Current Doctrinal Issues in Pastoral Practice

Abstract

The recently published documents of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith have introduced a good deal of confusion in terms of pastoral practice governing access to the sacrament of the Eucharist for divorced persons living in irregular relationships and for transgender and homosexual persons with regard to the sacrament of baptism. The resolutions contained in the correspondence of the current Prefect of the Dicastery, Cardinal Fernández, appear to break with the Church’s previous sacramental discipline and contradict the teaching of Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI. This article attempts to provide directions for resolving the emerging dilemmas in line with the previous teaching of the Popes and the tradition of the Church.