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WARSAW, October 27, 2015 (ChurchMilitant.com) - Following the Ordinary Synod on the Family, the Polish Bishops' Conference is inviting divorced and civilly "remarried" Catholics back to Church, but only according to Church teaching, i.e., without receiving Communion.

In a communiqué written by the three Synod Fathers representing Poland — Abp. Stanisław Gądecki, president of the Polish bishops; Abp. Henryk Hoser; and Bp. Jan Wątroba — the conference's statement says the divorced and civilly "remarried," "though they do not receive Communion, are not excluded from the Church."

The communiqué was issued as a way "to reflect on the manner of implementing the message of the Synod into our lives."

The Polish prelates encourage Catholics attached to such irregular unions to discuss their situation "with their pastor who will assist them to examine their situation through the eyes of Christ the Lord, according to the unchangeable teaching of the Church."

The statement includes examples of other ways to participate in the Church, such as "regular participation at Holy Mass," "the exploration of the Word of God" and catechizing one's children.

Read the whole statement (translated by Toronto Catholic Witness) here.

The conference's statement echoes what Pope Francis has affirmed earlier this year: that divorced and civilly "remarried" Catholics are still Catholic, i.e., are not excommunicated, and ought to be reintegrated into Christian life despite the fact that "these situations contradict the Christian Sacrament."

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