The archdiocese of Freiburg’s decision to allow remarried divorcees
to receive communion has sparked fears of a domino effect.
The Pope is expected to decide over the next few months.
Behind the scenes the Holy See is urging caution over the issue of communion for remarried divorcees as it is one of the subjects that is being addressed by the Pope’s Council of Cardinals - the “G8” -, ahead of the Synod of Bishops on pastoral care of the family and there could be surprises on the horizon.Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi poured water on the fire by assuring that: “Nothing has changed in terms of the position of remarried divorcees.”
The document “was issued by a local pastoral office and has not carry the bishop’s signature.”
This is a bold move but “does not constitute an official decision taken by the diocesan authorities.”
Archbishop Robert Zollitsch who will soon be leaving his role as he is nearing the age limit for the position will nevertheless continue to lead as Apostolic Administrator of Freiburg and will remain chairman of the German Bishops' Conference until March 2014.
The archbishop “was not consulted about the above mentioned documents and he did not approve it.”
The Vatican is focused on “scaling down” what happened in Germany, in order to prevent a document which deals with such a hotly debated issue from producing any potentially contagious after-effects.
“It is unbelievable that a proposal like this should come from such an important diocese as Freiburg which is led by the President of the German Bishops’ Conference.” Canonist cardinal Velasio De Paolis, Pontifical Delegate for the Legion of Christ, a member of the Vatican’s highest court and one of the Curia’s most trusted jurists, did not hide his surprise at the change in position with regard to the issue of remarried divorcees.
“Over the years, a number of bishops have been called to account for issuing provisions that have gone against the doctrinal principles reiterated again and again by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in the years when Ratzinger was head.”
“Current rules forbid remarried divorcees to receive the sacraments.”
“To receive absolution during confession and take communion, a person needs to receive God’s grace of forgiveness.”
“The status of remarried divorcees goes against God’s law on marriage.”
“The priest must therefore deny them the host,” De Paolis stressed.
Francis’ recent statements in his interview with Jesuit journal Civiltà Cattolica (“I am a son of the Church”), show that “the Pope acts within a community and respects already existing rules.”
So although “the Pope is searching for possible solutions, no changes have been made so far to the rules regarding remarried divorcees and any stance taken by the Pope should be interpreted within the context of the magisterium he has inherited.”
But the Catholic Church now has an innovator as its helm so the days of crusade-like unbending mindsets are over.
The Synod on the family will discuss the annulment of marriages, remarried divorcees, cohabiting couples and their position in the Church.
The Curia may have developments in store “but local pastoral offices are not the place for these kinds of changes.”
It will soon become clear whether the “Freiburg case” is to be labelled as a diocese blunder or a “prophesy” of further change to come within the universal Church.