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Today's paper. Last Updated: 05/29/2012

Sex Ban Reaffirmed

VATICAN CITY () -- In a decision affecting millions of Roman Catholics, the Vatican strongly reaffirmed its stand Friday that worshippers who divorce and remarry cannot receive communion unless they abstain from sex.


The cast-iron ruling appeared to be aimed at some bishops, particularly in Germany, who have suggested that good Catholics who are deeply convinced that their first marriage was invalid could effectively exempt themselves from Church rules.


The Vatican said that: "If the divorced are remarried civilly, they find themselves in a situation that objectively contravenes God's law. Consequently, they cannot receive Holy Communion as long as this situation persists."


The faithful who are banned from communion are thus prevented from participating in the most central event of their religion.




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