Surprise! One of the Church's family issues is polygamy

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Coatimundi

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I think this is the news article which Gilliam meant to quote:

Say “family issues” to most Americans or Europeans, and they’re likely to flash on divorce, or the challenges of single-parent households, or perhaps same-sex relationships and the push for gay marriage.

What probably wouldn’t come naturally to mind is polygamy. Yet in many parts of the non-Western world, polygamy is a major feature of family life, and thus a major pastoral challenge for the Catholic Church.

Discussion of polygamy is likely to surface at the Oct. 5-19 Synod of Bishops on the family in the Vatican, and could be a factor in the politics of an expected debate over whether the church’s ban on divorced and remarried Catholics receiving communion ought to be revised.
cruxnow.com/church/2014/09/11/surprise-one-of-the-churchs-family-issues-is-polygamy/

The article deals with a topic which is probably not familiar to most readers of this forum. For example, Cardinal Turkson, who was a popular favorite during the most recent papal conclave, nine years ago spoke about being flexible in dealing with the realities of polygamy.
 
Wow, that’s something hadn’t thought of…

But we seem to have handled the entry of previously-polygamous families before; what did we do then?
 
This is in no way a surprise to me.

It has been known for many years that in the Islamic orbit and in Africa, polygamy has always been prevalent.

I however, FWVLIW, would take issue with the idea that because polygamy exists, “the Church must adjust to the cultural reality.” That does not follow.

Polygamy was the norm in the world wherein the Church began. If it was not necessary to approve of it then, it is not necessary now. IMNAAHO!

ICXC NIKA.
 
PaulfromIowa said:
A man with several wives knows what Hell is like.
Click to expand...
And the wrong wife, Purgatory?

Seriously, I actually heard someone from a polygamist country say express this same sentiment. Two wives were too much trouble and he didn’t want any more.
 
In most cases, members of polygamous sects are not baptized Christians. If they convert, then an previous valid natural marriage, if one exists among the purported marriages, may be dissolved in favor of a Christian wife.
 
Polygamy as a Church issue would have never crossed my mind indeed.
 
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