Fr. Michael Walsh (Letters, 7 November) replies to Lawrence West (Letters, 10 October) and refers to Jesus' sayings in the Gospel of Matthew Mt 5:32 and 19:9.
The "forgotten" Gospel reading which I have never heard anybody preach on as much as divorce and remarriage, or heard said that it had to be taken literally - or adhered literally - is the story of the Rich Young Man.
Jesus says, "Go sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven" (Mark 19:17-21).
I have never met anybody, “censorious hierarchy” included who has actually followed this commandment in a literal way.
Never.
But I have read acres of print on the situations of people who, divorce, remarry and then find themselves excluded from that which is so important to them - receiving communion .
Since Jesus did not leave a clear list of priorities, perhaps helping the poor might have precedence over inquiring into people’s private and often difficult situations.
Does Fr. Walsh actually believe, for example, that God has joined a domestic abuser to an innocent woman who may never divorce and have second chance of happiness?
If we actually take literally that nobody should approach the Eucharist unworthily, then everybody is excluded-Fr. Walsh included.
I do not remember any encyclical or Apostolic Letter stating that a priest who abuses a child should cancel Mass the following day.
Some must have celebrated the Eucharist “unworthily” but people who remarry and have a normal sex life are repeatedly told that they are “unworthy”.
The attitude displayed by Fr. Walsh may follow the letter of the law, but not the spirit : life is messy and things happen because none of us are perfect.
To refuse communion to decent people who have followed their conscience , have divorced and remarried is implying that some are perfect-the ones who make the rules.
Gerard Millrine, Burnside, Glasgow
Loading ...
