On October 17 I made a little prediction:
To those who think the Synod will end with a firm and unambiguous reaffirmation of traditional Church teaching on these issues, my best advice is: brace yourselves.
Now, I’ll make another.
Regardless of the conservative backlash, and regardless of the public protests of prelates including Cardinals, Communion for remarried divorcees who have not and will not regularise their situation will be permitted, by Rome, in about a year from now. It’s all in the final relatio:
- The possibility of the divorced and remarried having access to the sacraments of Penance and the Eucharist was considered. Several Synod fathers insisted in favour of the current discipline, by virtue of the fundamental rapport between participation in the Eucharist and communion with the Church, and her teaching on the indissolubility of marriage. Others expressed a welcoming to the Eucharistic table that was not general, in certain particular situations and with strict conditions, especially in what concerns irreversible cases and related to moral obligations towards children who would endure unjust sufferings. The eventual access to the sacraments should be preceded by an accompanying penance under the responsibility of the diocesan bishop. The question must be further studied, bearing in mind the distinction between the objective situation of sin and extenuating circumstances, given that “the imputability and the responsibility for an action can be diminished or nullified” by diverse “psychological or social factors” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1735)
104 ayes, 74 noes = 58% in favour and 42% against.
A little clear thinking is needed here.
First, this text was included, by a decision of the Pope, in the final document even though it did not get the 2/3 majority technically required to pass. The fact that the votes for each paragraph were made public - also by a decision of the Pope - reveals that a substantial majority of the Synod voted in favour of it. It is almost certain that this substantial majority will reach 2/3 in the next Synod, and it probably doesn’t matter if it doesn’t. It will still go through.
Secondly, this speaks of remarried couples who do ***not ***abstain from sexual relations. The little bit about moral responsibility being ‘diminished or nullified’ is inserted for their benefit.
Thirdly, despite being apparently very limited in application, the permission to receive Communion will have a broad scope. If you have children you are automatically in, but you do not ***have ***to have children to qualify:
Others expressed a welcoming to the Eucharistic table that was not general, in certain particular situations and with strict conditions, **especially ** [but not exclusively] in what concerns
irreversible cases [when would a second marriage not be considered ‘irreversible’?] and related to moral obligations towards children
What makes this issue a unique one for Catholics is that, for the first time, they will be confronted with a decision from Rome that they simply cannot in conscience accept. Giving the Blessed Sacrament to a couple who are in a state of ongoing sin adds up to sacrilege. The Church has never taught and can never teach otherwise. In this instance the perennial teaching of the Church is not in fact being directly altered; what is changing is the practice that implements it.
So what are faithful Catholics to do? By ‘faithful Catholics’ I mean Catholics who uphold in its entirety the teaching of the Church ***and ***submit to the direction of the hierarchy inasmuch as that hierarchy is in union with the Pope. Above all else they will not criticise or disobey the Pope. It has worked up until now, but in a year’s time the entire ball game changes. What are faithful Catholics to do? This is not baiting. It is a genuine question.
