While the document does not mention Communion for such people who are baptised, it calls for their integration into the Church community, while "avoiding every occasion of scandal".

The synod fathers noted that the parties in a divorce may not be equally to blame and the Church must consider this.

The final document reiterates the recommendations of St John Paul II in Familaris Consortio in looking at the reasons why people might have left a first marriage.

"Therefore, while upholding the general norm, it's necessary to recognise that the responsibility for certain actions or decisions is not the same in all cases," the document continued.

"Pastoral discernment, taking account of the correctly formed consciences of people, must take up these situations.

"The consequences of the acts committed are also not the same in all cases."

Suggesting use of what is called the "internal forum", the document states that priests can help remarried Catholics "in becoming conscious of their situation before God" and then deciding how to move forward.

" . . . The necessary conditions should be guaranteed of humility, discretion, and love of the Church and its teachings in the sincere seeking of the will of God and in the wish to give a more perfect response to it," it added.

The way the synod fathers treated the overall issue is seen as leaving the door open for further development of Church teaching on the subject.

German Cardinal Reinhard Marx, a leading progressive voice at the synod, called the document an "historic step".

Several synod prelates have said they expect Pope Francis to develop themes of the gathering in his own document sometime in the future.

All the paragraphs in the synod final document received the necessary two-thirds majority vote to be accepted.

But the most contentious paragraph - number 85 dealing with response to divorced and remarried people - only did this by one vote (178-80).

Among other issues discussed in the document were respect for homosexual people, welcome for co-habiting couples, contraception, supporting families in difficulty and the welfare of children.

Sources

• Crux Now
• National Catholic Reporter
• Associated Press
• The Tablet
• The Tablet
• Image: Fox News

In a report back to the synod, the German-speaking small group presented another way of looking at the issue.

They argue that the Church might be able to use what is called the "internal forum" to allow some civilly remarried persons to take the Eucharist on a private, case-by-case basis after seeking guidance, advice, and then permission from priests or bishops.

German Cardinal Walter Kasper had earlier proposed a "penitential path" for such couples in certain cases.

Cardinal Reinhard Marx of Munich and Freising said his group considered the internal forum possibility after debating different arguments made by St Thomas Aquinas.

The cardinal said the group had focused on arguments made by Aquinas that call for evaluating different situations to discern how to act in each situation.

"What is the application to the special situation and to the special person in his situation?" Cardinal Marx said they asked.

The cardinal said the proposed German process would involve a person, with guidance from a priest or bishop, looking back at the failure of the first marriage to see if they have made reconciliation with people they might have offended and are taking care of any responsibilities from that union.

"That is not a public process, but that is a spiritual way and then you can find a way if and when it might be possible to make a full reconciliation," said the cardinal.

According to Cardinal Marx, the German-speaking small group was unanimous in making the proposal.

The group includes Cardinal Gerhard Muller, the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

An Italian-speaking small group at the synod made a similar suggestion to the German one.

The reports of the 13 small groups at the synod were released earlier this week.

Source

• National Catholic Reporter
• Image: Abyssum.org