Cathal BarryA leading Irish bishop has said he would welcome a “pastoral solution” which would allow divorced and remarried Catholics to receive Communion.
Bishop Kevin Doran of Elphin told The Irish Catholic he would support such a solution provided it was in keeping with the Church’s teaching on the indissolubility of marriage.
Responding to the challenges facing marriage and the family, particularly the current ban on remarried Catholic divorcees receiving Communion at Mass, is set to be a key point discussed at the upcoming Synod of Bishops in Rome in October.
Second union
Acknowledging that the number of Catholic couples living in a second union following a divorce “is a reality that cannot be ignored”, Bishop Doran insisted such couples must be made feel welcome by the Church.
“Divorced and remarried Catholics are part of the Church through Baptism. The consistent teaching of the Church is that they must be supported in feeling that they are welcome and encouraged to participate as fully as possible in the life of the Church,” he said.
“This is important not only for them but also for the Church which otherwise loses part of itself,” he added.
Bishop Denis Nulty told this newspaper that the Church had to approach the issue “cautiously”.
“Church teaching is around for very good reason. Church tradition, living the teaching of Christ is important for us all,” the Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin said.
“We must reflect deeply on why it is there, on what is contained in documents of the Church and then come to a mature decision down the road,” he added.
One possible solution to the issue suggested has been a ‘penitential process’ that gradually would lead some divorced and remarried Catholics to confession, absolution and Communion.
Theologian Fr Vincent Twomey, however, insisted such a solution would not be acceptable to the Catholic Church. “This penitential path is evidently modelled on the practice of the Eastern Orthodox churches. It has been considered by various theologians but in general has not found acceptance.
“I personally don’t think that you can import a practice from one particular tradition into the Catholic tradition because the situation in the Orthodox churches is quite different to our own situation. I personally don’t think that that particular suggestion will actually be acceptable,” he said.