Insolubility of marriage, sacramental communion and remarriage as reflected in the ecumenical dialogues
Since the 1960s ecumenical dialogues have endeavoured to formulate common statements concerning marriage. The aim has been to develop a unifying pastoral understanding of matrimony. Reviewing the different dialogues it becomes apparent that the churches do not share a common position concerning the exegesis of the relevant biblical texts. Moreover, this accounts for why there is a variety of practices concerning the acceptance of a second marriage and its liturgical blessing. A significant dividing line still exists between the theological commitment to the indissolubility of marriage and contemporary practice, which seems to revoke this principle due to the pressing needs of our time. For the present debate within the Roman Catholic Church concerning the status of remarried divorced couples, the key issue will be whether the administration of the sacraments is considered in the context of reward and punishment or whether the Eucharist is regarded as a means of mercy and consolation for the brokenness of life.
