Divorce, Remarriage, and the Eucharist

[Nitenites]

I have an older friend who is divorced and has since remarried. His first marriage was in the Catholic church, to a Catholic woman. (He is also Catholic, btw.) He recently went to confession after quite a long absence, and is now receiving communion again.
When he informed me of the above, I gently told him that his receiving was not licit - confession or not. (He has NOT had his first marriage annulled.) He is convinced that “the rules have changed” and he can receive. Can anyone point me to a reference in Canon Law that supports my assertion, so that I may gently and charitably bring it to his attention?

 

[John_Lilburne]

From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 1650:

“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.”

A 1994 letter on this topic is at vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_14091994_rec-holy-comm-by-divorced_en.html .

It refers to Code of Canon Law, canon 978 §2

 

[Nitenites]

Thank you!

 

[kleary]

Ken

 

[kleary]

I have an older friend who is divorced and has since remarried. His first marriage was in the Catholic church, to a Catholic woman. (He is also Catholic, btw.) He recently went to confession after quite a long absence, and is now receiving communion again.
When he informed me of the above, I gently told him that his receiving was not licit - confession or not. (He has NOT had his first marriage annulled.) He is convinced that “the rules have changed” and he can receive. Can anyone point me to a reference in Canon Law that supports my assertion, so that I may gently and charitably bring it to his attention?

The person can receive Holy Communion if he has gone to confession and has promised to live like brother and sister with the woman as long as they remain in the state they are in.

However I am aure that if the person has relations with the woman again, and goes to confession again if the priest will not be so nice as to grant absolution again.

Ken

 

[MaryAgnes]

Is there a possibility that his first wife died? Perhaps the priest resolved the matter using the internal forum.