THE CONFESSIONAL FOR NECESSARILY NEEDED

LIDIA DUDKIEWICZ, THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF ‘NIEDZIELA’

We remember tension during a synod of bishops concerting family, and then impatiently waiting for the papal post-synod document. And we lived to. The exhortation of the Holy Father Francis "Amoris laetitia" was published. This, however, did not end the discussion, but gave the beginning for speculations based on different interpretations of the papal document. In the current issue of 'Niedziela' we find a record of a conversation with Archbishop Marek Jędraszewski, which finally explains this issue clearly. The most important sentence, which in this conversation you have to remember is: "The Church cannot change the law of God." Archbishop Jędraszewski states that, in the post-synodal exhortation there is nothing about the possibility of providing Holy Communion to divorced people who live in new relationships. He refers to Cardinal Gerhard Muller, a prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, who clearly states that "in order to receive Holy Communion, you need to be in a state of grace." He says simply that you cannot receive Holy Communion, being in a state of mortal sin. This applies to persons who, after divorce live in the re-union as a marriage. "After all, they are just in a situation of sin - and it is a grave sin, which has a public dimension" - observes Cardinal. Muller admits that in exhortation "Amoris laetitia" Pope Francis calls to ensure that the priests in their pastoral practice try to approach life in the Church to those who are in an irregular situation. The point is not to reject them, but make them incorporated in the life of the parish community, as far as possible. This does not mean a consent to their participation in the Sacrament of the Eucharist.

In an interview with the Archbishop. Jędraszewski there are very important thoughts on development of human conscience and the role of the priest in the process. You need to make it clear that people with well-formed conscience will have no trouble in understanding the Church's teaching on the indissolubility of marriage. Against this background, Archbishop Jędraszewski helps to understand why the West confessionals are empty, and even many churches have been removed. It turns out that this is the result of misinterpretation of the teachings of Vatican II. In addition, at this time it came the revolution of 1968. And one of its slogans is: "It is forbidden to forbid." In the name of so absolute freedom of man began to reject the Decalogue, because it contains a number of prohibitions, and confession, as the practice of derogatory like that freedom. Since then the man himself had to decide what is good and what is bad - notes Archbishop Jędraszewski. "Thus, they rejected the existence of sin. If there is no sin, what is still the sense of confession?"

Unfortunately, some communities began to move away from confession and it even seemed that confessionals are no longer needed. But this is only a semblance, and the facts speak themselves. It turns out that if a Polish priest wants to work pastorally in the West "in the spirit of healthy doctrine of the Church and restores in a church confessional", it very quickly will set the queue of people willing to go to confession. I cannot be otherwise, because the faith and religious practice is a port of salvation. People known and unknown speak about it in the columns of 'Niedziela' strong faith, having the courage to admit to Christ. A very popular actress, regarded as a heroine because she speaks about her faith ;publicly, is astonished, because - in her opinion in the country where more than 98 percent of the society claims to be Catholics, admitting to faith it cannot be regarded as an act of courage. For the religious actress it is obvious, according to what we declare. So, let’s stick to it and enjoy having Catholic celebrities in Poland.

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„Niedziela” 22/2016

Editor: Tygodnik Katolicki "Niedziela", ul. 3 Maja 12, 42-200 Czestochowa, Polska
Editor-in-chief: Fr Jaroslaw Grabowski • E-mail: redakcja@niedziela.pl