These are very tough statements of Jesus and we just have to accept them. My marriage broke down 10 years ago and we are still married but separated. I recently got reacquainted with an old friend. His marriage broke down years ago, well before mine did, and they separated despite having young children. But he now has a new "wife". He is not at all religious, I think, but I would like to encourage the friendship because of my fondness for him. Just supposing he and his new "wife" were converted to Catholicism, it would be hard for me to think of them being excluded from the sacramental life of the Church. But there you go .... I sometimed don't know what to think ... but there you go. Jesus had many hard sayings. In my dealings with others, especially with older people, I find myself naturally employing a very pastoral approach. For example, with people who are approaching death and have current beliefs and/or past lives which are less than ideal; I find it so hard to say to them - "look, the way you are now, the way you have believed in the past are far from the kingdom of God. For God's sake, come to your senses and repent now. Change your ways and beliefs! Do you not see how you have wasted your whole life on meaningless pursuits. Do you not see that you may not be alive this time next year. Which one of us can even count on tomorrow? Are you ready for eternity with God? For God's sake, wake up!" It is so hard to say that to someone, even though you might be thinking it, even though you might think the circumstances require it. And so I lapse into "the pastoral approach" and accompany them in their ways. But it seems the whole basis of the Church's approach in the modern world is "the pastoral approach". God help us. How could I say to my friend - "you will have to live chastely with your current partner and repent of your adultery"? And, "if you join the Catholic Church, do not try to receive Holy Communion unless you are living chastely". When did I ever hear a priest saying this from the pulpit? God help us.
