Fr. Soc : Pope reaches out tenderly to suffering couples but…
EASIER ANNULMENT OF MARRIAGES
DAGUPAN CITY— Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas, as head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines’ (CBCP), said Pope Francis “is reaching out tenderly to those who suffer from invalid marriages” but added that “the teaching about the indissolubility and unity of marriage remains”.
He said in a statement that in the Pope’s latest Apostolic Letter Mitis Iudex Dominus Iesus (translated “The Lord Jesus, Clement Judge), the Pope has opted by an act that is called motu proprio to simplify the process for the declaration of marriages null and void from the beginning.
But Villegas said, ”The doctrine about the sacredness of marriage and family life is unchanged. The declaration of nullity of marriages is not divorce.”
He added this new Apostolic Letter reaches out to those Catholics who suffer quietly from the bond and obligations of what they thought was a marriage; when the truth is there was no marriage to speak of from the very start because the requirements for the valid reception of matrimony were not present.
Villegas said the process has been simplified and dramatically shortened.
He said the matrimonial tribunals must be brought closer to the people; in fact each diocese is mandated to have such marriage courts with the Bishop as the symbol of Christ the Lawgiver and Judge.
He added that the services of the Church must be more accessible to the people; the process to receive those blessings of new peace for those who have suffered long, must be simplified.
“Indeed, this is another proof of the old adage in Church pastoral ministry—the salvation of souls is the supreme law,” Villegas said.
The archbishop pointed out “it is so clear to all of us by now that indeed the principal and all-embracing vision of the papacy of Pope Francis is mercy and compassion”.
He said there is a lot of fresh air entering the windows of the Church. More doors are being opened in welcome, he said, quoting what the Lord said “Come to me all who are weary and find life burdensome and I will give you rest”. (Tita Roces)
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