In an article to be published in the journal First Things next month, Archbishop Charles Chaput of Philadelphia criticised pastoral approaches that ignore the call to conversion.

He wrote about divorced and civilly remarried people receiving Communion when they continue to live together, have sexual relations and haven't received an annulment.

Archbishop Chaput wrote that the Church doesn't want to punish such people and doesn't in fact exclude them.

The divorced and civilly remarried remain welcome members of the believing community, he stated.

But the Church cannot be merciful without being truthful, the archbishop wrote.

"And the truth is, we are called to conversion.

"A pastoral approach that ignores this truth out of a thinly veiled pastoral despair and accommodationism will result in less faith, not more."

Archbishop Chaput cited Henri de Lubac's saying "The one who wants to adapt himself too much risks letting himself be dragged along".

"Indeed, this is what we see happening in Europe," Archbishop Chaput continued, "in those churches where the pastoral practice regarding divorce, remarriage, and reception of the sacraments has departed from authentic Catholic teaching."

"What ensues from an untruthful teaching about and practice of the sacraments is not a more zealous evangelical life but its collapse."

The Philadelphia archbishop wrote "authentic mercy is evangelical".

"It proceeds from the belief that God's grace has the power to transform us.

"Ironically, a pastoral strategy that minimises sin in the name of mercy cannot be merciful, because it is dishonest."

Archbishop Chaput wrote that: "The moral law guides us toward choices that are life-giving, and true mercy is always intimately linked to truth.

"Indulging our own or another's flawed choices in the supposed service of mercy defeats mercy's true goal."

Archbishop Chaput is a member of the council preparing for the next synod of bishops.

Sources

• First Things
• LifeSiteNews
• Catholic News Agency
• Image: IB Times

On Easter Monday, Pope Francis phoned the home of Jacqueline Sabetta Lisbona, who had written to him in September.

She has been in a civil marriage with her husband for 19 years and they have two children.

But her husband has not received a Church annulment of his first marriage.

Mrs Sabetta Lisbona was told last year by her parish priest that she could not receive Communion.

She was also told she could not go to Confession in her current situation.

Pope Francis reportedly told her to receive Communion in a different parish.

"A divorcee who takes Communion is not doing anything wrong," the Pope reportedly told her.

Pope Francis reportedly told Mrs Sabetta Lisbona that some priests are more papist than the Pope.

The priest who denied her Communion has since left ministry so he can marry.

He will be able to receive Communion.

Pope Francis also reportedly told the woman he was "dealing with the issue" of Communion for divorced and remarried Catholics.

The Pontiff has previously called for mercy in such situations.

The issue is likely to be discussed at a synod on marriage and family life in October.

The Vatican confirmed the call from Pope Francis did take place.

But spokesman Fr Thomas Rosica said the contents of the conversation were private and in a pastoral situation.

Fr Rosica said the comments by the Pope should not be seen as a change in Church doctrine.

"The magisterium of the Church is not defined by personal phone calls," he said.

Another spokesman, Fr Federico Lombardi, said the contents of the conversation could not be confirmed as reliable.

He called it "a source of misunderstanding and confusion".

According to a Religion News Service blog, some pastors would be likely to try for a pastoral approach in cases like Mrs Sabetta Lisbona's.

They would tell her she should go to Communion as they try to regularise her situation by marrying the couple in the Church.

Sources

• CNN
• Religion News Service
• The Tablet
• The Telegraph
• Image: Telegraph