VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis told journalists Sunday on board his flight to Rome that giving Communion to divorced and remarried Catholics is a “simplistic” solution to the issue, and stressed that there are also other problems that need to be discussed.
“(It) seems a bit simplistic to me to say that the synod, that the solution for these people is that they can receive Communion. That’s not the only solution (asked for).”
What the instrumentum laboris (working document) proposes “is a lot,” he said. “Also, the problem of the new unions of divorcees isn’t the only problem.”
“In the instrumentum laboris, there are many (problems to be addressed). For example, young people don’t get married. They don’t want to get married. It’s a pastoral problem for the Church. Another problem: the effective maturity for a marriage. Another problem: faith.”
Published June 23, the instrumentum laboris, has been compiled by the Vatican department in charge of organizing the synod to guide this October’s discussions.
Divided into three parts, it builds on the final report of last October’s synod, also incorporating suggestions from Church entities like bishops’ conferences and even individuals who freely sent their opinions.
The final document was reviewed by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith before its publication, according to a source familiar with the document.
Set to take place Oct. 4-25, this year’s ordinary synod will reflect on the theme “Jesus Christ reveals the mystery and vocation of the family” will gather more than 200 Bishops and representatives from all over the world. The conclusions of the gathering will be used by Pope Francis to draft his first Post-Synodal Exhortation, which can be expected in 2016.
In the document it is noted that various opinions have been expressed by synod fathers on the topic of communion for the divorced and remarried, including suggestions to keep the current practice.
Others have asked that each individual case be examined, and that couples in special circumstances be allowed to receive the Eucharist after completing a journey of penance and reconciliation guided by the local bishop.
The document emphasizes that the question is still being discussed, and that particular emphasis should be given to the distinction between “objective situations of sin and extenuating circumstances.”
Pope Francis spoke to journalists on board his American Airlines flight from Philadelphia to Rome after spending 10 days in Cuba and the United States.
In the 47-minute inflight news conference, Francis answered 11 questions on themes such as his impressions of the United States after completing his first visit, bishop’s accountability in cases of clerical sex abuse and the right of government employees to exercise conscientious objection as a human right.
The Pope’s comments on divorced and remarried were the answer to a question posed by journalist Jean Marie Guenois of French news agency Le Figaro.
Guenois asked the Pope whether he is looking for a solution to the situation of divorced and remarried Catholics, as well as his response to fears that his recent proposed reforms on streamlining marriage annulments have created a de facto “Catholic divorce,” and whether they have closed discussion on the topic.
In his response, Francis stressed that with these documents, issued “motu proprio” (on his own initiative), he has closed the administrative path that could have led to divorce.
“Those who think this is ‘Catholic divorce’ are wrong because this last document has closed the door to divorce by which it could have entered. It would have been easier with the administrative path,” he said.
“This document, this ‘motu proprio,’ facilitates the processes and the timing, but it is not divorce because marriage is indissoluble when it is a sacrament. And this the Church cannot change. It’s doctrine. It’s an indissoluble sacrament.”
On Sept. 8 Pope Francis made significant changes to the marriage nullification process, giving more of a role to local bishops, dropping the automatic appeals, and declaring the process free of charge.
The changes were published in two letters issued by the Pope — Mitis Iudex Dominus Iesus (The Lord Jesus, a Meek Judge), which deals with modifications in the Latin Rite’s Code of Canon Law, and Mitis et Misericors Iesus (Jesus, Meek and Merciful), which outlines changes for Eastern Churches who, although in full communion with Rome, have historically had a different process.
Francis noted that the streamlined process was asked for by last year’s synod participants, since there are some cases that take up to 10-15 years.
“There’s one sentence, then another sentence and after there’s an appeal, there’s the appeal then another appeal. It never ends,” he said.
Although Pope Benedict XIV instituted the double-sentence in his time, it was because there were “some abuses” being made in the process in central Europe, the Pope noted, and that to stop it “he introduced this but it’s not something essential to the process.”
“The procedure changes, jurisprudence changes, it gets better,” he said, noting that although at the time it was an urgent need, times change and even Pius X wanted to streamline the annulment process but didn’t “have time or the possibility to do it.”
On the topic of the coming synod, Pope Francis said that the issues surrounding divorced persons who enter into new marriages will be discussed, as can be seen in the instrumentum laboris for the discussion.
However, he also stressed that there are many others issues to be addressed besides just new unions and communion for the divorced and remarried, such as the growing number of youth who don’t want to marry, personal maturity when entering into the sacrament and faith.
Marriage preparation is also an important point to address, he said, adding that “I think so often that to become a priest there’s a preparation for eight years, and then, it’s not definite, the Church can take the clerical state away from you.”
“But, for something lifelong, they do four courses! Four times … something isn’t right. It’s something the synod has to deal with: how to do preparation for marriage. It’s one of the most difficult things.”
He said that the many problems needing attention can be found in the synod’s instrumentum laboris, but said he was glad to get a question on “Catholic divorce” and clarified that “it doesn’t exist.”
“Either it wasn’t a marriage, and this is nullity — it didn’t exist. And if it did, it’s indissoluble. This is clear.”
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I cope with the quote from Pope Francis: “One of the things that we need to remember is that we’re preaching Jesus, not the institutional Church.
It’s easy to get caught up in the rules and regulations of the institution
and forget that we are saved not by the Church but by the person of Jesus Christ or the Church as the body of Christ… and By Grace!”
-from Pope Francis and our Call to Joy
To my dying day I will miss the Mass and Communion and the church I grew up in; but despite what happened to me, I can still watch the Vatican Christmas Mass Celebration and my heart soars. I am fully accepted by the church I have joined and that is sufficient for me… it is “The Body of Jesus Christ and Grace.. that will still save me for eternal life.”
I can understand frustration with the amount of annulments and the amount of attention they are getting. Perhaps requirements are too lax, maybe they are not, it is not my place to judge, but my place to maintain the marriage and family that has been granted to me.
To belittle anyone who is dealing with an unfortunate event, such as a dysfunctional marriage, in our diabolic society does not seem charitable to me. If it can be annulled, so be it. If it is done with ill intent, God will sort it out in due time.
Irregular families do have a place in the parish, at mass, and with all that profess catholic values and try their best to uphold them. Believe me, as a Scoutmaster for a Pack Chartered by a Parish, it is difficult for families to join because they have an awkward feeling of not being welcome due to their situation not being ideal.
The last thing a family needs is bickering about cannon law and being ostracized because of it.
What does it take to declare an ordination null, that’s what I would like to know. It seems to me that sacrament didn’t take on more than a few. I think what goes around comes around, it’s about time we looked at that. Then maybe some prelates might just notice how crappy it is to have the sacrament of their vocation trivialized and see how it feels, because all this merciful marriage annulment stuff has a flip side, every annulment trivializes the existence of the sacrament in any enduring form. And the excuses to get annulments would allow St. Joseph to annul his marriage to the blessed virgin, regardless of her virginity, thus no marriage can withstand the low bar set for annulment theses days. So, let’s annul some ordinations for justice sake.
Okay, what (an apparent marriage) seemed to be, wasn’t. Canon Law, with all its principles, angles and stipulations is one thing, but when the “down in the trenches” sweatty Roman Catholic, USA citizens, not “up” on Canon Law, see 50% of their pew-fellows splitting and getting another swain and see/hear “No Roman Catholic Divorce,” can anyone blame them for &*%^$#+” and @!#$&%*&? Most of my Roman Catholic faithful buddies are fighting mad about abortion and ridiculing the Pope. Many of them are of the “Married, divorced (anulled), remarried” corps. Their non-Roman Catholic friends see/hear the “No Such Thing As Catholic Divorce” proclamation as well, and ponder the credibility of Jesus’ Church, and the “Are you for real” feeling it provokes.
Cecilia, if you were granted an annulment through the Catholic Marriage Tribunal you should be able to receive Holy Communion.
I know someone who was in a similar predicament through no fault of her’s - her husband abandoned the marriage. It took her 2 years, but she was patient and prayerful and God granted her the peace she enjoys today.
In gratitude, she devotes her time as a young mother, to volunteer in God’s service, at the church.
Please do not be bitter, and do not give up. The advice by Robin is good. Check with your bishop why this happened if you have already received a proper annulment.
Will keep you in prayer.
Cecelia, so sorry that things have worked out the way you described. If I am reading your post correctly it is difficult to understand how this happened after an annulment was granted… if a parish has done this to you and your family it should be taken up with the diocese.
Dear Cecilia, I am so sorry the people in your parish have been so ... words fail. According to what you have told us, you have no reason to be condemned, ostracized, ex-communicated; your first “marriage” was acknowledged to be non-existent when you get the annulment confirmed, so you are perfectly free to marry in the sight of God. If the people of your local church (small “c”) did not understand that it was an annulment, not a divorce, then could you not go to a different Catholic parish? You should not be without the Eucharist, and no other “church” community has Christ present, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.
Please, come back.
I was married in 1964, attended the Pre-Cana classes, entered the marriage with the Papal Blessing bestowed. I was married 24 years when my husband decided we needed to get a divorce.. no counseling (he said it was me who needed the counseling not him!). Three children. I was very active in the church (coordinated a grief ministry for our parish before it was “fashionable”), met all the military wife commitments, raised our children as Catholics, went for counseling, even applied for the annulment. The church granted the annulment. The church has done nothing for me… a faithful Catholic, baptized as an infant and devoted to my faith. It ostracized me. I was a Eucharistic Minister! What a joke. It broke my heart and my spirit to have my faith stand against me. I will miss going to mass every day of my life, and receiving holy communion, which I use to do on a daily basis. I had to “reinvent myself” because my faith was there to condemn me for what happened beyond my choice or control despite the fact that my husband had no strong faith or obligation to the church even though he was born and raised Catholic. Because of this I go to another church, and been accepted by them. I am not barred from communion. My beliefs will never change.. I am very Catholic in every part of my life, but the Church standing and condemning me is wrong. Do you stone and kill the innocent.. my church did that to me. I have a new life now. I remarried, I am happy, my children all grew up to be faithful believers of Jesus and God and none stayed with the Catholic Church. The church’s stand on divorce and communion are wrong. You (The Church) who judge the innocent but protect the perverted is backward. I know my God will Not condemn me as the Catholic Church has. God has lead me to a happier life, blessed me every day, and I live in His love, not the voices of the manmade laws and condemnation of The Catholic Church. What you are doing to the truly faithful Catholic is criminal.
Some good comments here. My husband and I have been married almost 53 years. Life presented many difficult challenges, but because of our faith and the morals we were taught by our parents, we worked through the ups and downs successfully.
Now, our grandkids value the sacrifices we made to honor our spousal commitments through thick and thin. It also set a good precedent for their parents, and now for them.
We thank God for our faith and the good old days for the traditional values we were raised with, when right was right and wrong was wrong, and there was no such thing as “50 shades of grey” !
aptak, roger that. This summer my wife and I will be married 20 years. Without question marriage has been the most difficult challenge in life I have taken on. NB I am a combat vet and have 5 children. Without question the church is going through tough times, and they will only get tougher. Manipulating annulments in the hope that mass attendance will increase is not the right path IMO. We do need to deal with irregular families better, I grew up in one. It was not until God’s grace led me to a traditional chapel that provided me with the resources to learn our beautiful catechism which brought me back into the fold when I was 25. To me, I would prefer that modernism be abandoned and re-institute traditional Catholicism. Slowly, but surely, parish life would return, men would come back to mass, families would grow, etc… It did work for several centuries.
Having been married for almost 30 years, I can say that it has been difficult and we were ready to give it up several times throughout that period. We continue to struggle. What keeps me going is that I made a commitment in front of God that I would assist my wife to get to heaven. If it were not for this gut wrenching commitment, I would have left long time ago. Now knowing that the new criteria for an annulment includes ‘lack of faith,’ which can easily be manipulated to mean just about anything, I predict that many marriages will fall apart with this new easy out. The new ‘lack of faith’ reason is to annulments what ‘irreconcilable differences’ is to civil divorces. Thus, this is ‘catholic divorce,’ plain and simple.
Schmenz, I tend to believe annulments are granted too often. Not being an expert I also tend to believe that the evidence provided may be biased and perhaps stretched to accommodate ones goals. If that is true it is reasonable to me that an annulment would be granted and the parties involved will deal with the facts when the time comes…
Well, if it “doesn’t exist” the Church, at least in the US, has been giving a pretty good imitation of it for the past 60-70 years. And I’m very much afraid that the Pope’s new rules, somewhat autocratically promulgated, will make a bad situation far worse.
God does not bestow mercy without repentance: contrition and an intention to permanently give up and set aside sinful behaviours.
Talk of mercy for unrepentant sinners is the stuff of wolves in sheep’s clothing, and merely adds to the torturous passion of our Lord Jesus Christ.
John the baptist was beheaded for pointing out the truth about marriage and the nature of King Herod’s adulterous union with a married woman.
In a nutshell the gospel faith boils down to: “repent and believe in the Gospel.” Not: we’ll meet you where you are and you’ll get mercy despite being a shamelessly unrepentant sinner. Sure we’ll meet you and be compassionate, but if we’re true to the Gospel, we’ll make you feel uncomfortable by outlining the truth about sin and its ultimate effects, but hopefully our eyes will also be opened to living a life in the grace of God, doing the will of God, so that life is lived abundantly and to the full, with a view of heaven on the horizon. In the end, the the truth is merciful, not some half baked hippy mantra about “free love and free mercy to the shameless”
If divorce “doesn’t exist” in Catholicism how can it not be “forgiven” Bob Kelly?
What you are asking for is adultery to be forgiven within a valid marriage.
Bob Kelly, you do not know the teachings of the Catholic Church regarding:
DIVORCE = CCC # 2382 - 2386 which allows the divorced to receive the Sacraments;
and
Those who choose to continue having a sexual relationship with the valid spouse of another (adultery)- Civil Divorce with Civil REMARRIAGE. = CCC # 1648 -1651.
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Why did the Pope appoint Cardinal Kasper and Danneels and other heretics to the Oct 4, 2015 Synod of Bishops ?
They openly support Sacrilege against the Body and Blood of Our Lord - Holy Communion for those who choose to CONTINUE living in Mortal Sin.
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One cannot separate Doctrine of the Faith - - - from pastoral, charitable and merciful practices.
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Parents and children need protection from all sides.
Catholic Divorce ‘Doesn’t Exist,’ Pope Francis Says on Return Flight From US (7846
My question is why did Pope Francis approve and support Cardinals Kasper and Baldisseri? See below-Does Pope Francis support the Kasper proposal?
https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/does-pope-francis-support-the-kasper-proposal-what-really-happened-at-the-s
My understanding of “approval” is that you support the initiative.
This pope is constantly contradicting himself.
In the U.S., annulments may be easy (though my personal experience does not support this claim—one annulment in my acquaintance dragged on over a year with a very thorough investigation, despite the fact that the man seeking the annulment had been Muslim at the time of his first attempt at marriage, and the woman was a Protestant who did not attend any church). but other countries have much longer procedures, and truly were in need of reform. Ten years?!?
Marriage is a calling by God. He has created one person in all the world to whom we are be joined in His sight. It really is miraculous that so many of us DO find our vocation.
But IF (and this is a big “if”) the media correctly reported that Pope Francis said most marriages are not valid (after all these times the media falsified their reporting), then perhaps he was thinking the difficulties the ministers of this particular sacrament (the couple themselves, unlike any other sacrament, whose minister is the priest or bishop) have in discerning the will of God, when so many of us do not even go to Church or consult Him in prayer.
(But I think it is likely that the media got it wrong. Again. They do that so well.)
Divorce from a bad marriage remains the only sin that cannot be forgiven, according the the Church. It’s sad we can’t let people who made a mistake in choosing the wrong partner try again to have a holy, happy marriage.
Then why is P.Francis supporting cardinals Kasper and Baldisseri? See-Does Pope Francis support the Kasper proposal?
Excerpt - The next day Pope Francis praised Kasper’s address in very strong terms. He said:
Yesterday, before falling asleep, though not to fall asleep I read, or re-read, Cardinal Kasper’s remarks. I would like to thank him because I found a deep theology; and serene thoughts in theology. It is nice to read serene theology. It did me well and I had an idea; and excuse me if I embarrass Your Eminence, but the idea is: this is called doing theology while kneeling. Thank you. Thank you.
When Kasper’s address was published in book form less than a month later these words of the pope appeared as an endorsement on the back cover.
Read more at:
https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/does-pope-francis-support-the-kasper-proposal-what-really-happened-at-the-s
Thank goodness! Finally some real clarifying statements that make the Press sit up and take notice. Good for the Holy Father! He has probably broken a lot of hearts with this conference, but Good For Him! He also said today that he is the Servant of the Servants of God and NOT A STAR! I hope that all the hype that has been floating around about dissident clergy and Bishops will be revealed as Spin. though I know that there is so much difficulty today with the lack of real catechetics around Family and Marriage and Sacrament! It is a good time to be alive in the Church today. Again we are living in a moment of great focus and challenge! Many of us want the Holy Card vision of the Church with lots of emphasis on the Supernatural and the Glorious. I know I do, but we live in an incarnated Church, a church who is the Body of Christ, and as such we have to live out the reality of the angst of the Apostles. We fight, we jostle and we contend for our position at the Table of the Lord! But it is a good thing that our God has a sense of humour! But today our dear Holy Father laid to rest the fears of many by speaking out and clarifying the task of the Synod. Are we going to understand everything that was talked about? I doubt it; we will feel frustrated and perplexed… but we must not be like the “Many heard what He had to say and no longer walked with Him!” O Lord, God of our Hearts and Minds and Bodies, grant us the grace to persevere in this beautiful Faith you have given us through no merit of our own! Help us to listen in Patience and prayerful Resignation to the teachings of our church leaders and my they also have the Patience and Perseverance to remain faithful and truthful. Though Christ Jesus our Lord! Amen. That’s my prayer. God bless us everyone!
Post Script: Better if cultural Catholics sought out marriage in another church due to our stringent requirements, than to marry too casually in our Church. As Catholics marrying outside of the Church, an annulment would be easier to obtain and there is a good chance they will seek it. Even a marriage through a Justice of the Peace would be preferable if the relationship is not likely to last. If they make it work and want to come into the Church later for baptisms and Sunday participation, they can convalidate the marriage and fully participate. The Church has used the Sacrament of Marriage as a gateway into practicing a more mature faith, but it doesn’t always work that way. Often they just want the wedding in a pretty setting and want Grandma to attend. That isn’t a good enough reason to give it to them. The priest really needs permission to turn them down.
Twenty years ago, our church took marriage preparation very seriously. Back then our parish asked married couples to assist the priests in marriage prep. The engaged couple would meet with the married couple 8 X and the priest 8 X in addition to a mandatory engage encounter. There was a workbook to go through, discussions, and natural family planning with a separate class/counselor. The married couple had to write a letter to the priest about the issues they thought might arise in the engaged couple’s relationship and so on. I don’t see the same serious steps taken today, even in good dioceses. Interfaith couples fly through their prep with no mention of the issues or questions on their intentions. No one seems to bring up the problems that might arise, especially if one parent is going to bring the children up alone in the faith. Baptisms or required dispensations all seem to be a thing of the past. Couples are transferred to new priests with no background in working with them and expected to marry them in a month or two. It’s really quite irresponsible! This is supposed to be for life, yet everyone is being pressured to go along and get along. What is a new priest supposed to do when he has been handed a task he is uneasy in carrying out and all the deposits are nonrefundable. Ridiculous! We need to take marriage more seriously. The consequences are very serious.
Amen! that being said ,,, why are we still talking about it?
This is good, I just told my boys: 9,11, and 14 a few nights ago that church does not recognize divorce.
Instead of calling it divorce, we are just going to pretend that no marriage is valid if the petitioner does not believe it was valid.
The effect will indeed be “Catholic divorce”. This is what has already happened in the United States. I have never heard of anyone’s request for an annulment being denied. Oh, I am sure there are a few cases but I would like to see the stats. I bet close to 90% are granted.
The Pope has already taken the lead by speculating that half of all marriages aren’t real anyway. He is trying to be merciful, but in the end we will see that these motu proprio will do more to undermine marriage than just about anything that has been thrown at us by the secualar culture.
I hope Pope Francis is this clear on marriage - with some of those he personally appointed to the 2015 Oct., Synod - like Kasper, Marx, Cupich, etc.
And then excommunicates them if they play the - pastoral, merciful, charitable card - which merely permits those choosing to continue in a sinful lifestyle to commit Sacrilege.
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Why should young people want to get married, when most Diocese Bishops and their Priests - do not teach about fornication; homosexual acts, or adultery - continuing a sexual relationship with the valid spouse of another, or contraception?
Ignoring Sexual Immorality, pornography, etc., does not make them go away.
And destroys the moral fabric of the true family.
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If Bishops place most of the blame upon themselves, their Seminaries, and their Priests for the lack of education of the laity - and do something about it - then the Synod can be a success.
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When I got married, it was more than four courses. There was PreCana, the test, then the counseling for 6 or 8 weeks after that. At the second to last session, the priest said that he was satisified we were ready.
I can see why some of the youth my hesitate to marry these days. They see their parents divorce and then get an easy annulment and marry someone else. Why would they want to get married when they just witnessed the destruction of their own family by their parents marriage.
I’m glad Pope Francis at least made clear that it is either a marriage or it isn’t, because right now, the ease of getting an annulment makes it look a lot like “Catholic divorce.”
I’ve been asking this question and can’t get an answer…......if a huge percentage of marriages are not valid then are a huge number of Baptisms, Confessions, Eucharists, Anointing, and Holy Orders NOT valid?
For a Church that has as one of it’s main missions to administer the Sacraments we sure seem to be a failure at it if so many marriages are invalid.
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