A word to Catholics who have experienced divorce. Know our Church wants to help you heal and work through any difficulty holding you back from active participation in the Church. Some parishioners mentioned these concerns in their synod responses. In my experience I really need the help of you laity to aid people heal after divorce. Over my years as a priest I have preached and made announcements inviting people to come in for counseling to help them after a divorce. In all my parishes no one responded. Many though came when other laity urged them to pursue an annulment or talk to the priest about their situation after divorce. Your counseling then is important.
Sadly, I have run into some situations easy to reconcile, such as Catholics who thought they could never come back to communion after a divorce, even when they were living chastely or some married outside the church who do not need an annulment, which out of fear caused them to stay away from the Church even for years. Some people do need to enter into the discernment of annulling their marriage, which judges whether their marriage was originally a “sacramental” marriage. This can be difficult for some, but a healing process. Know that a declaration of annulment, if granted, does not mean your marriage did not exist or your children are illegitimate, but that you and your spouse did not understand or commit to the full meaning of a “Christian” marriage on the day of the wedding. For some good information see www.catholicsdivorce.com.
Please feel free to come in and talk to me in the office.