Bishop Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix, Arizona, has said that Pope Francis’s exhortation Amoris Laetitia preserves papal teaching that bars Communion for the remarried.
The Church has traditionally taught that the remarried cannot receive Communion unless living “as brother and sister”. The teaching, which dates back to the early Church, was affirmed by St John Paul II and Benedict XVI. Amoris Laetitia does not directly address it.
Earlier this month the bishops of the Buenos Aires region became the first to suggest that traditional teaching could be overridden.
In guidelines for priests, the bishops suggested that some remarried people whose “responsibility and culpability” were diminished might be able to receive Communion, even if not trying to live as brother and sister.
Writing in the diocesan newspaper, the Catholic Sun, Bishop Olmsted affirmed the traditional teaching.
The bishop wrote: “Accompaniment is possible and should be the case in our parishes. This does not, however, include receiving Holy Communion for those who are divorced and remarried.”
Bishop Olmsted said: “Throughout Amoris Laetitia we see a continuity with the Church’s Magisterium, especially that of Blessed Paul VI, St John Paul II, and Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, which reaffirm the constant tradition of the Church.”
He cited John Paul II’s Familiaris Consortio and Benedict XVI’s Sacramentum Caritatis, which affirm the Church’s tradition.
Bishop Olmsted said conscience must be formed in the light of “God’s word and the authoritative teaching of the Church. For good reason, then, Pope Francis affirms both of these as the primary foundation for his document.”
Francis tells journalists: don’t wage war on migrants
Journalists must not foment fear when covering issues or events such as forced migration due to war or famine, Pope Francis has said.
While exposing wrongdoing is “legitimate and, I would add, necessary”, reporters must never let their words become “a weapon of destruction” against people or nations, he told representatives of Italy’s national association of journalists. About 400 people attended the audience in the Apostolic Palace.
Despite the shifts in how news is produced and distributed, journalists who follow professional standards “remain the mainstay, a fundamental element for the vitality of a free and pluralist society”, the Pope said.
Journalists had a great responsibility in writing what was in some ways “the first draft of history”, he added.
Being honest, respectful and professional was crucial for journalists because “their voice can reach everyone, and this is a very powerful weapon,” he said. If a person is unjustly slandered, “he can be destroyed for ever”.
Criticism “must always be done [while] respecting others, their life and loved ones,” he said.
Italian takes charge in Holy Land
An Italian friar, Fr Pierbattista Pizzaballa, has taken office as apostolic administrator of the Latin Patriarchate in the Holy Land. He replaces Patriarch Fouad Twal, who had reached the retirement age of 75.
The patriarch has traditionally been a native Arabic speaker. Fr Pizzaballa said there had been no change in policy and he would hold the position only until a “proper and better candidate” was selected.
Areas of Catholic Herald business are still recovering post-pandemic.
However, we are reaching out to the Catholic community and readership, that has been so loyal to the Catholic Herald. Please join us on our 135 year mission by supporting us.
We are raising £250,000 to safeguard the Herald as a world-leading voice in Catholic journalism and teaching.
We have been a bold and influential voice in the church since 1888, standing up for traditional Catholic culture and values. Please consider donating.