Pope endorsement softens stance on divorced Catholics
Source: The Guardian
Pope endorsement softens stance on divorced Catholics
Pope Francis praises Argentinian document stating some
in irregular family situations could receive communion
Stephanie Kirchgaessner in Rome
Tuesday 13 September 2016 18.14 BST
Pope Francis has issued a remarkable endorsement of major changes in the way priests approach Catholics who are divorced and remarried, in a move that could open the door to some of them receiving communion.
The Vatican announced on Tuesday that Francis sent a letter to bishops in Argentina on 5 September in which he praised a document they had written that said priests could in some cases offer the help of sacraments to Catholics living in irregular family situations as part of a broader effort to support and integrate divorced and remarried Catholics into the life of the church.
There are no other interpretations, Francis wrote.
The popes praise of the document was the most direct evidence that Francis supports a significant change in the way individual priests deal with divorced Catholics.
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Read more:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/13/pope-endorsement-softens-stance-on-divorced-catholics