Cardinal Gerhard Müller correctly insists that the Catholic tradition has always committed itself to the indissolubility of marriage. The origin of the Church’s teaching is found in Jesus’ debate with the Pharisees reported in Mark 10:1-12. As well as Mark 10:5-9, prohibition of divorce is found in the gospel text known as Q (Matt 5:32; Luke 16:18). Paul (1 Cor 7:10-11) regards the prohibition of divorce as “a word of the Lord”.
The Roman Catholic Church only allows an “annulment” when a case can be made for a flaw in the required consent prior to the marriage contract. This practice has led to a great deal of pain in subsequent unhappy Catholic marriages.
Jesus’ response to the Pharisees insists upon God’s original creative design. Divorce was not part of God’s design “from the beginning of creation” (Mark 10:6). But the reconstitution of God’s creative design has been achieved only in the person of Jesus. For the rest of humankind it is “in process.”
The “ideal” of God’s original plan (see Mark 10:6) is not present in the ambiguity of the human story. The Catholic tradition presupposes that it is - from the first moment of a marriage. Jesus’ “dream” (10:5-9) was lived perfectly only by him. A confusion of the “ideal” and the “real,” brings devastating results to the lives of “imperfect” people, striving (and failing) in their Christian lives.
Professor Joseph Ratzinger once wrote of “the inner tension of church exegesis, which can no longer be removed, but must simply be accepted as tension,” and that the Word of God must be allowed to correct “distortions of tradition” (1968). Is this Synod the time and the place to look critically, and pastorally, at “church exegesis,” and ask whether or not it may help us to unravel a “distortion” in our Catholic tradition?
Fr Francis J. Moloney, SDB, Victoria, Australia
In the 13 September issue of The Tablet there were articles suggesting that the forth-coming Synod on the Family is an opportunity for bold initiatives for the pastoral care of divorced and remarried couples (Bishop Johan Bonny, Archbishop Kevin McDonald). In the same issue, there was an article on the ecumenical activities of Enzo Bianchi and his role as an adviser to the holy See (Ricardo Larini, 13 September).
Together, these draw our attention to another group that would welcome a bold initiative from the Synod - namely interchurch couples. Here, one spouse is Catholic and the other non-Catholic. As is the case in Bianchi’s communities, each partner brings gifts from their Christian tradition which can enrich their spiritual journey together. As Bishop Bonny says, “Catholic doctrine makes a close connection between the Sacrament of Marriage and the Sacrament of the Eucharist.” But having married such couples sacramently in their churches, how does the Church continue to support such couples ? Not, we would respectfully suggest, by making it difficult for the non-Catholic partner to officially receive communion when they are worshipping together in a Catholic Church, nor by telling the Catholic partner that they should not receive in churches of other traditions. Permission to receive on a special occasion, such as their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, is no real solution or support to their continuing journey together.
Interchurch Couples in their spiritual journey together can, by discussion and inquiry together with support from their priests and religious, gain a deeper understanding of the place of the Eucharist. Isn’t it time for a bold initiative to support such couples? As Richard Rohr put it (Yes, and ... daily meditations, Franciscan Media, 2013) “Jesus was consistently inclusive. You try and find an example where Jesus intentionally excludes anyone … Even the Eucharist itself is still used, in my Catholic Church, to define the worthy, the pure, and the true members, or as a reward for good behaviour. Where did this come from?”
Antony and Janet Denman, Brixworth, Northampton
Is it too late to suggest that next year's "Big Synod" on the family should include representative married priests with families, from the mainstream Catholic Church?
Mgr Basil Loftus, Helmsdale, Sutherland
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