The following press release was emailed to us by one of our readers:
Catholic Answers is making their booklet Divorce, Remarriage, Communion: A Guide to What Is Happening and How You Can Help available via download through Amazon for FREE for the next five days.
“To help people understand the Church’s teachings on this issue and to cut through the confusion that the news media has generated, we are making this booklet available free of charge,” Catholic Answers senior apologist Jimmy Akin said.
The booklet, Divorce, Remarriage, Communion: A Guide to What is Happening and How You Can Help, explains the teaching of the Catholic Church on these matters, which were discussed at the Extraordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops last October and will continue to be discussed at another general assembly this October.
Many Catholics were concerned by proposals made at the general assembly regarding homosexuality, divorce, and Communion. Those concerns were recently renewed when it was learned that the heads of the German, Swiss, and French bishops’ conferences sponsored an invitation-only “day of study” in Rome on May 29, apparently to build support for changing Catholic teaching and practice on these issues.
Akin said Catholic Answers’ Divorce, Remarriage, Communion booklet gives people a clear understanding of the issue and informs Catholics how they can support the bishops of the Church as they wrestle with these controversial subjects.
Catholic Answers (Catholic.com) is the largest lay-run apostolate of Catholic apologetics and evangelization in the U.S. It is dedicated to helping good Catholics become better Catholics, bringing former Catholics “home,” and leading non-Catholics into the fullness of the Faith.
The teachings of the Catholic Church regarding divorce and remarriage are quite clear. There is nothing controversial. Truth does not change!
I agree with John Feeney– Truth does not change! Best to learn it, not be afraid if it is hard, and keep learning it, and practicing it, from an early age, to one’s final hour, on earth! Christ’s teachings are sacred- and they are FOREVER, in all times, historical eras, conditions, circumstances, and places! St. Paul, after his conversion, worked in the early days of the Church, to convert all, to the Christian Faith. Nothing has changed!
CCC: ” 1650 Today there are numerous Catholics in many countries who have recourse to civil divorce and contract new civil unions.
In fidelity to the words of Jesus Christ – “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another, commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery” the Church maintains that a new union cannot be recognized as valid, if the first marriage was.
If the divorced are remarried civilly, they find themselves in a situation that objectively contravenes God’s law.
Consequently, they cannot receive Eucharistic communion as long as this situation persists.
For the same reason, they cannot exercise certain ecclesial responsibilities. Reconciliation through the…
continuation of:
CCC : #1650 –
” …… For the same reason, they cannot exercise certain ecclesial responsibilities.
Reconciliation through the sacrament of Penance can be granted only to those who have repented for having violated the sign of the covenant and of fidelity to Christ,
and who are committed to living in complete continence. “
CCC: “1651 Toward Christians who live in this situation, and who often keep the faith and desire to bring up their children in a Christian manner,
priests and the whole community must manifest an attentive solicitude, so that they do not consider themselves separated from the Church, in whose life they can and must participate as baptized persons:
They should be encouraged to listen to the Word of God, to attend the Sacrifice of the Mass, to persevere in prayer, to contribute to works of charity and to community efforts for justice, to bring up their children in the Christian faith, to cultivate the spirit and practice of penance and thus implore, day by day, God’s grace. “
Sacred Scripture regarding Divorce with civil Remarriage:
“Thou shall not commit Adultery” – GOD’s Commandment
Ex 20:14 ; Deut 5:18.
“Thou shall not covet thy Neighbor’s wife” – GOD’s Commandment
Ex 20:17 ; Deut 5.20.
JESUS about divorce and remarriage – Mk 10:6-12; Mt 5:32.
JESUS about adultery, mercy, and required repentance – “Go and Sin NO more” Jn 8:11.
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A sexual relationship with the valid spouse of another is adultery.
Divorced and Civilly Remarried Catholics have 3 choices:
1) If they believe that their first marriage was not valid for any reason they should contact their Diocese Tribunal office for more information and forms;
2) they can repent and turn to God doing His will rather than their own,
and live as brother and sister, and then receive the Sacraments;
3) or they can continue having a sexual relationship with the valid spouse of another and not receive the Sacraments.
The choice is theirs to make. Everyone must take responsibility for his own actions.
Acting upon choice #3 puts one in mortal sin.
God gave everyone a free will – which includes choices.
Choices will get us to Heaven or send us to hell.
#3 is a continuation of a choice, until such time as one determines to choose God.
Yes, the 3rd choice leaves people in mortal sin – a sexual relationship with the valid spouse of another.
That is why they may NOT receive Holy Communion – per Doctrine of the Faith.
After reading the above comments, I have concluded that life really is a simple thing if you just follow the rules and don’t let emotion, love, complexity, etc. get in the way. Let’s just give everyone the rule book, then we don’t need to train the Priests to be pastoral.
Wow Bob One yes that rule book is also called carrying your cross…and you do not even understand the real meaning of a Priest being pastoral. What you want is the Priest to give and wink and nod and have anyone do whatever they want….
BobOne, I’m sorry that you do Not like the teaching of JESUS –
“NO ADULTERY” “GO & SIN NO MORE”.
But that is the way it is.
Nancy, I didn’t say I didn’t like the teachings. What do we do, however, to help people who are not in love anymore but feel compelled to live together, or people who are in love but can’t go to Communion? We all know the rules. But how do we care for people’s feelings, emotions, etc. or do we just ignore them?
“But how do we care for people’s feelings, emotions, etc. or do we just ignore them? ”
Bob One, You consistently tell them in a kind voice, “I realize that you are suffering and I have compassion for the pain that you are experiencing in your suffering.” Then in an even more patient and kinder voice, teach them that there is great merit and and infinite value in the offering up of their suffering and that it is paramount to follow the teachings and strive to have complete trust in Jesus. IOW Bob One, Canisius is right about helping them in understanding the meaning of carrying of one’s cross. The Truth stated in kindness draws hearts to Christ like bees are drawn to return to a blooming flower. Lovingly teach them that, “No…
BobOne, didn’t you read the quote from the CCC to help others ?
Pay attention please.
CCC: ” 1651 …… They should be encouraged to listen to the Word of God, to attend the Sacrifice of the Mass, to persevere in prayer, to contribute to works of charity and to community efforts for justice, to bring up their children in the Christian faith, to cultivate the spirit and practice of penance and thus implore, day by day, God’s grace.”
Bob One, some of us have been married to the same spouse for over fifty years and had many opportunities and temptations to just “chuck it all” and do what we found pleasing for ourselves at that time. Nevertheless, my husband and I hung in there because we knew, in reality, that the grass is never greener on the other side without all the watering, fertilizing and mowing that goes with it. In other words, marriages are a lot of work. I saw what took place in those so-called “good” second or more marriages, and so did my husband in his family, too. We decided to stay together after seeing all the chaos and pain it brought to all involved.
God never promised us a rose garden all the time. In fact not only do rose gardens have…
Continued: thorns, but it takes a lot of hard work on the part of someone or some people to keep that rose garden beautiful. and so it is in marriage as we will have the good times, we will also have the bad times.
Bob One, we ignore them and expect people to carry their cross…
BobOne, Priests should never be trained to ignore or condone mortal sins of any kind.
Pastoral means helping people get to Heaven, not helping send them to Hell.
If you love God above all, and love yourself, and love those close to you, – you will definitely want them to spend eternity with God in Heaven.
Only the most evil want to send those they are supposed to love to Hell.
We must repent of our sins, not choose to continue to commit them.
American Catholics had the Baltimore Catechism, for many years. The ORIGINAL was adapted, abridged, and arranged, by many different clergy and publishers. Many of us know the series adapted for Catholic schools, including classes for First Communion, Confirmation, etc. Regardless– the material is good LIFELONG, from age 2-92!! Same questions, and same answers! It is NOT “baby stuff,” for kids, such as what many in the Church use, today! Now, we have the Vatican II Catechism, worldwide — yet, some Church leaders ignore even that, and just want an easy, wrong teaching, or “baby stuff,” for adults!! The moral and spiritual WORK ETHIC is gone! Nice that there is this free booklet!
Linda Maria, the booklet above is 100% in accord with the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition” (of 1997), and is part of the Apostolic Constitution from the Magisterium of the Church.
Only heretics go against the CCC (including some clergy).
The CCC is for literate persons about age 15 and over.
The Baltimore is great for kids 5 – 15 yrs.
However truth does not change.
“ The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which I approved … and the publication of which I today order by virtue of my Apostolic Authority, is a statement of the Church’s faith and of catholic doctrine, attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition and the Church’s Magisterium. ” – Pope John Paul II.
Linda Maria, the “new” Catechism, published by John Paul II on October 11, 1992 is the current Catechism of the Catholic Church. In the introduction, it is given to the Bishops to assist them in writing of new local catechisms, which take into account various situations and cultures… It is a reference text for teaching catholic doctrine and particularly for preparing local catechisms. It is meant to support ecumenical efforts that are moved by the desire of Christian unity. It was developed at the request of VII participants. Think of it as an encyclopedia of our faith.
To Leigh and Bob One– of course, of course! Isn’t it funny– that although the new Catechism is excellent, it has only been recently published– and yet, is it “too hard” for Catholics and their bishops and cardinals, (even the Pope!) to follow? Even with Church annullments now available, for certain marriage cases? Just what does Pope Francis and all his Catholics need– to lead a good Christian life? A “baby book?” Well– what I think is missing– is the WORK ETHIC!! Life can be tough at times, and Christ expects us all to be MATURE! Carry those humble crosses! Marriage is a Sacrament, and a “School of Holiness!”
Linda Maria, BobOne got it wrong including the year of the accurate version. The CCC is for all literate persons over age 15, except for age, maturity, etc. (CCC 24). However, no local or regional catechisms may be published unless they adhere to the CCC and are approved by the Vatican.
“What Catholics REALLY Believe” –
https://whatcatholicsreallybelieve.com/
“….the CATECHISM has raised throughout the world, even among non-Christians, and confirms its purpose of being presented as a full, complete exposition of Catholic doctrine, enabling everyone to know what the Church professes, celebrates, lives, and prays in her daily life.” – Pope John Paul II (CCC pg xiv)
BobOne, there are errors in the 1992 CCC. It had some translation errors in the French to English. As of 1997, we have the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition”. On the cover it states: “revised in accordance with the official Latin text promulgated by Pope John Paul II”.
On the inside front you will find the “Apostolic Letter Laetamur Magnorere” dated Aug 15, 1997 and signed by Pope JP II.
Here is a Vatican licensed site showing the changes.
https://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/updates.htm
Here is what Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI, and Francis have stated about the CCC, and urging us all to read it.
“What Catholics REALLY Believe SOURCE”.
https://whatcatholicsreallybelieve.com/
Other local or national…
I have downloaded the FREE booklet “DIVORCE, REMARRIAGE, COMMUNION – a Guide to what is happening and how you can help”.
At the end of the booklet a link is provided for contact Information (including email addresses for US Bishops by Diocese so everyone can respectfully contact their own Bishop.
The Booklet does a good job explaining both sides of the issue.
Thank you to all who quoted the CCC so that readers will know the TRUE teaching of Christ and His Church, not merely personal opinions.