Fantasywriter:
I think your analysis was pretty spot on, and done so without unnecessary polemics.
The Pope seems to trying to move the Catholic position on Holy Matrimony closer to what the Eastern Orthodox have. For some Catholics (not saying me) that is tantamount to moving Rome towards the East and Not Orthodoxy towards Rome.
I believe that the normative position should be that those who are civilly remarried and divorce should refrain from Communion. Could there be a chance that a person in such situation could receive Holy Communion, perhaps. Let’s say someone got married out of college, got divorced civilly and remarried in mid 30’s and are now say 70 years old and married to the “2nd spouse”, perhaps in that case yes.
The problem is that this could open the door for people to receive communion who really should not be.
I agree with your conclusion. Jesus’ teaching on marriage was a very difficult one. Even the disciples despaired when they realized how serious He was on the subject. For many, this message has been watered down. People get divorced and remarried without taking the eternal perspective into account. No church leader should contribute to this error.
We’re only on earth a matter of decades, but heaven and hell are forever. We need leaders who can help us to think in eternal terms. It would change many decisions, if people really understood that they would live forever with the consequences.
Under traditional Catholic teaching, how would this case be any more licit?