Catholic church prepares for conflict on allowing holy communion for divorcees
Before next month's summit, conservative cardinals have collaborated on a book opposing liberalisation of current rules
Pope Francis' position on the debate is not known, although he has repeatedly called for the Catholic church to be more inclusive. Photograph: Franco Origlia/Getty Images
Lizzy Davies in Rome
theguardian.com, Wednesday 17 September 2014 11.31 EDT
The leadership of the Roman Catholic church is bracing itself for open conflict over its treatment of remarried divorcees as powerful conservatives mobilise before a highly anticipated summit called by Pope Francis for next month.
Ever since he announced the extraordinary session of the synod of bishops last year, the Argentinian pontiff has raised the hopes of many liberals that the church may ease its ban on divorced and remarried Catholics receiving holy communion – a move that could affect millions of people around the world.
In February, in an address setting the scene for the meeting due to start on 5 October, German cardinal Walter Kasper outlined the case for a loosening of the rules that would eventually allow some people access to the sacraments after a period of "penance".
But his views are by no means shared by all the so-called princes of the church, some of whom are taking a harder line and insisting that such a proposal would, in effect, violate the doctrine on the permanence of marriage.
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/17/catholic-church-conflict-over-communion-for-remarried-catholics
It's past time the Eucharist is stopped being treated as a hostage.
