The ethos of mercy and the dilemma of the conscience of people who live in non-sacramental relationships

Ireneusz Mroczkowski

Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw

Abstract

The author of the article assumes that the ongoing discussion, which started in the Catholic Church after the Amoris laetitia exhortation by pope Francis, can enrich the form and meaning of pastoral work of persons living in irregular
relationships. Pastoral accompaniment of such people should not provide any opportunities for minimalizing the requirements of the Gospel regarding the indissolubility of marriage. However, it should, to a greater extent than so far, take into account circumstances diversifying the burden of guilt for the sin of unfaithfulness. As a result of the equal treatment of the cheated and the cheating, people living in irregular relationships fall into two forms of sin against the Holy Spirit: impudent sinning in the hope for Divine Mercy and doubting in the possibility of receiving Divine Mercy. A fair judgment of the sin of unfaithfulness is provided by conscience presented in a triple role: a witness of objective truth about the sacrament of marriage, a guardian of the human being, acting in particular situations and a judge of individual human acts. Conscience as a witness cannot deny that remaining in a non-sacramental relationship not
only creates, but also strengthens sinful situations, which prevents a person from full participation in the Eucharist, namely receiving the Holy Communion. In such a situation theologians should prepare varied forms and means of getting to the divorced who live in sin. Even though this prevents them – without meeting known conditions – from participating in the Eucharist, the cheating and the cheated found themselves in a different situation in view of Divine Mercy. Pastoral accompaniment of the former should consist in awaking their conscience to take responsibility for his/her wife/husband and children and opening the heart of the latter for the grace of Divine Mercy, especially that which is present in the Eucharist. There are no obstacles for this person to want to be in a spiritual union with Jesus and directly feel accepted by Him in his/her longing and zeal. For such a person the Eucharist is above all a remedy.

Keywords:

marriage, divorce, pastoral work for the divorced, spiritual communion, Divine Mercy