Sir, – The annulment reforms announced by Pope Francis making it easier, faster and less expensive to obtain a marriage annulment are to be welcomed in the Catholic Church (Paddy Agnew, "Catholic Church makes it easier to annul marriage", September 9th).
To outsiders, and indeed to many Catholics on the inside, annulments were seen as a dubious means of marriage dissolution and often seen as privileging rich, aristocratic Catholic families. I hope that there will be more transparency in the annulment process as a result of this decree by Pope Francis.
However, these annulment reforms do nothing to be more inclusive of divorced and remarried Catholics, who continue to be refused communion and full participation in the other sacraments. Children of divorced and remarried parents are often puzzled and indeed scandalised at seeing their parents being refused communion while they are welcomed.
Pope Francis has said that the reception of communion should not to be regarded as a reward for the virtuous but as food for the journey of life. Jesus of Nazareth was famously inclusive, especially toward those marginalised.
Allowing divorced and remarried access to communion will not rock the foundations of the church but rather display the compassionate face of God. – Yours, etc,
BRENDAN BUTLER,
Malahide,
Co Dublin.