Pope Warns Divorced Catholics Who Remarry Not to Take Communion

Pope John Paul II, cracking down on what he considers serious abuses in his flock, issued a stern reminder Thursday that divorced Roman Catholics who remarry cannot receive Communion.

The pontiff also warned Roman Catholics against taking Communion in non-Roman Catholic churches -- drawing immediate criticism from some Protestant leaders for what they call a step backward in efforts to achieve Christian unity.

John Paul’s warnings were contained in an encyclical, a special letter reserved for matters of extreme importance to the church.

“It is my hope that the present encyclical letter will effectively help to banish the dark clouds of unacceptable doctrine and practice,” the pope wrote, going on to denounce abuses and confusion over “sound faith and Catholic doctrine” concerning Communion.

Although the pope has made better relations with other Christians a goal of his papacy, his alarm that some Roman Catholics may be diluting their faith by pursuing those efforts irritated other Christians.

Domenico Tomassetto, a member of the ecumenical relations commission of the Baptist, Waldensian and Methodist churches in Italy, said the encyclical made “a definite cut to the entire ecumenical process.”

John Paul’s crackdown regarding Communion, while breaking no new ground, also was likely to stir up anger in the United States and other countries where divorced and remarried Catholics have been hoping that the pope might someday reverse the ban on their participation in sacraments. Vatican teaching forbids divorce and considers Catholics who remarry after divorce to be living in sin.

Although the pope did not specifically cite the plight of divorced Catholics, experts said his intent was clear.

“That is what the Vatican is saying for years about the non-admission of public sinners to the Eucharist whether they be divorced or Mafia or people who are notorious criminals,” said Father Thomas Reese, editor of America, a Jesuit magazine.

Roman Catholics also should not receive Communion in non-Catholic churches, the pope said. Roman Catholics believe that they receive the body and blood of Christ in Communion, but many other Christians view Communion as a symbolic re-creation of the Last Supper.

Germany’s Lutheran church said the pope’s “strict” interpretations underscored the rift among Christians. Berlin will hold a major ecumenical conference next month.

“It must soberly be recognized that a common view about ... Communion does not appear possible at this time,” said Christof Vetter, a spokesman.

The pontiff did say there were some special circumstances in which other Christians could take Communion from a Roman Catholic priest to meet the need for “eternal salvation.” Likewise, Roman Catholics could ask ministers from other faiths with “valid” sacraments to give them Communion, confession or final rites.