Cardinal Eijk: Divorced Remarried Cannot Receive Communion
Cardinal Eijk explained that a civil marriage is not a legitimate union: "If the bond of the first marriage is still valid, it is not a marriage. This is the problem."
The question cannot be reduced to a disciplinary or pastoral issue. "There are people who live in this situation, yet still go to church and want to receive the sacraments. This is naturally difficult. Christ gives himself totally to us in the sacrament of the Eucharist, and we must also give ourselves totally to him. If this total gift of ourselves to him is lacking in marriage, one cannot receive Communion," he said.
Individually, adulterers can receive a blessing. "We have always blessed sinners in the Church. This would be my solution."
Picture: Willem Eijk © Mazur CC BY-NC-SA, #newsLpdbifcvca