[Magdalen] What We Believe - St. Paul's Bellingham

[Roger Stokes]

On 06/08/2015 00:18, Cantor03--- via Magdalen wrote:
> There was a report about the Pope's statement recently that the
> RCC "should treat divorced and remarried members with more
> respect by stressing to them that although they are still not
> permitted to receive Holy Communion, they are not excommunicated   (?)
>   
> What's the difference?  Doesn't excommunicated mean no Holy
> Communion?

There is a subtle distinction in that somebody who is excommunicated 
cannot receive any of the sacraments.  The only relevant one in this 
case is anointing, especially now it has moved away from being the last 
rites.  Someonbe /in extremis/ can receive the sacraments so the only 
practical difference is that such a person may not receive sacramental 
anointing if they are ill - unless they are regarded as being at the 
point of death.

Roger