Divorce and the eucharist
Question on 8/27/2008:
My husband is divorcing me after 25 years of marriage because he is tired, unhappy and does not want to be married anymore. We have five children, nine grandchildren, are active in our parish and are eucharistic ministers. I want reconciliation, but he has continued and filed for divorce. I don't know what to do actually. We both serve at the same mass and on the altar at the same time. Not only awkward and weird, but can this be right I mean to God and the Church. Is it just me or is this just wrong!? Will someone please stand up for God and tell me what the right thing is to do. No one, my priest included, will. Please help!
Answer by Fr. Jay Toborowsky on 8/31/2008:
At the very least, it presents a grave scandal for the parish if the two of you continue to serve as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion at Mass, if the two of you are divorcing (or eventually divorced). The right thing to do, of course, is not to divorce. But if he is determined to do so, you may be powerless to prevent it. How do your children feel about this?
If he is serious about this, you may want to consult an attorney, just to make sure your legal rights to property and financial support are protected (justice calls for that). In the meantime, I'd suggest you tell your pastor that you want to take some time off from assisting with the distribution of Holy Communion. You probably would do better to spend that time at Holy Communion with the Lord, without worrying about "doing something" during that time.
Question on 8/27/2008:
My husband is divorcing me after 25 years of marriage because he is tired, unhappy and does not want to be married anymore. We have five children, nine grandchildren, are active in our parish and are eucharistic ministers. I want reconciliation, but he has continued and filed for divorce. I don't know what to do actually. We both serve at the same mass and on the altar at the same time. Not only awkward and weird, but can this be right I mean to God and the Church. Is it just me or is this just wrong!? Will someone please stand up for God and tell me what the right thing is to do. No one, my priest included, will. Please help!
Answer by Fr. Jay Toborowsky on 8/31/2008:
At the very least, it presents a grave scandal for the parish if the two of you continue to serve as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion at Mass, if the two of you are divorcing (or eventually divorced). The right thing to do, of course, is not to divorce. But if he is determined to do so, you may be powerless to prevent it. How do your children feel about this?
If he is serious about this, you may want to consult an attorney, just to make sure your legal rights to property and financial support are protected (justice calls for that). In the meantime, I'd suggest you tell your pastor that you want to take some time off from assisting with the distribution of Holy Communion. You probably would do better to spend that time at Holy Communion with the Lord, without worrying about "doing something" during that time.
