So long as the divorced person is not in a new relationship involving sex** and** has been to confession, he or she may partake holy communion. Sometimes people have to leave marriages where the issues are subtle but still damaging to the relationship.
Hello Ailina,
The answer you give above is certainly the most common. I have contacted several dioceses and received this answer in almost every case.
I would ask, however, what do you confess? What is true repentance from that?
If I am a judge and a woman is brought before me. I have the ability to throw her in prison, however, she is not guilty of anything deserving this sentence. I believe the woman has made my life miserable so I throw her in prison anyway. I even throw her kids in prison with her.
Now, I believe myself to be a faithful Catholic so I go to confession. I confess the sin of throwing the family in prison. Now, can I confess this sin and be forgiven of it while leaving with no resolution to let them out of prison? Can I confess this sin and leave the family in prison and expect to be forgiven of the sin? What if I send them extra bread and water to make up for my unjust decision?
This is what divorce often is if we look at the statistics. Most divorces are unilateral and most divorces are not for the reasons allowed for by canon law and the catechism. We somehow expect that we can confess the grave sin of divorce, tear our families apart, and simply move on. The sin of divorce is (FOR SOME) is a choice made every day. Just as leaving the family in the prison is a choice made by the judge every day. Yes, some are innocently abandoned. They can confess their part in leading up to the divorce and be forgiven. They can remain faithful and receive Holy Communion.
If one spouse is not open to
reconciliation, even upon true repentance, then that reveals a hard heart. A
hard heart towards one’s spouse reveals a soul that is on the wide path. For a
hard heart towards one’s spouse is a hard heart towards Jesus Christ. For
Christ is our Bridegroom and we are the bride.
The wide path leads to death. Allowing someone to take Holy Communion when they
are on the wide path is not love. It is only further deluding them. It is only
thickening the scales which cover their eyes. It is the fruit of the “false
charity” our Holy Father is faithfully exposing.
To understand if a divorced Catholic is in the state of grace, it must be determined whether one has a legitimate reason to separate. When the Catechism describes cases in which living together is practically impossible; it reference sections 1151-1155 of the Catholic Code of Canon Law (CCC par 2383, Canon enclosed). The code specifies licit reason for separation: if an innocent spouse is betrayed by an adulterous partner; if an innocent spouse is in grave danger of soul or body caused by the other partner; if children need to be protected from a parent who puts the children in grave danger of soul or body; or if an abusive spouse makes the common life unduly difficult. The Exegetical Commentary of the Code of Canon Law, which is recommended by the President of the Pontifical Council of Legislative Texts, defines the conditions in which “grave danger of soul or body” and “unduly difficult” situations provide licit reasons to separate:
For separation due to physical or moral cruelty to be lawful, the following conditions are necessary:
- it must be grave, such that it makes common life dangerous for the spouse or children;
- it must be repeated, because if it were merely occasional, it would not create the fear for future common life, which justifies the separation;
- and separation must constitute the only means of avoiding the danger involved in common life (canon 1153, p.1585).
Bryan
LOVE SO AMAZING
