Bishop Tobin: “We’ve Got to Do Something”

I LOVE the type of transparency and openness which is at the heart of today’s article from Bishop Tobin of Providence. In the piece, he expresses his concerns openly and with empathy as he addresses pastoral care for divorced and remarried Catholics. Bishop Tobin’s remarks point to a compelling dialogue which will likely unfold at the extraordinary Synod. Among other things, the Bishop writes:

Well, for starters, can we at least think about simplifying the annulment process so that it’s more akin to the current practice of receiving various dispensations for marriage, handled completely at the local level with the oversight of the Diocesan Bishop? Can we eliminate the necessity of having detailed personal interviews, hefty fees, testimony from witnesses, psychological exams, and automatic appeals to other tribunals?

In lieu of this formal court-like process, which some participants have found intimidating, can we rely more on the conscientious personal judgment of spouses about the history of their marriage (after all, they are the ministers and recipients of the sacrament!) and their worthiness to receive Holy Communion? And don’t we already offer Holy Communion to other individuals whose relationship with the Church is impaired, such as Orthodox Christians?

Whatever the outcome of the deliberations, it is important that any “pastoral approach” to divorced and remarried Catholics be adopted by the Universal Church and not attempted at the level of national, diocesan or parish churches. To impose local solutions to this widespread problem would be completely dishonest and misleading, causing only confusion and division.

Read the full article here.