Michael Brooks
There are differing opinions on whether divorced Catholics can receive communion. Some sources claim that divorced Catholics can receive communion as long as they have not remarried or lived with a new partner outside of marriage. In this case, the divorced Catholic would be treated like any other member of the Church. Other sources claim that divorced Catholics can receive communion even if they have remarried, as long as they have confessed and agreed to live as brother and sister with their new partner. However, the majority of sources state that divorced Catholics who have remarried or lived with a new partner outside of marriage are considered to be in a state of grave or mortal sin and are therefore unable to receive communion.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can divorced Catholics receive communion? | Yes, if they have not remarried. |
| Can divorced and remarried Catholics receive communion? | No, unless they have received sacramental absolution through confession and are living in complete continence. |
| Can divorced Catholics receive communion if they are in a non-marital union? | Yes, with the grace of God, they can receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation and subsequently that of sacramental Communion. |
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What You'll Learn
Divorce is not always a sin
The Church also acknowledges that divorce may be necessary, even if it is never good. Divorce can be the result of dangerous or degrading situations, such as abuse, and it is not God's will for anyone to remain in such a situation.
Furthermore, imputability and responsibility for an action can be diminished or even nullified by ignorance, duress, fear, habit, inordinate attachments, and other psychological or social factors. While the Church maintains that a new union cannot be recognised as valid if the first marriage was, this does not necessarily make the couple "subjectively" guilty of committing a mortal sin. The morality of a specific action depends not only on the "objective" action but also on the "intention" and "circumstances" in which the act takes place.
However, if a divorced Catholic without an annulment attempts marriage again outside of the Church, this is considered a state of objective sin, and they cannot receive Communion as long as this situation persists.
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Remarriage without annulment
Divorce is not always a sin in the Catholic Church, and a Catholic who is simply divorced may receive Communion like any other member of the Church. However, divorced Catholics who remarry outside of the Church without an annulment cannot receive Communion. This is because the Church considers them to still be married to their first spouse, and their new union is therefore a state of objective sin.
The Catholic Church considers all marriages between baptised persons to be sacramental and binding for life. For this reason, it requires a declaration of nullity from a Church tribunal to establish that an essential element was missing in the previous union, and that the spouses are free to marry again.
The process for obtaining a declaration of nullity is compassionate, discreet, and completely confidential. It involves a Church tribunal examining the events leading up to, and at the time of, the wedding ceremony to determine whether what was required for a valid marriage was ever brought about. Essential elements of a valid Catholic marriage include the intention to marry for life, to be faithful, and to be open to having and raising children, as well as the presence of two witnesses and a properly authorised Church minister.
If a divorced Catholic without an annulment chooses to live with their new partner as though they are married, they cannot attain absolution through confession or receive Communion as long as they remain in this state. However, if they commit to abstinence until their prior marriage is declared null and their current marriage is blessed, they can then go to confession and resume Communion.
While divorced Catholics who remarry without an annulment cannot receive Communion, they are still beloved members of God’s family and are welcome and required to attend Mass.
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Absolution through confession
Absolution is an integral part of the Sacrament of Penance in Catholicism. It is the remission of sin, or of the punishment due to sin, granted by the Church. Absolution can be attained through confession, which is ordinarily done in the confessional booth in a church. However, in certain situations, such as when an elderly parishioner is physically unable to come to the church, a priest may hear a confession at a parishioner's home or another location.
To validly receive absolution, the penitent must make a sincere sacramental confession of all known mortal sins not yet confessed to a priest. They must also express contrition, which is a sincere sorrow for their sins and a resolve to not sin again. The priest then assigns a penance, such as a prayer of contrition, and imparts absolution in the name of the Trinity, on behalf of Jesus Christ, using a fixed sacramental formula.
In the Catholic Church, it is believed that only God forgives sins and that Jesus Christ, who is God incarnate, willed his ministry of forgiveness of sins to continue through the ministry of his Church. The priest, therefore, acts as an intermediary, freeing the penitent from sin through the Sacrament of Penance.
In the case of divorced Catholics, absolution through confession is possible if they have not entered into another marriage outside of the Church. If a divorced Catholic remarries without an annulment, they are considered to be living in a state of objective sin, and they cannot attain absolution through confession or receive Communion. However, if their previous marriage is declared null and their current marriage is blessed, they can then go to confession and receive Communion.
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Adultery and grave sin
Divorce is not always a sin, but even when it is, absolution can be attained through confession. However, divorced Catholics who remarry outside the Church are considered to be in a state of grave sin, specifically, the sin of adultery. This is because, according to the Church, a true marriage can only be ended by the death of one of the spouses, so if the first marriage was valid, it remains a reality until one partner dies.
The Church maintains that a new union cannot be recognized as valid if the first marriage was valid. If the divorced are remarried civilly, they are considered to be in a situation that objectively contravenes God’s law and are therefore unable to receive Eucharistic communion. This is because those receiving communion profess to live for God and to fulfil his will, and those living in a state of grave sin are not properly disposed to receive communion.
However, it is possible for a divorced and remarried Catholic without an annulment to begin receiving Communion again if the couple agrees to live as "brother and sister", without sexual relations. This is considered a generous and fulfilling decision, and there is great rejoicing in Heaven when a sinner converts.
It is important to note that divorced Catholics who have not remarried are not prohibited from receiving communion. In fact, the Church teaches that divorced Catholics are not separated from the Church and should continue to share in its life, including attending Mass and receiving communion.
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The Church's stance on divorce
The Catholic Church's stance on divorce is that it does not prohibit divorced Catholics from receiving Holy Communion, provided they have not remarried outside the Church. Divorce is not always a sin, but if a divorced Catholic without an annulment remarries, this is considered a state of objective sin, and they cannot receive Communion.
The Church maintains that a new union cannot be recognized as valid if the first marriage was valid. If the divorced Catholic remarries without an annulment, they cannot receive Eucharistic Communion as long as this situation persists. This is because their state of life objectively contradicts the union of love between Christ and the Church, which Communion signifies.
However, a divorced Catholic who has not remarried is an integral member of the Body of Christ and should be accompanied through this painful part of their life's journey. They are encouraged to go to Mass, pray, and perform works of charity.
A divorced Catholic who has remarried without an annulment can receive Communion again if the couple agrees to live as "brother and sister", without sexual relations. This is because they are no longer living in a state of grave sin.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, divorced Catholics can receive communion. However, if they remarry outside the Church, they cannot receive communion.
If the divorced Catholic remarries with the Church's approval, they can receive communion.
If the divorced Catholic remarries without the Church's approval, they cannot receive communion. This is because they are considered to be living in a state of grave or mortal sin, adulterating their previous marriage.
