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Hi, Robert —
There is a lot of confusion about
this, so much so, that I'm not 100%
certain of the answer, but let me
lay out some principles.
Divorce is not the problem. Divorce
and remarriage without an annulment is the problem.
Under the present code of canon law
(1983), such a person is barred from
the sacraments.
This is not the same
as being excommunicated, and this
may be the source of confusion.
It is possible that the discipline
was different under the 1917 code
of canon law that the person in question
would have been subject to at the
time. I don't have access to that
so I can't verify it.
Regardless of whether one is excommunicated
or whether one is merely ineligible
for the sacraments, the course of
action is the same:
- The person should approach their
local parish priest and he can
help.
- If the person in question is
presently married, and the person
they divorced is still alive,
they need to obtain an annulment.
- Otherwise, they should receive
the sacrament of Reconciliation,
and if there is an excommunication,
which I doubt, the priest can
arrange to have it lifted.
Eric
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