The pro-theologian emeritus of the pontifical household has questioned the appropriateness of the term “remarried divorcees” canonically and pastorally.
Cardinal Georges Cottier said in an interview with Jesuit journal La Civilta Catholica that the term is too generic and is applied in “fundamentally different situations”.
The Swiss Dominican described two very different cases which come under the “remarried divorcee” category.
One case is that of a person who has been abandoned by his or her spouse and who holds custody of their children.
This person meets someone who offers them help and security and the two marry.
The other case involves a married person with adolescent children who “meets a younger and brilliant individual”.
“They are carried away by passion, abandon their family, divorce and enter into a civil marriage” and “take part in parish life”.
“These are different cases,” Cardinal Cottier said.
The second one involves a “scandal”, while the first is linked to solitude, a difficulty in moving on, “vulnerability, need, including for companionship”.
“Generally, in every situation, justice requires certain important factors to be taken into account”: “The duty one has towards the abandoned spouse, who often remains faithful to their sacramental vows, the rights of the children born during the first and legitimate marriage”.
What is needed is “prudent judgement”, Cardinal Cottier stated.
“I believe that the solution to some problems should come from the prudent judgement of the bishop.
“I say this not without hesitation and doubt, seeing division between bishops.
“My claim refers first and foremost to certain situations where there is a big likelihood of the first marriage being null but it is difficult to provide canonical proof”.
“In rigorism there is an innate brutality that goes against the gentle way God has of guiding each person,” he added.
Cardinal Cottier said there are men and women who, “due to a negative judgement which was expressed in an impersonal and insensitive way, have felt a terrible rejection”.
“This is where confessors have a huge responsibility,” he said.
“Whenever they express a judgement and whatever this judgement is, it needs to be expressed and explained in a way that communicates the Church’s maternal concern.”
Sources
- Vatican Insider
- Image: Irish Catholic