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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