Divorced and remarried Catholics without anullment still in union with Church?

[Disciple_Tom]

In a chapter on Holy Matrimony, a text used in my parish for religious education had this to say about Catholics who divorce and remarry without an annulment:

Catholics who divorce and remarry without an annulment from the Church are not separated from the Church. While such individuals cannot receive Holy Communion, they are still members of the Body of Christ, the Church, and are called to lead Christian lives and educate their children in the faith.

It has been my understanding that those who choose to remarry without an annulment are committing adultery and are in objective mortal sin, which cuts them off from Christ and by extension His Church. Am I mistaken? Or could it be that the text is saying this to avoid alienating students who have parents who may be living in situations like this? I would appreciate your thoughts greatly.

 

[graceandglory]

Please let me know what text it is.
(cite your sources)

I am in charge of selecting our new religion student texts and would like to know.

Jesus called it adultery. Our church cannot change what Jesus said.

 

[Disciple_Tom]

The source was Faith First: Church and Sacraments; Copyright 2006, Recorces for Christian Living (RCL)

Sorry about not posting that initially.

 

[PaulinVA]

Both statements are true. No matter what your “grace state”, you are still called to live a virtuous life and bring your children up in the faith. You are also in a state of mortal sin (if you have relations with your second spouse) and can not receive Holy Communion.

“Separated from the Church” seems to be the phrase in question. What makes one “Separated from the Church”? Is it only excommunication?

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

Catholics who divorce and remarry without an annulment from the Church are not separated from the Church. While such individuals cannot receive Holy Communion, they are still members of the Body of Christ, the Church, and are called to lead Christian lives and educate their children in the faith.

I’m not sure what you find wrong about this.

Catholics who remarry without a declaration of nullity indeed cannot receive Communion. However, they are still Catholic and it is through the Church that they can remedy their situation. They are still expected to raise their children in the faith.

It sounds like you think these people stand completely cut off from the Church. If that were true, they could not ask a Tribunal to investigate their prior marriage(s). If that were true, they would leave and take their children with them. If that were true, there would be no way that they could even hope to return to the sacraments.

 

[Lancer]

In a chapter on Holy Matrimony, a text used in my parish for religious education had this to say about Catholics who divorce and remarry without an annulment:

Quote:here is where your quote…really comes from]

Catechism of the Catholic Church

1665 The remarriage of persons divorced from a living, lawful spouse contravenes the plan and law of God as taught by Christ. They are not separated from the Church, but they cannot receive Eucharistic communion. They will lead Christian lives especially by educating their children in the faith.

Catholics who divorce and remarry without an annulment from the Church are not separated from the Church. While such individuals cannot receive Holy Communion, they are still members of the Body of Christ, the Church, and are called to lead Christian lives and educate their children in the faith.

It has been my understanding that those who choose to remarry without an annulment are committing adultery and are in objective mortal sin, which cuts them off from Christ and by extension His Church. Am I mistaken? Or could it be that the text is saying this to avoid alienating students who have parents who may be living in situations like this? I would appreciate your thoughts greatly.

Simply, I think you are confusing the effects of mortal sin with excommunication…mortal sin kills the theological virtue of Charity…but not the theological virtues of Faith and/or Hope… i.e., the person cuts themself off from the living grace of God…but not from the Body of Christ (Baptism is still valid…still a branch on the Vine…but will wither and die over time if not restored to the flow of living graces)…excommunicated.

1855 Mortal sin destroys charity in the heart of man by a grave violation of God’s law;** it turns man away from God**, who is his ultimate end and his beatitude, by preferring an inferior good to him.

Venial sin allows charity to subsist, even though it offends and wounds it.

QUOTE] 1463 Certain particularly grave sins incur excommunication, the most severe ecclesiastical penalty, which impedes the reception of the sacraments and the exercise of certain ecclesiastical acts, and for which absolution consequently cannot be granted, according to canon law,** except by the Pope, the bishop of the place or priests authorized by them.** In danger of death any priest, even if deprived of faculties for hearing confessions, can absolve from every sin and excommunication.

If you want to see the grave sins that have penal consequences…see the Code of Canon Law…1321-1330…vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P4W.HTM … it really has many protections for the faithful…it is not arbitrary…but very methodical and sequential.

Pax Christi

 

[Disciple_Tom]

Simply, I think you are confusing the effects of mortal sin with excommunication…mortal sin kills the theological virtue of Charity…but not the theological virtues of Faith and/or Hope… i.e., the person cuts themself off from the living grace of God…but not from the Body of Christ (Baptism is still valid…still a branch on the Vine…but will wither and die over time if not restored to the flow of living graces)…excommunicated.

I think your right, Lancer, that I got the affects of mortal sin and excummunication confused. Your explanation, as well as the others, have helped a great deal for clarifying this for me. All of you, thank you so much!