Pastoral Care of Couples in Irregular Marriages A Reflection on Amoris Laetitia Chapter- 8

Abstract

The Exhortation Amoris laetitia has raised a number of theological as well as canonical questions, sometimes with apprehension in the context of the applications of traditional disciplines of the Church. Applying the norm of “an objective state of sin” Amoris laetitia makes a wider interpretation of the disciplines of the Church regarding marriage and pastoral care, especially the administration of sacrament to those in irregular marriage. Pope Francis encourages pastors to act with mercy and compassion when administering the sacraments of penance and the Holy Eucharist.  Holy Father justifies these changes in the application of the traditional discipline by stating: “The Church possesses a solid body of refection concerning mitigating factors and situations. Hence, it can no longer simply be said that all those in any “irregular” situation are living in a state of mortal sin and are deprived of sanctifying grace.