Cardinal Francesco Coccopalmerio, one of the most prominent defenders of Communion for the remarried, has said that his proposed guidance would apply to the divorced and remarried, but not to gay couples. He explained: “It’s not a natural condition”. Cardinal Coccopalmerio, president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, said last week that divorced and remarried couples could take Communion if they found it “impossible” to avoid sex. The Church has taught that the remarried cannot receive Communion, except possibly when they endeavour to live “in complete continence”. Cardinal Coccopalmerio’s critics said he had contradicted this doctrine, as well as...