German bishops have voted “overwhelmingly” in favour of producing a “guide” for Protes- tant spouses on reception of Holy Communion under certain conditions.
At their spring conference in Ingolstadt, the German bishops’ conference agreed that a Pro- testant partner of a Catholic can receive the Eucharist after having made a “serious examination” of conscience with a priest or ano- ther person with pastoral respon- sibilities, “affirms the faith of the Catholic Church,” wishes to end “serious spiritual distress,” and has a “longing to satisfy a hunger for the Eucharist.”
Cardinal Reinhard Marx, president of the German bishops’ conference, said that such a guide was a “positive step.” He said there had been an “intense debate” during which “serious concerns” had been raised, according to Katholisch.de, the website of the German bishops’ conference.
He added the bishops were not giving general approval but that the guide pertained to individual decisions. He said the
bishops wanted to continue with this issue “in a high profile way,” but that the guide would merely be a “pastoral hand-out” and that “we don’t want to change any doctrine.”
