Mungo
Member
Interesting.Communion for the divorced and remarried, papal critics and family life: Pope Francis’ ‘Amoris Laetitia’ at 5 years
What is the legacy of Pope Francis’ apostolic exhortation “Amoris Laetitia,” released five years ago today?www.americamagazine.org
Haven't you read the following:
I used to remember the page number and paragraph number.
If you start at about page 220 and forward you'll see that the church has changed its position on divorced and remarrieds.
Here are a few thoughts.
I note one paragraph in the first link regarding the "dubia" asking for clarification:
His supporters say doing so is unnecessary because “Amoris Laetitia” states that it is not changing church teaching but is instead posing possibilities for pastoral care in complex cases; critics have taken the lack of response as confirmation that the pope has broken from church doctrine.
There seems to be disagreement on whether church teaching has changed or not.
Also what exactly is meant by "church teaching". Is it doctrinal teaching, or practices which can change?
Pope Francis seems to be keen on taking a more pastoral line on church practices.
Another point - some of the issue is around those who contract a civil marriage, or just live together, but not a sacramental one.
In the early days of the church a man with a concubine was accepted as long the relationship was exclusive and permanent.
The Council of Toledo, held in 400, in its seventeenth canon legislates as follows for laymen (for ecclesiastical regulations on this head with regard to clerics see CELIBACY): after pronouncing sentence of excommunication against any who in addition to a wife keep a concubine, it says: "But if a man has no wife, but a concubine instead of a wife, let him not be refused communion; only let him be content to be united with one woman, whether wife or concubine"
(Catholic Encyclopedia)