Do you approve of the fact that divorced and remarried Catholics are

[hedgehog]

banned from Communion? If this rule is wrong, how can it be changed?

[FarLeftRage]

1. No... that did not stop my sister...

Not only does she receive Communion, she's also a Eucharistic minister in her church.

[hedgehog]

2. Good for her!

[demosincebirth]

3. Who enforces the rule? A priest telling me that I couldn't receive the Eucharist

I would go to a different parish.

[hedgehog]

4. The pastor of my parish sent out letters asking people to pledge money.

He sent out letters to people that started "Dear Fred and Wilma" when Wilma's been a widow for 3 years! Do you think he has any idea who his parishioners are, let alone their marital status?

[Matilda]

5. In our parish, regular churgoers who have divorced and remarried

can receive Communion.

I believe there is a rule that allows the parish priest discretion in this. Depending on the situation, he can
make the decision to allow receipt of Communion. It's a rule that came out of Vatican II, and I'm sure our
Archbishop wouldn't support it.

[Beer Snob-50]

6. late in getting to this but still....

this is a subject that jesus did address. divorced and remarried is the same as adultry. saying that , technically all catholics should not be receiving as we all have mortal sin on our souls (confession going is at a low). saying that jesus also died on the cross for our sins and we are forgiven because of this act.

[emdistortion]

8. However, the bible does mention widow status

A widow/er is open to remarry.

[hedgehog]

10. I'm not enough of a scholar to do more than speculate, but I have heard the injunction

was aimed at men divorcing their middle-aged wives to collect a trophy wife rather than at couples who mutually agree to divorce. It wouldn't surprise me; I don't think there is a sin out there that isn't older than the hills.

[emdistortion]

7. I'm divorced but was not married in the eyes of the Church.

I would like to marry a nice Catholic woman someday. I don't think my failed civil marriage would prevent me from having a Catholic wedding.

[rug]

9. Piece of cake. You can get an annullment as it is invalid in form.

Catholics must marry in the Church or it is not sacramenta. Just produce your bapyismal certificate and your marriage certificate when you're ready.

[hedgehog]

11. I was talking with someone the other day about this. We've come to accept

that women shouldn't be shackled to men who beat them. But what about the case of two good people who are bad for each other? Do we force people to live in daily pain just to keep things tidy? Life can get pretty messy sometimes.

[Matilda]

12. One of our priests - the youngest - spoke on this topic at Mass late last year.

He was of the opinion that Church policy on divorce is unnecessarily cruel and forces out many people who have a lot
to give to the Church. He was inclined to think that the Orthodox position - remarriage after a period of penance -
made a lot more sense, but whatever the answer, there had to be a better way than what we have now.

It's the only time I've ever known the congregation to applaud a homily.

[47of74]

13. I think of my maternal grandparents

Grandma married a guy - a Catholic - back in the early 40s who turned out to be a jerk. The marriage only lasted a couple years, but was long enough to produce a daughter. She then met Grandpa - a member of the UCC and they were married in 1943. She had all her other children with him. Since this was her second marriage they couldn't have it inside the church, it was instead in the rectory. This marriage lasted until his death in 1980. I'm guessing eventually she got it all cleared up with the church because the children were all raised Catholic, and she remained in the church herself for the rest of her life - she received communion just like the rest of us did.

[hedgehog]

14. I may have said this before upthread, but in the case of a woman

who remarries and has children in the second marriage, what do the bishops want her to do; abandon a good man and break up her children's home so she can take Communion?

This really bugs me for two reasons:

1. We had a very sanctimonious priest decide on his own to give all the married couples a blessing (maybe it was World Marriage Day?)He launched into this long talk all about how holy we were for staying married; then proceeded to tell widows and widowers that they, too should stand for his blessing, since they had remained faithful to death. That's when I stood up and demanded about where his blessing was for the many divorced people sitting there? He reprimanded me for interrupting Holy Worship and went on with his blessing. After Church, he said not a word to me, but several women came up to me in tears to thank me for speaking for them. IMO, a good marriage is a blessing, not something to be endured as so many priests seem to think. I am less worthy than many good men and women I know who went to the altar planning to be married for life only to have things go wrong. Sometimes two good people aren't good for each other. W need to comfort and help people who need to divorce, not ostracize them.

2. We were on a trip and went to Mass in Kentucky. It was a very interesting parish, nice new church building well designed using inexpensive materials, inclusive service. After communion, Eucharistic ministers came up to be handed hosts to take to shut-ins, a very meaningful way of tying them to the parish. Butbefore Communion, the pastor announced that anyone who couldn't receive Communion should approach with their arms crossed on their chests to receive a blessing instead. So, all the rest of you sinners here can receive Communion, but you people who dared to remarry after divorce get a consolation prize instead. And we remind you publicly every week that you're outside the fold.

WWJD?

[demosincebirth]

15. Its a dumb rule, along with the rule banning birth control.