Brian Gouveia, Bloemfontein – Pope Francis’ approach on divorced and remarried Catholics, and the age-old Church rule, is no doubt very confusing. Not only confusing but also inconsistent and largely hypocritical.
“Whatever God has joined together let no man put asunder!” The new “human Church” has simply overridden this old instruction and now grants what is possibly mostly unwarranted annulments.
Certain instances make divorce tragic because there are innocent people who suffer as a result, but the fact is that these were completely normal and legitimate unions. How now can they simply be annulled by bishops and the Church?
My big argument in this matter is that remarried couples are “identified” as adulterers whereas they have entered into a legal union, whether the human Church accepts it or not. What about the hundreds of unmarried couples who cohabit? This is blatant fornication but the couples are not focused on or identified and prohibited to receive Communion and other sacraments.
It must be accepted that there are rules to encourage people to live acceptable lives but clarity and consistency should also be present. The Church should offer more support rather than use its power to condemn people in contrasting ways.
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