"The 1997 clause which you claim is unfairly restrictive is aimed at those Catholics whose marriages ended due to a mortal sin. "
Even if taken out of context, this clause is inaccurate, insensitive, and does not represent Catholic belief or teaching. It does not contribute to the salvation of souls.
Bruskiewicz screwed up badly on this one. It should be called to his attention by a Nebraska freeper.
For whatever reasons, as I clearly recall from the '50s, Catholics and other folks often treated the divorced and their families like dirt. I totally believe what has been said about this treatment by the folks on this thread.
I have run into too many officious clergy to doubt any of this.
Divorce was and still is a social stigma among my mother's generation and before. The scandal was not simply religious but societal. The truth is, there were plenty of non-sacramental marriages back then but no one dared do anything about it. People just had affairs and/or lived separate lives.