The pope witnessed 20 couples’ wedding vows at the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Basilica last Sunday.  Some couples live together; some of the betrothed had been married before. One bride is a mother -  all unusual for Catholic weddings.

Pope Francis advised them that marriage is real life – not some television show. Forget Hollywood “sexpectations” (my interpretation).

The Catholic Church has beautiful theology on the Sacrament of Marriage: the union of a man and woman as a sacred relationship where God is present. Somehow this message gets lost in the mess of dogmatic legalism.

Next month the Vatican hosts a meeting on family concerns. If Pope Francis invites me to the discussion and asks: “Do you believe the Church should welcome remarried, living-together Catholics, parents-before-marriage Catholics to all Sacraments?”

I could only answer, “I do.”

(S-R photo: Pope Francis)

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