23 juni 2015
Concerning the aforementioned subject, a great number agree that a journey of reconciliation or penance, under the auspices of the local bishop, might be undertaken by those who are divorced and civilly remarried, who find themselves in irreversible situations. In reference to H. Paus Johannes Paulus II - Postsynodale Apostolische Exhortatie
Familiaris Consortio
Over de taken van het christelijk gezin in de wereld van deze tijd
(22 november 1981), the suggestion was made to follow a process which includes: becoming aware of why the marriage failed and the wounds it caused; due repentance; verification of the possible nullity of the first marriage; a commitment to spiritual communion; and a decision to live in continence.
Others refer to a way of penance, meaning a process of clarifying matters after experiencing a failure and a reorientation which is to be accompanied by a priest who is appointed for this purpose. This process ought to lead the party concerned to an honest judgment of his/her situation. At the same time, the priest himself might come to a sufficient evaluation as to be able to suitably apply the power of binding and loosing to the situation.
In order to examine thoroughly the objective situation of sin and the moral culpability of the parties, some suggest considering Congregatie voor de Geloofsleer
Annus Internationalis Familiae
Brief aan de bisschoppen van de R.-K. Kerk over het ontvangen van de Communie door hertrouwd gescheiden gelovigen
(14 september 1994) (14 September 1994) and Pauselijke Raad voor Wetsteksten
Betreffende het toelaten tot de Communie van gelovigen die gescheiden zijn en hertrouwd
(24 juni 2000) of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts (24 June 2000).
