Catechism Truths

by Letters Editor · December 12, 2017

Glenys Newbury, Johannesburg – The article in The Southern Cross headed “Group calls pope a ‘heretic’” stated, inter alia, the following:

The papal exhortation Amoris Laetitia “seemed to open the possibility — in certain cases and after the discernment process — of allowing them [persons who have divorced and remarried civilly] to receive absolution and Communion, even without promising to abstain from sexual relations with their new partner”.

It did not, however, mention the following basic Catholic truths:

Those referred to above are living in the mortal sin of adultery.
Absolution from this sin is impossible without repentance, and a firm resolution to cease committing it, immediately and permanently.
The reception of Communion in a state of mortal sin is a sacrilege.

Finally, if the Church started to condone adultery, it would be logically obliged to also condone the mortal sin of extra-marital cohabitation and of abortive birth-control methods.