Pope Francis' other campaign: re-thinking divorce in the Catholic church

[rug]

After a decade of slow steps, Pope Francis may change how the church treats couples who have split. It would be a powerful shift



Pope Francis has called the Catholic Church a 'field hospital' for the world. Photograph: AGF/Rex Features

Elizabeth Scalia
theguardian.com, Wednesday 5 February 2014 08.15 EST

Thirty or so years ago, two very dear friends were married in a nuptial mass, and for a gospel reading they chose Mark 10:2-9, which includes this passage:

But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother [and be joined to his wife], and the two shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate.”

Even in Jesus’ day, divorce was a theological challenge.

For the bride and groom the reading was a pledge of determination; one of them was still reeling from the recent divorce of parents married for over 20 years, and the subsequent remarriage of the mother.

The divorce created anxiety before the wedding: would the mother present herself for communion? We brilliant twentysomethings mused on it over wine and cheese, noting that from a purely legalistic view, the mother had ex-communicated herself by remarrying outside the church, and before attaining an annulment. Finally, in vino veritas, one pertinent fact came to the fore: “She never loved my father,” said our friend. “Her family wanted the marriage, and she was obedient, but she never loved him.”

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/feb/05/pope-francis-catholic-church-divorce-change

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

1. The article quotes Pope Francis as saying

The Eucharist, although it is the fullness of sacramental life, is not a prize for the perfect but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak. These convictions have pastoral consequences that we are called to consider with prudence and boldness.

I have been saying for years that the Eucharist is not a prize for being good, it is rather spiritual food. I'm pleased to see that this view is shared by the Pope. And he is at least implying that withholding the Eucharist from the divorced and remarried is not Christ-like. After all, the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

[rug]

2. Agreed.