In the Catholic Church, one learns that divorced members of the Church who remarry, without the previous marriage being annulled, are forbidden to participate sacramentally in the Church, including participation in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and more importantly, not being able to receive the Holy Eucharist. They are also not allowed to hold positions of leadership in the parish or public ministerial roles such as Eucharistic Minister or Lector. Because of this exclusion and ostracization, a 2011 Pew Research Center survey shows that almost one third (33%) of all Catholics who leave the Church do so because of the Church’s teaching on divorce (Pew). Lawler quotes Fr. Kenneth Himes who comments that, “the single biggest reason people cease
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As opposed to Roman Catholic Christianity that always followed the absolute teachings of the historical Jesus concerning divorce and remarriage (Mark 10:1-12), the Eastern Orthodox Church developed its theology of divorce and remarriage by means of state decree, being forced to recognize divorce and remarriage by Emperor Leo VI, and Gospel teachings (Corbett 611-612). Because the Orthodox Church believes that the Gospels teach that God, as the universal Father of the household (oikos), is merciful and compassionate, the Church must assume this role when pastoring to the divorced and remarried (Lawler 111). The Eastern Church diverges from the Roman West with respect to its understanding of Romans 6:14 where, “…because you are not under the law, but under grace”. As such, where the Roman Catholic Church’s theology is based on the absolute “law” of Jesus’ pronouncement on divorce and remarriage, the Orthodox Church sees the grace of God at work with respect to reinstating the remarried faithful back into the good graces of the church. Thus a second marriage, as recognized by the Antiochian Archdiocese, “…is an extension of the Church’s mercy due to human failings and frailty and is permitted only in certain circumstances” (Antiochian). This whole evolution in the Orthodox faith would be considered …show more content…
However, the basic format is that a person needs to get a civil divorce for the church to recognize the dissolution of the first marriage. Some churches, along with the civil divorce decree also provide a decree of ecclesiastical divorce. Some churches then provide the divorced person a decree to remarry. If at some point the person decides to remarry, the request for a second marriage service is made. The service of the second marriage is slightly different from the first marriage, in that it is not as festive as a first marriage. As noted by the rites of the Antiochian Orthodox
As opposed to Roman Catholic Christianity that always followed the absolute teachings of the historical Jesus concerning divorce and remarriage (Mark 10:1-12), the Eastern Orthodox Church developed its theology of divorce and remarriage by means of state decree, being forced to recognize divorce and remarriage by Emperor Leo VI, and Gospel teachings (Corbett 611-612). Because the Orthodox Church believes that the Gospels teach that God, as the universal Father of the household (oikos), is merciful and compassionate, the Church must assume this role when pastoring to the divorced and remarried (Lawler 111). The Eastern Church diverges from the Roman West with respect to its understanding of Romans 6:14 where, “…because you are not under the law, but under grace”. As such, where the Roman Catholic Church’s theology is based on the absolute “law” of Jesus’ pronouncement on divorce and remarriage, the Orthodox Church sees the grace of God at work with respect to reinstating the remarried faithful back into the good graces of the church. Thus a second marriage, as recognized by the Antiochian Archdiocese, “…is an extension of the Church’s mercy due to human failings and frailty and is permitted only in certain circumstances” (Antiochian). This whole evolution in the Orthodox faith would be considered …show more content…
However, the basic format is that a person needs to get a civil divorce for the church to recognize the dissolution of the first marriage. Some churches, along with the civil divorce decree also provide a decree of ecclesiastical divorce. Some churches then provide the divorced person a decree to remarry. If at some point the person decides to remarry, the request for a second marriage service is made. The service of the second marriage is slightly different from the first marriage, in that it is not as festive as a first marriage. As noted by the rites of the Antiochian Orthodox