Vatican Declines to rule over German Communion Dispute

  • Thread starter Thread starter MCH1
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
As much as I would have liked to see Rome weigh in, Rome has simply deferred to the canons already in place. The Church already gives bishops or bishops conferences the authority to determine what amounts to a “grave necessity” when administering the sacraments to non-Catholics.

§4. If the danger of death is present or if, in the judgment of the diocesan bishop or conference of bishops, some other grave necessity urges it, Catholic ministers administer these same sacraments licitly also to other Christians not having full communion with the Catholic Church, who cannot approach a minister of their own community and who seek such on their own accord, provided that they manifest Catholic faith in respect to these sacraments and are properly disposed.

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P2T.HTM
 
This has been around the block already. Use the search function.
 
I agree, however the Germans want to simply give Communion to all Protestant spouses of Catholics, regardless of the circumstances. Seems like a big stretch to say that there is grave necessity…
 
Well, not really- the Pope has said that the German bishops must be in complete unison on this for it to occur, which is impossible- at least some of the Germans have a sense of orthodoxy.
 
I really hope that if the German bishops do actually end up allowing inter-communion that the Catholic clergy will at the very least make sure these Protestant spouses believe in the Real Presence and have all their mortal sins validly absolved by a Catholic priest in Confession before being allowed to receive Holy Communion for the first time. The priests should also explain to these spouses the need to be in a state of grace before each reception of Holy Communion.
 
Last edited:
AndrewAxland said:
40.png
Maximilian75:
at least some of the Germans have a sense of orthodoxy.
Click to expand...
The next pope, Pope Reinhard, will get this all cleared up pretty quick!

(Just teasing) 🤣
Click to expand...
Don’t even go there… 🤐
 
I agree. They can become Catholics!
I wish that the Bishops would focus on evangelizing to the Protestant spouses…
 
Eh. If he speaks out again, Francis will take him down another notch…
 
Sarah. African, liturgically conservative cardinal. Author of The Power of Silence.
 
Last edited:
IF those Protestants are properly prepared, properly disposed, and in a state of grace, perhaps the graces they receive through the Eucharist could lead them to understand that the Catholic Church is where they belong. 🙂

Germany really needs our prayers. A survey a few years ago showed that 98% of German Catholics disagree with at least one Church teaching. From what I’ve read, many of the bishops and priests say or do things that are rather questionable or even scandalous. There are many good & faithful bishops and priests too, of course, but let’s just say there’s a lot of work to be done in Germany. Both catechesis and evangelization efforts need to drastically improve.
 
There was an interesting article the other day on NCR about this:


The most interesting part:
A peculiarly polemical form of this “hunger” caused something of a public scandal shortly after, when an official panel discussion played host to one celebrity’s demand to be “handed that wafer [the Most Blessed Sacrament]” since he pays for it with his Church tax.

Speaking on stage with Cardinal Woelki, the comedian and TV personality Eckart von Hirschhausen sharply criticized the Catholic Church’s teaching — to applause from the predominantly Catholic audience — saying, “I don’t see the point of a public debate about wafers” since climate change, on his view, was a “far more serious” issue.

Since he, as a Protestant spouse to a Catholic, pays Church tax and thus considered himself “a major sponsor,” the Church had “better happily hand out a wafer for it, or give me back my money!”, said von Hirschhausen, to an applauding crowd.

The crowd’s mood notwithstanding, Cardinal Woelki politely but firmly disagreed. “As a Catholic, I would never speak of a wafer. Using this concept alone demonstrates that we have a very different understanding” of what the Archbishop of Cologne then reminded the audience “is the Most Blessed Sacrament,” in which “Catholics encounter Christ Himself.”
Click to expand...
This one exchange perfectly demonstrates why this proposal is a very, very bad idea.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top