In January, America published an article I wrote on the theme of inclusion in the life of the church. Since that time, the positions I presented have received both substantial support and significant opposition. The majority of those criticizing my article focused on its treatment of the exclusion of those who are divorced and remarried Read more
US Cardinal Robert McElroy is a heretic, hints a US Catholic bishop in an essay called ‘Imagining a Heretical Cardinal’. In his ‘First Things’ magazine article, conservative prelate and canon lawyer Thomas Paprocki (pictured) cites an unnamed cardinal’s views on how the Church should minister to LGBTQ people and divorced and remarried Catholics. While he Read more
Mention the name of any religion and the first reaction of contemporary, western, first world and secular society people will be to ask about its content: what do they believe? The emphasis is, at once, on a list of ideas about the universe, human life, purpose and what, if anything, is beyond the universe. Once Read more
Cardinal George Pell has said the final report of the recent synod did not make an opening for the divorced and civilly remarried to receive Communion. Cardinal Pell said the text of the report has been “significantly misunderstood” and has no direct reference to the matter. Cardinal Pell said that “the discernment that is encouraged Read more
An American bishop says the current Church practice of denying Communion to divorced and civilly remarried Catholics is unacceptable. Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence, Rhode Island, said the challenge for the Church is to maintain and proclaim Jesus’ teaching about the indissolubility of marriage, while providing spiritual care for those who fall short of the Read more
Cardinal Walter Kasper’s proposals to allow Communion for remarried divorcees got a frosty reception from many of his fellow cardinals at a recent meeting That is according to an Italian journalist writing about the February consistory at the Vatican. In an article for the Turin daily, La Stampa, on March 24, Marco Tosatti wrote that Read more
Ministry to divorced and remarried Catholics was high on the agenda at a meeting of 150 cardinals from around the world. After a consistory on February 20-21, Vatican spokesman Fr Federico Lombardi said the cardinals’ discussions had focussed mainly on three topics. These were the Christian vision of people and family life, pastoral support for Read more
Over 172 German priests and deacons in the Archdiocese of Freiburg have openly stated they regularly give communion to divorced and remarried couples. “In our communities, remarried divorcees take communion and receive the sacraments of reconciliation and the anointing of the sick, with our approval,” the priests say on their website. Calling their actions a Read more