To read the entire document, go to Voice of the Family. But here are some of the "logical
consequences" the bishop points out from a heterodox reading of the document which has been encouraged by Cardinal Schonborn, Cardinal Sodano, Cardinal Kasper and even the pope himself:
Representatives of the clergy and even of the Episcopate are already affirming that according to the spirit of Chapter VIII of AL, the possibility that in exceptional cases, the divorced and remarried may be admitted to Holy Communion without being required to live in perfect continence cannot be excluded.
If we accept such an interpretation of the wording and spirit of AL, we must, if we want to be intellectually honest and respect the law of non-contradiction, also accept the following logical conclusions:
- The sixth Divine Commandment, which prohibits any sexual act that does not take place within a valid marriage, would no longer be universally valid, but would admit exceptions. In the present case, this would mean that the divorced could practice the conjugal act and even be encouraged to do so to help them maintain “mutual fidelity”, cf. AL, 298. There could therefore be “fidelity” in a lifestyle that directly contradicts the express will of God. However, to encourage and legitimize acts that are and will always be, as such, contrary to the will of God, would mean to contradict Divine Revelation.
- The words of Christ himself: “What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder” (Mt 19:6) would no longer apply always and to all spouses, without exception.
- It would be possible, in a special case, to receive the sacrament of Penance and Holy Communion while intending to continue one’s direct violations of God’s commandments: “Thou shalt not commit adultery” (Ex 20: 14) and “What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder” (Mt 19: 6; Gen 2: 24).
- The observance of these commandments and of the word of God would, in such a case, be a matter of theory rather than of practice, and would, therefore, lead the divorced and remarried into “deceiving themselves” (James 1:22). It would, therefore, be possible to believe perfectly in the divine nature of the sixth Commandment and in the indissolubility of marriage without however acting accordingly.
- The divine word of Christ: “Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her; and if a wife divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery” (Mk 10: 12) would no longer be universally valid, but would be subject to exceptions.
- A permanent, deliberate and free violation of God’s sixth Commandment and of the sacredness and indissolubility of true and valid marriage (in the case of divorced and remarried couples) would no longer be always a grave sin, that is to say, a direct opposition to the will of God.
- There could be cases of serious, permanent deliberate and free violation of one of the other commandments of God (e.g. in the case of a lifestyle of financial corruption) in which the person concerned could be granted access to the sacraments due to mitigating circumstances, without such access being made contingent upon a sincere resolution henceforth to abstain from such acts of sin and scandal.
- The permanent and infallible teaching of the Church would no longer be universally valid, particularly the teaching confirmed by Pope John Paul II in Familiaris Consortio, 84 and by Pope Benedict XVI in Sacramentum Caritatis, 29, according to which the precondition for admission to the sacraments of the divorced and remarried is perfect continence.
- The observance of the sixth Commandment of God and of the indissolubility of marriage would become an ideal that is not attainable by all, but only by a kind of elite.
- The uncompromising words of Christ commanding men to observe the commandments of God always and in all circumstances, and even to take upon themselves considerable suffering in order to do so, in other words, to accept the Cross, would no longer be valid as absolute truth: “And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be cast into hell” (Mt 5: 30).
Admitting couples living in “irregular unions” to Holy Communion and allowing them to practice acts that are reserved for spouses in a valid marriage would be tantamount to the usurpation of a power that does not belong to any human authority, because to do so would be a pretension to correct the Word of God himself.Bishop Schneider makes it absolutely clear what is at stake here -- abrogation of the law of God in favor of a false mercy that is likely to lead many to hell. In fact the bishop states clearly that, "To declare that the deliberate, free and habitual practice of sexual acts in an invalid marital union could, in individual cases, no longer constitute a grave sin is not the truth, but a serious lie.... Consequently, to grant permission to such persons to receive Holy Communion would be a bluffing, a hypocrisy and a lie."
The problem today is that many people prefer lies to the truth. And since they appear to have lost their faith they apparently don't fear God and the consequences of their actions. They are likely to go to hell and take many along with them. Which is why we, who do have faith, must cling to the truth and do everything we can to spread it. We aren't alone, however. Even if every member of the hierarchy were a liar and a cheat, we would still have the teachings of the Church, the presence and consolation of the Holy Spirit, the blessing of the sacraments, and the assurance of Our Lady that she will always be Our Mother wrapping us in the folds of her garments. As Pope John Paul II said so often, "Do not be afraid." There is no need as long as we hold firm to the faith and the apostolic tradition taught by the apostles.
St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church, pray for us.
Our Lady, Mother of the Church and Queen of the clergy, pray for us.
lie."
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