Limits on who may be Catholic?

by Letters Editor · May 2, 2013

From John Greene, Cape Town

In the Mail & Guardian of April 12�18, Cardinal Wilfrid Napier of Durban is reported as stating that �you can�t practise in the Catholic Church if you aren�t married and are sexually active�.�The statement is absolute and unqualified�it does not say �fully practise�, or refer to reception of the Eucharist. It simply states that such people (active gays, in the context of the statement) �can�t practise in the Catholic Church�. To my knowledge no retraction or clarification has been issued, so we must assume that the report is accurate.

“In the traditional teaching, the Catholic partner in such a relationship is automatically excommunicated and may not approach the Communion rails. This is a highly complex and disputed topic in moral theology. “

What can Cardinal Napier mean by �practise in the Catholic Church�? The traditional orthodox (though widely disputed) teaching is that such people may not communicate. But, in my understanding, they are nevertheless welcome in the Church, and may (indeed are obligated to) attend Sunday Mass, pray, and generally practise their religion to the maximum extent possible, though reception of the Eucharist is barred. Is it the cardinal�s intention to deny this?

Although made in the context of homosexuality, the statement is clearly of broader application. Consider the position of a civilly divorced and remarried Catholic, who enjoys a sexual relationship with his/her new partner (to whom he/she is not, in the eyes of the Church, married). It is clear that Cardinal Napier�s reported injunction would apply equally here.

In the traditional teaching, the Catholic partner in such a relationship is automatically excommunicated and may not approach the Communion rails. This is a highly complex and disputed topic in moral theology.

Pope John Paul II agonised over it and called for further study. Many theologians believe that it is an open question, currently in a state of development. Many priests and bishops are known to take a nuanced view and exhibit flexibility in their pastoral counselling.

Is it Cardinal Napier�s view that the Catholic partner in such a relationship should not only hold back from the Communion rail, but cease practising as a Catholic, cease attending Sunday Mass? Refrain from bringing up in the Catholic faith any children resulting from the new relationship? Should all remarried Catholic divorcees stop attending church?

Surely not; this has never been the teaching of the Church.

Any of the countless people in such relationships who interpret Cardinal Napier�s words in this obvious (even if unintended) sense are thereby cutting themselves off from the support of the Church when it is most needed, and may thus be placed at grave spiritual risk.

Clarification of the position is, I believe, an urgent pastoral requirement.