The following comes from a February 27 article by Nicole Winfield published in the San Diego Union-Tribune. Full article here.
VATICAN CITY (AP) — A whodunit is making the rounds at the Vatican.
The publisher of a book on traditional Catholic marriage is crying foul, saying someone apparently swiped upward of 100 copies of the book from the Vatican mailboxes of bishops who attended a meeting on family issues last October.
The publisher sent the books to attendees to counter progressive proposals by one of Pope Francis’ favorite theologians to let divorced and civilly remarried Catholics receive Communion. The book, penned by five high-ranking, conservative cardinals, argues that the suggestion is essentially moot since it is contrary to Christ’s teaching on the indissolubility of marriage.
The Vatican spokesman insists the books were delivered without impediment.
But the mystery remains: What happened to the books?
“Only a few reached synod fathers at their mailboxes in the Vatican,” said the Rev. Joseph Fessio of publisher Ignatius Press.
The books were mailed on the eve of the October synod on the family, a major meeting called by Pope Francis to discuss how the church can better minister to Catholics, including gays and divorced people. The meeting laid bare divisions between progressive prelates seeking a more welcoming, pastoral approach, and conservatives seeking to uphold church doctrine.
Francis had asked Cardinal Walter Kasper to get the debate a year ago, and Kasper posed some provocative questions about how the church could apply a more pastoral approach to Catholics who remarry without getting a church annulment — a decree that their first marriage was null.
The mystery underscores the divisiveness of the debate and the conspiracy theories that ran rampant during the synod, with accusations that meeting organizers were angling to favor a more progressive outcome. Such tensions will likely only rise before the second round of discussions starting in October.
So who did not get the book? Who picked up their mail? Does any person have access to all mailboxes aside from the person who delivers the mail?
The Catholic Church stands up for the indissolubility of marriage-sorta.
There have been a lot of people who’s marriages got annulled against their wishes.
And why is there annulment, anyway? Marriage is only indissoluble under certain circumstances and conditions. Civil marriage is a sin. The Catholic Church could have prevented this by not putting in an annulment process in the first place. Divorce is a sin but not bad enough to withhold communion from somebody? Why not?
Someone, or more than one person, doesn’t believe in “Thou shalt not steal.” The books were stolen from the mailboxes of the bishops at the meeting. Perhaps some of the bishops need remedial catechesis about the Ten Commandments. What else was stolen?
Probably a papal directive that they be used as toilet paper in the bathrooms for the homeless that were set up in Vatican Square.
The fall synod is shaping up to be even worse than that of 2014. God help us.
STEALING the mail of any Cardinal or Bishop, as well as CENSORING their mail is sinful.
There should be a full investigation, with some getting fired from their Vatican position.
All Cardinals and Bishops should be outraged once they find out about this.
Annulments are legitimate, because investigation can prove that there was not a valid marriage in the first place. There can be impediments to a valid sacramental marriage.
If anyone lies to the Marriage tribunal they will be judged by Jesus at death since one can not lie to Jesus. This lying with remarriage would also be a Sacrilege and continued Adultery.
Divorced and civilly remarried Catholics have 3 legitimate choices:
1) If they truly believe there first marriage was not valid, they should go to their Diocese Tribunal Office for more information and paperwork;
2) they can stop having a sexual relationship with their second (not valid) spouse and receive the Sacraments (there is no need for a second civil divorce);
3) they can continue a sexual relationship with their second (not valid) spouse and not receive the Sacraments.
For those who want more information read CCC: # 1649 – 1651, & 1665.
It would be helpful for everyone to read all of the section on Matrimony
CCC #1601 – 1666.
Oh, please, Mike! The Church gives out annulments like candy for whatever stupid reasons. Usually it is supposedly because of some psychological garbage. I’m sure there are a few legitimate annulments, but there should NOT be the number of annulments given out today like there is! It is utterly ridiculous!
“RR” is correct. The large number of annulments given out in America is a scandal. The institution of marriage needs to be given much more importance in the Church, and divorce needs to have some teeth returned, both civilly and within the Church.
What does this mean? As to civil teeth, largely scrap “no fault” divorce, and return the belief that divorce is a contract, with sanctions for its breach. For the Catholic Church, stop the insanity of easy annulments (and greatly reduce the “psychological” standard for this, as well).
Difficult — certainly, but then marriage should mean something, legally and religiously.
Marriage is a civil contract, with laws regarding children and child support, property, etc.
I would not want to force people to live together against their wills – the murder rate would go up significantly, as would spousal abuse, etc.
There are times when a divorce (but not remarriage) is necessary as stated in the CCC # 2383
” The separation of spouses while maintaining the marriage bond can be legitimate in certain cases provided for by canon law.
If civil divorce remains the only possible way of ensuring certain legal rights, the care of the children, or the protection of inheritance, it can be tolerated and does not constitute a moral offense. “
God gave us all a free will.
If people want to divorce that is up to them.
The sin is civil – – – – REMARRIAGE.
A sexual relationship with the Valid Spouse of another = ADULTERY.
Seems to me that many posters here have not read the CCC about Marriage, Divorce, etc.
Because of people not reading the CCC and knowing what a valid marriage is and is not, I’d bet there are many who are living in a non-valid arraignment.
RR, please provide your statistics / documentation for the USA:
1) the stats on exactly how many Annulments you believe annually are not deserved,
2) the exact number that you believe annually are deserved in the USA only (world-wide is not necessary).
Use the CCC – for most of the prerequisites for a valid marriage, and info on
disparity of cult, mixed marriages that take place outside the Church, etc.
Please list the top 10 reasons that are used in actual approved cases.
Be specific and accurate. Which reasons do you disagree with?
And are you in accord with Doctrine of the Faith (CCC)?
The true premise that you must use is that Deserved Annulments are where a VALID marriage never happened in the first place.
In other words prove your statement with documentation.
I’m quite tired of people making assertions with no facts, and basing them without first hand information – only hearsay.
Let’s all remember that someone can lie to other human beings including a Marriage Tribunal – but one can not lie to JESUS who will be our Judge at death.
And JESUS does not approve of Adultery.
Why do you think mortal sin is OK? Why is that an option for you? If they are married to their first spouse they should go back to their first spouse. Why is that not one of your options?
As for annulments being legitimate-yes they are, because the Church says so. There are impediments to sacramental marriage, because the Church says so. Did it always say so? Are they breaking the command of God by saying so?
Or because God has said that what they declare bound on earth is declared bound in Heaven and what they declare loosed on earth in declared loosed in Heaven, did God leave it up to them to decide? If they can decide that it is OK to loose a marriage vow, why can’t they decide to loose those who are remarried from the consequences of their sin?
Anonymous, Mortal Sin is never OK. Do not lie about me.
1) The Church does not REQUIRE the real (first) spouse to take back an adulterer, including an adulterer who had been civilly married to someone else.
2) When someone is divorced and civilly remarried – there may be children from the adulterous relationship.
A marriage can only be annulled because there was some impediment – therefore the marriage was NEVER VALID in the first place. The MARRIAGE never existed (except possibly civilly).
The Church can not give an Annulment to a Sacramentally valid marriage.
Anyone who has NEVER been validly married, of course is free to marry validly.
Because GOD said so –
“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 on 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.
Could an individual lie to a marriage Tibunal? Yes because they are human, but then he or she will have to answer to Jesus at his judgment. And I would not want to be in the liar’s shoes regarding Adultery.
JESUS said: “If you love Me you will keep my Commandments”.
and JESUS said the greatest Commandment is to love God above ALL.
Commandments are not suggestions.
The Church does not REQUIRE the real (first) spouse to take back an adulterer.
What were their vows that they made before God?
MIKE you said that adultery was a legitimate choice. #3 in your post.
Anonymous, yes continuing to commit Adultery is a choice. Just like committing any mortal sin is a definite choice.
People can choose to continue committing Mortal Sin – but then can NOT receive Holy Communion.
God gave everyone a free will.
My post is correct.
Here is the exact quote from the CCC.
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 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. ”
Living in “complete continence” they have committed to stop having a sexual relationship with the valid spouse of another, and then can receive Penance and the Eucharist.
Plz read the CCC under the “unity and indissolubility of marriage” –
#1644 -1651.
MIKE is correct. GOD said “NO” to adultery.
The Church can not change this.
The Church can only pronounce a marriage NOT Valid – if it was NOT VALID to begin with. Meaning there was no real marriage.
If a Marriage was valid to begin with – then no annulment is possible.
I wish that authors of articles would stop calling Catholics ‘conservative’ or ‘liberal’.
Catholics are either Faithful or Heretics when it comes to the Faith.
Kasper, Danneels, Wuerl, Cupich, and McElroy all support Sacrilege. – Giving Holy Communion to those who wish to continue committing Mortal Sin.
This not only violates the Doctrine of the Faith, but also the teaching of JESUS.
Violation of the teaching of Jesus on Profaning the Holy – Mt 7:6.
(Also see 1 Cor 11:27-30 on condemnation for receiving unworthily.)
“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 teaching about divorce and remarriage – Mk 10:6-12; Mt 5:32.
JESUS teaching about adultery, mercy, and REQUIRED repentance – “Go and Sin NO more” Jn 8:11.
Doctrine of the Faith: CCC – 1451; 1415; 1355; 1649 – 1651.
Sounds like a miracle to me. Books on dissoluble marriage dissolve into thin air. Poetic justice? Barney Fife where are you!?
peter what book is about dissoluble marriage? You must have been reading from one of your sodomy sites.
There is no such thing as dissoluble marriage in the Catholic Church – until death.
Either a marriage is VALID, or it is NOT VALID. – This is the point.
Adultery is having a sexual relationship with the VALID spouse of another.
This book is called that was STOLEN is called: ” REMAINING in the TRUTH of CHRIST, Marriage and Communion in the Catholic Church”.
Are you even a real person, “peter”? You comments seem like they are committee-made, like the multiple author “Naked Came The Stranger” of years ago.
We are dealing here with outright censorship of a kind that is usually seen in the takeover of governments. Who burned the books in 1930’s Germany? Who insisted that all knowledge came from Mao’s “Little Red Book”/ No one, no one, believes Cardinal Baldisseri; these books were mailed, and their delivery intercepted.
Why, you say? Good question, “pete”? Answer, to keep knowledge away from those with voting power (but were otherwise ignorant of the truth). The early Church wanted to write down what Christ said after He died, so all could be educated by these scriptures and be free from ignorance (to better attain salvation).
The one(s) who stole these books are criminals, in several respects. The fact that there does not seem to be much concern about this at Vatican’s highest level says much. But, of course, we have Hitler’s demand that those who burned the Reichstag be captured and brought to justice; and O.J. still wants to find whoever murdered his wife. (Laughter sound track here.)
The October Synod looks like the sort of Soviet style “People’s Court” where the outcome is pretty evident, and the proceedings are all for public “show”. How odd that we are witnessing the final destruction of the institutional Church, while a lone bishop here and there — like Abp. Cordileone — stands alone.
The former wife of Joseph P. Kennedy II has won a decade-old appeal to the Vatican to reverse the decision that voided their 12-year marriage in the eyes of the church. Sheila Rauch Kennedy, whose book about the congressman’s aggressive pursuit of the annulment helped to end his political career, said yesterday that she feels vindicated by the reversal, which means that the Roman Catholic Church considers the couple still married — despite the civil dissolution of their marriage 16 years ago. In 1993, Kennedy was remarried, to his former aide, Beth Kelly, in a civil ceremony.”
“When you try to defend your marriage, the army that comes after you is pretty brutal,” Rauch Kennedy said yesterday from her Cambridge home. “You’re accused of being a vindictive ex-wife, an alcoholic bigot, an idiot.”
Rauch Kennedy said she learned of the decision in May, when she was notified by the Archdiocese of Boston. She has since learned that the ruling, which had to be translated from Latin, had actually come down in 2005. [this was written in 2007]…
“The [annulment] process was very dishonest and it was a process in which I was being bullied,” said Rauch Kennedy, referring to her treatment by the church. “But I was very lucky. I had help from outside of the Archdiocese. Otherwise I wouldn’t have known about appealing to Rome and how to do it. I feel for the people who don’t get help.”
Kennedy ended up marrying his second wife – outside the Church.
“The way [annulment] is used in American tribunals, it can be anything — a bad hair day, your goldfish died, you weren’t playing with a full deck when you got married 20 years ago,” she said. “And people defending [their marriages], usually women, have been belittled and patronized.”
Robert Vasoli, a retired sociology professor at the University of Notre Dame who has done extensive research on the annulment process, wrote that in 1991 the United States accounted for 80 percent of the annulments granted by the church worldwide. Between 1982 and 1984, the Vatican overturned nearly 80 percent of the American annulments it reviewed, he wrote.
© Copyright 2007 Globe Newspaper Company.
(Boston Globe)
“Between 1982 and 1984, the Vatican overturned nearly 80 percent of the American annulments it reviewed, he wrote.”
This means that these ANNULMENTS were NOT granted.
IMPORTANT:
Final Annulment approval is NOT the Diocese Tribunal but the Vatican.
It is a two step process.
First an annulment must be approved at the Diocese level, BUT then ALSO everything is reviewed and must be approved at the Vatican level.
(Of course, I don’t know what will happen with annulments if the heretics win at the 2015 Synod.)
Not quite correct, Joyce. It is true that a decree of nullity [“annulment”] must be confirmed by an appeals court, which can either be the Tribunal of the Roman Rota OR the ordinary Court of Second Instance. The party appealing the “annulment” has the right to appeal directly to the Roman Rota. Unfortunately too few appellants know (or are informed by the local Tribunal) that they have this right.
Should have added that the ordinary Court of Second Instance operates at the diocesan level.
Please see the “National Catholic Register,” March 8, 2015 issue! You can also go to http://www.ncregister.com, and view the article, titled: “Cardinal Baldisseri Has to Go.” Very interesting information! Was the infamous Baldisseri responsible for the mystery of the stolen books??