Saturday, December 30, 2023

A Catholic Liturgical Rite for Receiving Irregular Couples Back into Good Standing with the Church

I’m thinking of a divorced and remarried couple, or a same sex couple, that for very practical reasons—like raising kids still at home—who would have a serious hardship separating, who are repenting of their sin and committed to celibacy, perhaps the Church can create a liturgical rite for them to receive the Church’s blessing, be reconciled to the Church publicly, and to be received warmly into the parish church.

The Church could create a formal process for this similar to RCIA.  Prepare the “couple” for this, that is to cease their “couple” relationship, to commit formally to celibacy, and to commit to a purely platonic relationship focused on raising the children. Part of that preparation would be Confession. 

There might be other similar, difficult situations.  Say for example two lesbians who have lived together for decades, now civilly “married,”who are so old and dependent on one another financially and materially that separating would cause extreme difficulty.  Then one or both want to be practicing Catholics, chaste, and having separate beds.  

The ceremony could include a public promise to be chaste, and then the blessing not of a “couple” but a friendship, to give them graces to give mutual support as friends, raise any children, and be chaste.  The parish would then welcome them for becoming heroic, orthodox, and truly Catholic, celebrating their return to the Church with open arms. 

Just think if the Church would consider THIS, calling countless divorced and remarried, and same sex “couples” to repentance, but in a merciful and welcoming way to integrate them back into the Church.  Instead of even giving the appearance of accepting grave sin.