The Vatican doctrine office is taking a more pastoral approach and publishing answers to questions from bishops around the world.
One of them refers to single mothers who are denied the sacraments by parish priests for having a child outside of marriage. In some countries, single mothers are denied communion and the child is denied baptism.
Prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, affirms that in order to receive communion, going to confession is sufficient. He also emphasized the importance of being aware of the situation of single mothers who resort to prostitution to support their families. He says that the community should help them and value that the mother chose life.
Cardinal Fernández references Pope Francis' words from when he was the Archbishop of Buenos Aires by referring to those who deny baptism to a child because of the mother's situations as “hypocrites.”
JRB
