Divorced Catholics ‘not outcasts’

Press, 11 January 1986, Page 5

Divorced Catholics ‘not outcasts’

PA Wellington Separated or divorced Catholics should not feel outcasts as far as the Church is concerned, says the New Zealand Catholic leader, Cardinal Thomas Williams. He was commenting on a statement by the director of Auckland Catholic Social Services, the Rev, Sydney Marriott that separated or divorced Catholics were leaving the Church in droves because they “feel like lepers.” “I can’t be certain that these people are leaving in droves, but the time may well be right to take some kind of structural approach in the form of support groups to help them,” Cardinal Williams has said. The Church was aware of

the issue of separated or divorced Catholics. It was discussed in a statement from the New Zealand Catholic bishops’ conference, entitled “When Dreams Die.” He said support groups of the kind suggested by Father Marriott existed in some parishes, although it was possible more were needed. “I feel there is a case for something more permanent, and I would like to see more support groups to help separated or divorced people,” Cardinal Williams said. “But many of these people find support from other areas, such as family or friends, and wouldn’t necessarily need the help of a church support group,”