Can a woman whose husband divorced her receive Communion?
The short answer
Yes, if she is otherwise in a state of grace. Only those who willfully destroyed a valid marriage, or who have entered another romantic relationship, are barred until they regularize their status. The Catechism distinguishes the innocent spouse unjustly abandoned from the one at fault.
Who is barred
A divorced person who willfully destroyed a valid marriage, or who has entered another romantic relationship, may not receive Communion until regularizing his status through confession and/or an annulment. Neither applies here.
The innocent spouse
One spouse can be the innocent victim of a civil divorce and has not violated the moral law. There is a considerable difference between a spouse who sincerely tried to be faithful and was unjustly abandoned and one who through grave fault destroyed a valid marriage (CCC 2386).
The CDF
The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has said a divorced Catholic who has not remarried can receive Communion after confession and while living in complete continence.
Continue exploring
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