The Southern Nebraska Register is published weekly, September through May, except the week following Christmas; bi-weekly June through August.

Was there a time when Catholics who got a divorce were excommunicated?

In the United States until 1969 there was a particular Church Law for our country that said Catholics who divorced and remarried outside the Church incurred the ecclesiastical penalty of excommunication. That censure was dropped, but it should be noted that Catholics who divorce and remarry outside the Church still are, by that action, in the state of mortal sin and alienation from the Church, and consequently, although they are required to attend Holy Mass on all Sundays and Holy Days, they must not receive Holy Communion unless or until their marital situation is regularized in the Church. Civil divorce, in God’s eyes and, therefore, in the eyes of the Catholic Church, does not end a valid marriage for a Catholic. Sometimes the authorities of the Church may permit a Catholic spouse to proceed to a civil divorce, with the understanding on the part of all the parties that the marriage in itself is not ended. Reasons why this might be permitted could be such serious and particular things as imminent danger to a spouse or children, adultery on the part of a spouse, etc. Sometimes, as in the case of spousal desertion, a civil divorce can be allowed so that the civil courts can enforce certain civil effects (property issues, financial support, child custody, etc.). Married Catholics are not permitted under Church Law to proceed to civil divorce proceedings without the previous permission of the Church. Marriage cases are often fraught with unique circumstances, and this is why the parish priest of a Catholic always should be consulted before a Catholic makes any movement towards a divorce. (See Mark 10:2-12; and also the Catechism of the Catholic Church, numbers 1601-1666.)