[1650] Today in many countries there are numerous Catholics who have recourse to divorce under civil law and who contract a new union civilly. The Church maintains, out of fidelity to the word of Jesus Christ (“Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery”: Mk 10:11-12), that she cannot recognise a new union as valid if the first marriage was valid. If the divorced have remarried civilly, they find themselves in a situation that objectively contravenes the Law of God. For this reason they may not receive Eucharistic Communion for as long as this situation lasts. For the same reason they cannot exercise certain ecclesial responsibilities. Reconciliation through the sacrament of Penance can be granted only to those who have repented of having violated the sign of the Covenant and of fidelity to Christ, and who have undertaken to live in complete continence.
[1651] Towards Christians who live in this situation and who often keep the faith and desire to bring up their children in a Christian way, priests and the whole community must show attentive concern, so that they do not consider themselves separated from the Church, in whose life they can and must share as baptised persons:
“Let them be encouraged to listen to the Word of God, to attend the Sacrifice of the Mass, to persevere in prayer, to increase works of charity and community initiatives on behalf of justice, to bring up their children in the Christian faith, and to cultivate the spirit and practice of penance, so as to implore, day by day, the grace of God” (FC 84).
