Remarriage consequences

[travelslightly]

In CCC paragraph 1665, it states the someone who has divorced and remarried cannot receive communion, but they are not separated from the Church and are expected to participate in Christian life. However, I was told that the 1917 Canon Law called for such a person to be excommunicated.

Does anyone know why the Canon Law changed in 1983 to remove this excommunication? Also, how can this be reconciled with 1Cor5 where Paul calls for the removal of a person in such an adulterous relationship?

 

[Rence]

Canon law didn’t change. When one is excommunicated, that means they are not in communion with the Church and are forbidden to have Communion, however, they are still Catholic and are required to fulfill their other obligations, such as attending Mass, etc.

Once Catholic, always Catholic due to the indelible mark made on one’s soul by the Holy Spirit in Baptism. Therefore, excommunication doesn’t mean that one is not Catholic anymore. They are still Catholic and are expected to work towards being in communion with the Church again.

 

[Warrior1979]

I seem to recall that automatic excommunication was changed around 1977/78. It also may have been only for the U.S. OTOH, I could be completely off base, so hopefully someone has better information.

 

[Warrior1979]

I did a little deeper digging. Apparently those in the the U.S.who remarried after divorce were excommunicated, in accordance with a policy set in place by the U.S. bishops meeting at the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore in 1884. In June 1977, however, the American bishops lifted that excommunication after they pondered a huge falling off in Church attendance, a falling off that was also keeping the children of these couples away from the Church. Pope Paul VI confirmed that action later in 1977.