christ’s Church.
a divinis suspension, are you kidding me??
You have posted many eye-openers, but THIS one takes the proverbial cake.
I must assume the Vatican is aware of this heresy, why don’t they act upon it?
It’s very much like 16th century England. Priests will have to choose between going along to get along and adhering to the Catholic faith. They can’t do both.
The fake Pope is starting to employ brass knuckle tactics?
Except in 16th century England the King was the heretic, not the pope and the hierarchy.
Holy....
Another psycho francis-prelate reports for duty.
“Bishop refuses to explain why he has not dismissed paedophile priest”
“Cardinal told of Bishop’s bullying nature”
True, but all but one of the English bishops and most of the rank-and-file priests went along with Henry and later Elizabeth. Those who didn’t go along chose recusancy, exile or, in some cases, death. Fortunately, that last choice is likely off the table, but unless the Vatican changes course, Maltese priests will be forced into sacrilege or exile or a sort of recusancy.
They are incardinated in Malta, they must stay there.
The comes from the junta leader himself, he wants God to do his will.
Whatever happened to dialog, to “mercy”?
Thank you for that information. So these priests are “suspended a divinis” means what? Fired and defrocked? Or suspended until they bow to Bael?
The Mercy basket was for non-Catholics, divorced and remarried without annulment to receive communion and accompaniment of the Gay and Lesbian.
The Mercy basket came unthreaded when it comes to the devout faithful, both priest and laity.
No Mass, no confessions, no Sacraments. This is a truly evil strong arm move. May God have Mercy on us.
False mercy bump.
When there are some bishops who say "no communion for the divorced and civilly remarried" while at the same time there are other bishops who say "the divorced and remarried may receive Communion" and attempt to enforce that policy with menaces, that is a situation of de facto schism. Two diametrically opposed, irreconcilable episcopal rulings on a matter of grave importance.
Since every bishop must, at some time or another, take a position on this matter, we will eventually be in a "two church" situation.
Seems no mercy for the faithful Sons of the Church.
Anyone else think that Pope Benedict is still the Pope? How can a Pope retire from the office he was appointed to by Christ himself?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.