Broken Together

[MarysLittleFlower]

It's going to be very difficult to handle their situation.  It's going to be a valley of tears, but the Cross is where we go to when faced with trials which look hopeless.  Yes, it is regrettable that they made these mistakes in the past, but it shows that sin has real consequences. It's going to require hard work to get out of this, and resignation on their end to do all that needs to be done regardless of the outcome.  True mercy is supporting them through the hard times and helping them live out this resolution.

When my brother married his wife in civil court, and then they both reverted back to the faith, they found out that their civil marriage was not valid and that my sister in-law was previously married before being with my brother.  Add on top of this that they already had a kid together and another one on the way.   My brother went to our priest and asked him what needed to be done. The priest advised him of the sacramental requirements for marriage, the annulment process, and etc.  He told my brother that while waiting for the annulment case they would need to refrain from receiving communion he told my brother that he would need to move out so he is not committing adultry or cohabitation, or any other serious sins.

After hearing this news we as a family chipped in to help them. We assisted with baby sitting, money, food, and lodging for my sister in-law and my brother to sleep in separate places.  We were there to support them through the tough hard work that laid ahead and we told them we would always support them like this even if the decision on my sisters annulment was not approved. We believed this was true mercy.  

Long story short my sister in-law's previous marriage was annulled and my brother and his wife were validly married.   The reality of what would have happened had the decision been different does not escape my brother or us, but both my brother and his wife agree that regardless what the outcome could have been the solution would always need to be the same; God first in all things and trust that God will take care of them.

 

I think this is a really good example of what could be done. I think it would be wrong to tell the couple to - stop being Catholic, or receive Communion anyway, etc. The truth is keeping the Church's teaching - abstaining and living separately while waiting for the decision on an annulment - yet it's done here in a charitable way where practical help is offered to help them deal with the difficulties of it. I don't think it's more merciful to tell the couple they can still receive Communion while not living as brother and sister... or telling them to go become Protestant. Those are not solutions that would help in their salvation, that is not real charity. It's also good that this sort of help was offered even in the case if the annulment was not granted.

Edited October 29, 2015 by MarysLittleFlower