CV NEWS FEED // The Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) published a letter to a bishop in the Dominican Republic that affirmed single mothers may receive Communion so long as they abide by the ordinary requirements of the sacrament’s reception.
In October, Bishop Ramón Alfredo de la Cruz Baldera of the Diocese of San Francisco de Macorís (Dominican Republic) sent an email to the DDF “expressing concern about single mothers who ‘abstain from communion out of fear of the rigorism of the clergy and community leaders.’”
Prefect of the DDF Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández responded to the bishop in a letter published December 14.
Fernández explained that “pastoral work should be done in the local Church to make people understand that being a single mother does not prevent that person from accessing the Eucharist. As for all other Christians, sacramental confession of sins allows the person to approach communion.”
He added,
The ecclesial community should, furthermore, value the fact that single mothers welcomed and defended the gift of life they carried in their wombs and struggle, every day, to raise their children…
Women who, in this situation, have chosen life and who lead a very complex existence because of this choice should be encouraged to have access to the healing and consoling power of the sacraments.
Fernández noted that along with the bishop’s email, several
letters from lay people received by the Holy Father return to the same theme. It is noted that in some countries, both priests and some lay people prevent mothers who have had a child outside of marriage from accessing the sacraments and even baptizing their children.
Fernández added that Pope Francis, before and during his pontificate, has addressed this topic and has “recognized the courage of these women in going ahead with their pregnancy.”
He noted that there needs to be discernment and pastoral accompaniment of mothers in especially difficult circumstances: “It can occur that one of these mothers, given the fragility of her situation, sometimes resorts to selling her body to support her family. The Christian community is called to do everything possible to help her avoid this very serious risk rather than judge her harshly.”
Fernández continued,
Often, when commenting on the biblical episode of the adulterous woman (Jn. 8:1-11), the final phrase is emphasized: “sin no more”. Certainly, Jesus always invites us to change our lives, to respond more faithfully to God’s will, and to live with greater dignity. However, this phrase does not constitute the central message of this Gospel pericope, which is simply the invitation to recognize that no one can cast the first stone.
For this reason, Pope Francis, referring to mothers who must raise their children alone, reminds us that “in such difficult situations of need, the Church must be particularly concerned to offer understanding, comfort, and acceptance, rather than imposing straightaway a set of rules that only lead people to feel judged and abandoned by the very Mother called to show them God’s mercy.”
