Bishop Schneider on Amoris Laetitia: what the Buenos Aires norms actually say

The Buenos Aires criteria, published by the Holy See in Acta Apostolicae Sedis, first say that where a couple's circumstances make it feasible, "se puede proponer el empeño de vivir en continencia" ("the commitment to live in continence may be proposed"). They go on: in more complex circumstances, where no declaration of nullity could be obtained, "la opción mencionada puede no ser de hecho factible" ("that option may not in fact be feasible"). Even then "es posible un camino de discernimiento" ("a path of discernment is possible"). And "si se llega a reconocer que, en un caso concreto, hay limitaciones que atenúan la responsabilidad y la culpabilidad" ("if it is recognised that, in a concrete case, there are limitations that mitigate responsibility and culpability"), Amoris laetitia "abre la posibilidad del acceso a los sacramentos" ("opens the possibility of access to the sacraments") (AAS 108 (2016)).

Francis wrote to the Buenos Aires bishops on 5 September 2016 that their document "explicita cabalmente el sentido del capitulo VIII de Amoris laetitia. No hay otras interpretaciones" ("fully explains the meaning of chapter VIII… there are no other interpretations") (letter). A rescript of 5 June 2017, signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, records that the Pope ordered both documents published "velut Magisterium authenticum" ("as authentic magisterium") (AAS 108 (2016)). Schneider's description of their status is accurate.

Familiaris consortio taught that the divorced and remarried cannot be admitted to Communion while their situation continues, except when, unable to separate for serious reasons, they "take on themselves the duty to live in complete continence" (Familiaris consortio §84). In 1994 the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith restated that "they cannot receive Holy Communion as long as this situation persists" (CDF letter). Amoris laetitia itself says it offers no "new set of general rules", and speaks of "the help of the sacraments" only "in certain cases" (AL 300 and n. 351) (Amoris laetitia).