Communion after remarriage

by Michael Shackleton · January 21, 2014

Pope Francis has suggested that he wants the Church to be more merciful towards Catholics who divorce and remarry. He referred to the Orthodox Church which actually permits and blesses ecclesiastical remarriage after divorce. Can you explain how the Orthodox do this? EL?May

Unlike Catholics, the Orthodox admit of an exception to this rule. They refer to Jesus� words in Matthew 19:9: �Whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery�.

On his flight back to Rome from World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro last July, Pope Francis remarked to journalists that the Orthodox �follow the theology of economia, as they call it, and give a second possibility: they permit a second marriage�.

He said this while discussing the Church�s concern for the many Catholics whose marriages have failed and who have remarried, resulting in their not being allowed to receive Communion.

Like Catholics, the Orthodox believe that marriage is a sacrament of the Church, so that once a valid marriage takes place, it cannot be dissolved by man.

The phrase �except for unchastity� (or unfaithfulness), indicates for the Orthodox that Christ was prepared to allow an exception to the rule of indissolubility, and so the Church can do the same. Accordingly, one who remarries in these circumstances does not commit adultery.

In doing this, the Orthodox apply the principle of economia, which is the suspension of the application of strict Church regulations. While the unbreakable bond of the first marriage remains intact, the second marriage is tolerated in a particular case and for grave reasons only.

A second marriage (or third) is celebrated with less liturgical joy than the first, but it is meant to demonstrate that the Orthodox do not reject those whose first marriage has failed completely and is now dead, and who need compassion and mercy.

Catholic teaching is that a valid and sacramental marriage is unbreakable. There are no loopholes or exceptions. In the New Testament the words of Christ and St Paul overwhelmingly support this, and the meaning of the exception appearing only in Matthew 19:9 is disputed. It refers to unchastity or similar concept, which is uncertain.

The extraordinary synod of bishops will meet in October to address the pope�s sympathy with divorced and remarried Catholics who long to return to the sacraments. The bishops will be sure to take a compassionate and understanding line but, although the Orthodox practice may be considered, it is unlikely to find favour.