The Catholic Church is Christ’s instrument of salvation here
on Earth. It is the family of God,
working towards salvation, and calling others to join it, so all men can be
saved. It is a beautiful, holy thing.
Therefore, it is difficult when there is sin made manifest
within the Church. Most of us would
think of the scandal of the late 20th and early years of this
century with the child abuse by clergy, and the cover up of that abuse. Throughout her history, there have been
other manifestations of sin like forced conversions, and acceptance of slavery. Even though the good the Church does far surpasses,
not just in the natural order, but in the supernatural order, the evil that is
committed by her members, sin always is troubling because she has such a noble
vocation and mission.
In a sense, however, sin is easier to deal with than
division. For in sin, we unite and rebel against it. When there is division, who is right, and who
is not wrong is not as clear cut. In cases of division, some rebel, while some
do not, and thus, we become divided. Division in the body of Christ is contrary to its
call for unity from Christ himself. In the Apostle’s Creed,
which we say every Sunday at Mass, there is the line, “I believe in one holy, catholic, and apostolic
Church.”
Unfortunately today, there is division at the Church, and it
has reached the highest levels. Much has
been written about this controversy which you can find online. I will summarize it briefly here in what I
deem the salient points.
1) The
Holy Father Pope Francis wrote an encyclical on family life last year entitled Amoris Laetiti (The Joy of Love). It
is long winded at times, and does not have the most precise prose, but there is
a lot more to like about it than dislike.
It has a moving reflection on 1 Corinthians 13, the famous passage read
at many a wedding, “Love is patient, love is kind...” etc. It reiterates Church teaching on marriage and
the family, and reiterates her opposition to abortion, same sex marriage,
transgender ideology, and euthanasia.
2) One
chapter, Chapter, 8, discusses ministering to families in challenging
situations. The following statement is written.
Because forms of
conditioning and mitigating factors, it is possible that in an objective
situation of sin – which may not be subjectively culpable, or fully such – a
person can be living in God’s grace, can love and can also grow in the life of
grace and charity, while receiving the Church’s help to this end. Then, the following footnote is written, and it is this
footnote that is causing all the tension today:
In certain cases,
this can include the help of the sacraments. … I would also point out that the
Eucharist ‘is not a prize for the perfect, but a powerful medicine and
nourishment for the weak.
3) This
footnote leaves open to interpretation the question of whether a person who is
divorced and remarried (without receiving an annulment) can receive
Communion. The footnote seems to imply
that that is a possibility, which is contrary to what the Church has always
taught. The Holy Father did not state
one way or the other directly, though.
4) Because
the Pope was not clear on the matter, four Cardinals submitted to him what is
called a “dubia” (Latin for doubts), asking clarification on this matter, as
well as to the matter of objective truth in general, and the role of conscience
in making moral decisions.
5) Initially,
the dubia was submitted to the Pope in private. The Holy Father did not respond to their
questions, so recently, they went public with it. This was over a month ago now since they
went public, and the Pope has still not responded. He has made many addresses since the Dubia
was presented to him back in June, but he has not acknowledged it.
6) Some
bishops have been saying it is possible for the divorced and remarried to
receive communion. Some have been saying
it is not. Guidelines vary from one Diocese to another. No clear direction has been
provided. The Pope is being asked for
it, and so far, does not seem to be giving it.
That is it in a nutshell.
Again, you can read more details by googling the encyclical and/or the
dubia.
Here are my thoughts:
1.
I do feel the Cardinals who presented the questions
that constituted the dubia should have solely focused on the divorced and
remarried issue, and not asked the broader questions about truth and
conscience in general. I do not think
that was called for, and perhaps that may be a reason why there are reports the
Holy Father is not happy with them.
2.
Having said that, for the good of the Church,
the Holy Father needs to respond.
3.
If I were him (and I am glad I am not), I would
say something like this. People who are divorced and remarried can
receive the Eucharist under the following conditions:
A) They
repent of remarrying without seeking an annulment.
B) They pledge to live as brother and sister,
with no sexual relations.
C) They pledge to seek an annulment if they
desire to have sexual relations again.
4.
Notice what they would not be required to do. They would not be required to move apart;
they could stay together for the sake of their new family. I think this solution can satisfy both sides
of this debate.
5.
This solution is what Charles Chaput, the well-respected
Archbishop of Philadelphia, has instituted in his Diocese. I think the Holy Father should make this the guideline
for the universal Church.
6.
If a couple does not repent of having remarried, or does not commit to living as brother and sister, at least until an
annulment is granted (which means they would have to seek one), then they cannot receive Communion.
7.
In those exceptional cases where a person was
compelled to remarry due to extreme financial or social reasons, they may not
be required to repent of the remarriage, but they must commit to avoiding
sexual relations, and seek an annulment, if they wish to have them again with
their new spouse.
In all this, Saint Joseph can be a
tremendous help. He is a family
man. Listen to these titles from the
litany to him: Spouse of the Mother of God, Chaste guardian of the virgin. Foster
father of the Son of God, Glory of home life. He is also a great help to
those seeking to live chastely, which those in irregular situations would need
to do for some time to get their marriage right with the Church. Listen to these titles from the litany: Joseph
most chaste, Joseph most strong, Joseph most faithful, Guardian of virgins.
For the Church, especially the
Holy Father, we pray:
Saint Joseph, protector of Holy
Church, pray for us.
