Cardinal Bagnasco: Impossible for divorced and remarried to receive Communion

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Comments: 8

Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco

Rome, Italy, Jun 24, 2008 / 10:19 am (CNA).- The Archbishop of Genoa and President of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, said this week the impossibility of divorced and remarried Catholics receiving Communion “does not depend on an external disposition but rather comes from the interior of the sacrament of the Eucharist itself, the sacrament of the perennial unity between the love of Christ and humanity.”

According to the SIR news agency, the cardinal made his comments in response to a question about the matter during a conference at which he was presenting a book on the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Genoa.

Cardinal Bagnasco pointed to the example of Catholics who are separated and who “suffer from this difficult situation, but nonetheless live in fidelity to the indissolubility of the sacrament and desire to meet and pray together, to exchange experiences and encourage one another.” This situation “is one of the ways in which the maternity of the Church is expressed,” he added.

The cardinal's comments also come in the context of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's public campaign to push for allowing divorced and remarried Catholics to receive Communion. Berlusconi is himself divorced and remarried.

Catholic teaching says that Catholics cannot ignore Jesus' teaching that the faithful cannot divorce and remarry. The Church teaches that for the good of their souls, believers should not present themselves for Communion, when they have departed from the teachings of Jesus.

Comments: 8

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Janine B
NIagara Falls NY 01/04/2009 01:53 AM EST

I divorced my first husband because he was abusive to my children and I in MANY ways. I have since remarried. I feel that women who already suffered due to an abusive husband should not be banned from the sacraments. They should be allowed to get a fresh start and not be forced to live their lives alone under these circumstances. I think that there should be exceptions to the rules of the church.

Published by: Mario
Boise/ID/USA 12/24/2008 12:03 AM EST

Responding to Angel - I will consider you in my prayers this evening. Your comment is based on lived experience, yours or a dear friend or relative. The church doesn't require money for an annulment to be heard by tribunal. The process is meant to be a healing and official declaration for a marriage to be invalid by various test including scripture. There are no easy answers for those who did not find the love of Jesus in a marriage. A broken less than whole person who has not found Jesus before marriage may be the very person who wounds - this person too needs love. Again no easy answers. But please do not imply the church simply wishes to collect a fee to stamp a marriage annuled.

Published by: Angel
Gladstone/NJ/USA 11/28/2008 12:33 AM EST

A person who has suffered an abusive marriage should be able to receive Communion after a civil divorce. Why should they be punished again? It was not their fault. Annulments are another way for the church to make $. If a person is physically abused and has proof (i.e. restraining order), the church should recognize that and not chastise that individual but automatically dissolve that marriage. Why should the church punish an innocent person who has already suffered? They should try to help that individual, this is what a just God would want for them, not further punishment.

Published by: Lynn
Muncy, PA 06/28/2008 09:58 AM EST

The references are Mt 5:31-32, 19:3-9; Mk 10:9; Lk 16:18
See the Catechism paragraphs 2382 - 2385

Published by: Katherine
Orange County 06/25/2008 03:01 PM EST

Here are your references Joe:

"But to them that are married, not I but the Lord commandeth, that the wife depart not from her husband. And if she depart, that she remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband. And let not the husband put away his wife." - 1 Corinithians 7:10-11
"A woman is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband die, she is at liberty: let her marry to whom she will; only in the Lord." - 1 Corinthians 7:39
"Every one that putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and he that marrieth her that is put away from her husband, commmitteth adultery." - Luke 16:18

Katherine

Published by: H. Foster
Cleveland 06/24/2008 06:37 PM EST

Divorced and remarried have all left the Church, so why be concerned? Obviously,
the Church does not want them and starves them spiritually!

Published by: Joseph Wagner
Sarasota Fl. USA 06/24/2008 03:14 PM EST

Hi

I feel that the remarried catholic should still be able to go to confession and be given forgiveness. And with that communion should be o.k.

Thankyou

My opinion

Published by: joe prinster
Boulder, COLO, USA 06/24/2008 11:42 AM EST

I would appreciate knowing the reference in the New Testament about Jesus' teaching that the faithful cannot divorce and remarry. Can you provide that?

Thanks. Joe.

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