Divorce and Remarriage

The Latest

St. Peter's Dome.

Vatican responds to widespread backlash on same-sex blessing directive

Jan 4, 2024

By Courtney Mares

Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández maintained that the Vatican’s recent declaration on same-sex blessings was “clear and definitive about marriage and... Read more

Post Francis' post-synodal apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia in Vatican City on April 8, 2016.

Here’s the full text of the Vatican’s response to dubia on divorced and remarried Catholics

Oct 3, 2023

By CNA Staff

Czech Cardinal Dominik Duka had submitted to the Vatican a request for pastoral guidance. Read more

Bishops: Don't let the media guide Catholics on divorce

Sep 17, 2016

Divorced Catholics who have remarried civilly are welcome to seek reconciliation with the Church, but they need to be sure... Read more

Robert Spaemann before the obelisk in front of Santa Maria sopra Minerva in Rome.

A follow-up from Robert Spaemann on Amoris Laetitia

Jun 20, 2016

In April, Robert Spaemann, emeritus professor of philosophy at the University of Munich, attracted significant attention for an interview with... Read more

Archbishop Charles Chaput speaks with CNA in Rome on Sept. 15, 2014.

Archbishop Chaput clarifies 'Amoris Laetitia' committee

Jun 1, 2016

Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia described as “misleading” an article claiming that his leadership of a working group on the... Read more

Pope Francis at the Vatican on April 3, 2014.

Report on Pope Francis and divorce 'in no way reliable,' Vatican says

Nov 2, 2015

A Vatican spokesman entirely rejected the reliability of Italian journalist Antonio Scalfari’s report suggesting that Pope Francis said all divorced... Read more

Bishops meet at the Vatican's Synod Hall on Oct. 21, 2015.

Synod finds strong support for Church teaching in communion debate

Oct 21, 2015

By Elise Harris

Despite pastoral challenges posed by divorced-and-civilly-remarried Catholics, many synod fathers are in favor of current Church teaching and practice according... Read more

Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila of Denver gives a catechesis session during World Youth Day in Rio July 25, 2013.

Denver archbishop: Would German bishops side with Henry VIII or Thomas More?

Oct 20, 2015

If divorced-and-remarried Catholics should receive communion, as Cardinal Walter Kasper and many of the German bishops suggest, does that mean... Read more

Cardinal Reinhard Marx at the Vatican Press Office on Oct. 17, 2014.

At synod, Cardinal Marx openly promotes Communion for divorced-and-remarried

Oct 16, 2015

After years of both direct and indirect remarks on the subject, German Cardinal Reinhard Marx issued his most direct statement... Read more

Pope Francis at the General Audience address in St. Peter's Square, May 20, 2015.

Pope: Divorce and remarriage contradicts the sacrament, but Church always reaches out

Aug 5, 2015

By Ann Schneible

Echoing his predecessors on the need to care for divorced and remarried persons, Pope Francis said Christians should help these... Read more

The Eucharist is distributed during Mass with Pope Francis in Rome's Campo Verano cemetery for All Saints Day on Nov. 1, 2013.

Cardinal: Divorced, remarried Catholics need support for conversion, not changes on Communion

Jun 11, 2015

Catholics who have divorced and remarried need help for the “difficult climb” of conversion and spiritual growth, not a change... Read more

Cardinal Walter Kasper.

Cardinal Kasper backpedals on papal endorsement of controversial proposal

Jun 4, 2015

Almost single-handedly one cleric has turned the Church’s teaching on Communion, marriage and divorce into an international debate.  Read more

Not a burden, but a grace: The indissolubility of marriage

May 27, 2015

The sacrament of marriage, characterized as it is by indissolubility, is good news for the people of today, according to... Read more

Cardinal Gerhard Mueller in St. Peter's Basilica at the installation Mass of Bishop Maurizio Malvestiti on Oct. 12, 2014.

Bishops conferences are not the Magisterium, Vatican doctrine chief reminds Cardinal Marx

Mar 26, 2015

By Carl Bunderson

Cardinal Gerhard Mueller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, has told a French paper that doctrinal,... Read more

Cardinals talk after the consistory on November 24, 2012 in St. Peter's Basilica.

German prelate breaks rank with Cardinal Marx, insists on fidelity to Rome

Mar 24, 2015

A German cardinal has publicly opposed the words of two other German bishops who have suggested that the nation’s Church... Read more

Benedict XVI at the General Audience in St. Peter's Square, Sept. 11, 2005.

Ratzinger's retraction: the fruit of 42 years of theological maturation

Dec 4, 2014

News broke weeks ago that a new volume of Benedict XVI's collected works was being released in German with an... Read more

Pope Benedict XVI celebrates the closing Mass of the Synod for the New Evangelization Oct 28, 2012.

Scholars: No, Benedict XVI doesn't support Kasper in Synod debates

Nov 25, 2014

By Carl Bunderson

A new volume of Benedict XVI's collected works includes an updated version of a 1972 essay in which he had... Read more

Professor Fr. Robert Dodaro, OSA, President of Institutum Patristicum Augustinianum, in Rome on Sept. 19, 2014.

Taking Gospel seriously on marriage is not 'rigid' – it's love

Oct 4, 2014

By Jan Bentz

The editor of a high-profile book on marriage said that adhering to Christ’s Gospel teachings on divorce is not harsh... Read more

Cardinal Walter Kasper.

Interview excerpts: Cardinal Kasper responds

Sep 29, 2014

On Sept. 29, the Argentine daily La Nacion published an interview with Cardinal Walter Kasper, who has drawn significant media... Read more

Spanish bishop: Pope says he will not change Communion rule

Sep 25, 2014

Amid widespread reports that Pope Francis might open the door to Communion for the divorced and civilly remarried, a Spanish... Read more