UNITED STATES
Questions from a Ewe
Before and now during the much heralded Synod on the Family, I have heard and continue to hear a great hullabaloo about whether or not to allow communion for divorcees who remarry without first having their previous marriages annulled. I find this fixation odd because I think it represents misplaced focus, wreaking of hypocrisy.
At the risk of expressing myself in an inefficient manner, allow me to share some recent inter-personal exchanges with you.
Last week I was in Africa for a large diocesan event. Consequently I found myself in the company of many African priests. Our conversations often turned to the Synod. While in the company of four African priests I mentioned that some American media outlets reported that the African bishops were trying to block certain discussions. One of the four replied that he thought he knew which topics African bishops would try to block and then proceeded to speculate they were LGBT issues and communion for “‘separated’ and remarried Catholics…because there is no such thing as ‘divorce’ in the eyes of God.”
We had a spirited dialogue following his comment that went something like this:
Me: Why are you focusing on lay Catholics rather than the priests who break the same commandment?
Him: (deer in headlights look….)
Me: I’ve seen statistics that about 50% of Catholic priests are sexually active. There are 4 priests here now. Statistically speaking, that means 2 of you are probably sexually active. According to moral theology, you two break the same commandment as divorced and remarried people. However, not only do you get to receive communion, you get to consecrate the hosts!
Him: But such priests do this in secret!!!!
Me: Which is more reprehensible! Secrecy gave the abuse scandal, didn’t it? Besides, it’s not a secret. People tend to know.
Him: (a more frightened deer in headlights look…)
Me: Tell me truthfully, do you know multiple priests who are currently sexually active?
Him: (stunned look)
Me: So, you’d be lying if you told me “no” wouldn’t you? And, thus, it’s not a secret is it?
Him: (chuckling in a very sheepish rather than shepherd-ish way) Welllllllll……
Me: Well nothing. They’re sexually active… they break the same commandment as divorcees. Commandment number 6 covers all sex-related sins. Same commandment. Same sin. But nobody is talking about refusing communion to all these sexually active priests.
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