Review article
PASTORAL DIRECTIONS IN DEALING WITH DIVORCED AND CIVILLY REMARRIED. AN INVITATION FOR A DIACONICAL ACTIVITY
Ivo Džinić
; Catholic Faculty of Theology in Đakovo, J. J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Djakovo, Croatia
Abstract
The article deals with the complex issue of the actual pastoral work and behaviour towards persons that experienced a failure of a valid Church marriage, and got remarried civilly. Theology discusses the problem, searching for acceptable solutions, especially in the context of the church practice, i.e. discipline regarding the persons in a second civil marriage and their non-admission to sacraments of confession and eucharist. This article considers the standpoint of the Church a clear direction, and does not discuss this issue, but searches for concrete pastoral possibilities of a systematic work with the separated, divorced and civilly remarried persons. The question is not the pastoral of sacraments, but the diakonia: the help and the service to those who subsequently to a divorce go through a difficult life situation. Workers and employees of the Church, parish vicars, are acquainted with the situation, especially regarding the number and the circumstances of life of interested believers; finally, the article attempts to outline a communication with those believers and a possible integration in the life of the church community, in accordance with the pastoral possibilities.
Keywords
divorced; separated; civilly remarried; pastoral work; personal conversation; integration; community; diaconia
Hrčak ID:
220810
URI
Publication date:
10.8.2008.
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