According to People.com, on Easter Sunday Gibson confided in the parishioners at the Agoura Hills Holy Family Catholic Church that his wife had filed for divorce. Thus the question remains: will the traditionalist Catholic be able to remain director of the church that he spent his own $5.1 million building? Gibson and his soon-to-be ex-wife are listed in federal tax records as directors of the secluded church.
“The church is against divorce. When someone gets married, they're married for life. They will grant annulments in certain situations after evaluating the validity of the marriage,” said Rev. Patrick O’Dwyer of the St. Maximillian Kolbe Church in Oak Park, Calif. “They do not look down upon anyone in the religion and if someone is going through a divorce, the church will do all they can to help.”
I have a question. In a "no fault" state like California - and putting aside the allegations that Mel has been less than faithful to his vows - a person does not have choice if their spouse files for a dissolution of marriage (it's not legally called a divorce). Can the spouse that did not file for dissolution, but cannot stop the proceedings, still receive the Sacraments despite their divorced state?
Priestly and canonical types, weigh in!
6 comments:
Yes, they can still receive.(Been there, done that.) However, unless a decree of nullity has been issued there can be NO dating or marriage, civil or otherwise, if they want to continue receiving the Sacraments.
Answer: Any person who has been civilly divorced may receive...in the eyes of the Church they are still married, and a civil divorce does not alter their canonical state in the eyes of the Church.
If a person remarries without a canonical decree of nullity, THEN they are committing perpetual adultery and may not receive the Sacraments.
I'm "Dissoluted"? Darn it.
Yeah, as long as they're not in mortal sin by, say, ****ing around on the side.
It's not the divorce, per se, that throws you out of the sacrament. It's if you remarry without recieving an annulment.
This would apply even to the party filing for the divorce. If you're married to a wife beater, for instance, you'd be smart to get a civil divorce, and of course, the canon lawyers are going to want to see that the civil divorce has taken place too before they can agree (if it's possible for an annulment to be granted) to give you permission to be married in the church.
Yes Mel can still take the Sacraments--but he must be Celibate until his marriage is Annuled and if it's not--tough, he'll have to wait till his WIFE dies.
The others have answered well, though I think it'd be a good idea for him to get in Communion with the Pope first.
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