Pope: Remarried Catholics must live as ‘brother and sister’

[ieffinhatecardio]

This seems like a realistic expectation.

http://news.bostonherald.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=188348

By Marie Szaniszlo
Wednesday, March 14, 2007 - Updated: 04:54 AM EST

Pope Benedict XVI yesterday rapped divorced Catholics who remarry without first getting an annulment, saying they have to live “as brother and sister” if they want to remain in good standing with the church.
    An “Apostolic Exhortation” resulting from a three-week meeting of bishops in Rome says that although such couples cannot receive holy Communion, they can adopt a Christian style of life.
    Such couples, the document asserts, should commit themselves to “living their relationship in fidelity to the demands of God’s law, as friends, as brother and sister.”
    The Rev. Harvey D. Egan, a theology professor at Boston College, said the document merely reflects the teachings of Jesus Christ.
    “Jesus’ stern words . . . concerning marriage and divorce could not be clearer,” Egan said. “The Church has the duty and obligation to teach what Jesus did. The Church is not the loudspeaker of public opinion.”
    Egan said there is nothing new about expecting divorced Catholics who have remarried to live without consummating their marriage. “Long before annulments became easier, that was the situation for remarried Catholics who wished to stay with the Church,” he said. “Civil divorce does not mean real divorce to the Church.”
     Nevertheless, the Rev. Keith F. Pecklers, professor of liturgy at the Pontifical Gregorian University and the Pontifical Liturgical Institute in Rome, said the document’s references to divorced and remarried Catholics “reflects the significant amount of attention the subject received at the synod (meeting) itself. A good number of bishops and some cardinals from different parts of the world raised the issue during the meeting, asking for a relaxation of that rule.”

[Butterbean]

“Civil divorce does not mean real divorce to the [CATHOLIC] Church.”
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I wonder how much it costs these days to "remain in good standing" by the Catholic church by getting an "approved" annulment?  About 20 years ago, it cost my neighbor a few thousand dollars.


This new "Exhortation" could prove to be very lucrative.

[columbusdude82]

Could Benedict get any more out of touch with his flock?!

[ieffinhatecardio]

 

I wonder how much it costs these days to "remain in good standing" by the Catholic church by getting an "approved" annulment?  About 20 years ago, it cost my neighbor a few thousand dollars.


This new "Exhortation" could prove to be very lucrative.

Perhaps this is just a new business strategy, a means of increasing revenue. 

Here in Massachusetts the Catholic Church is in relative financial trouble since the sexual abuse scandals hit. The lawsuit settlements and decreased donations have hurt the Church badly in recent years.

[G o a t b o y]

Could Benedict get any more out of touch with his flock?!

Exactly.


And they wonder why they're losing members. 

[Oldschool Flip]

They lost me a long time ago, although my parents are still highly devoted Catholics.