In the interview, the archbishop stated that: "Divorced and remarried Catholics cannot receive Holy Communion since whatever their personal disposition is or the reasons for their situation, known perhaps only to God, they are continuing in a way of life which is objectively against the clear command of Jesus. The point is not that they have committed a sin; the mercy of God is abundantly granted to all sinners. The issue in the matter of divorce and remarriage is one's conscious decision (for whatever reason) to persist in a continuing situation of disconnection from the command of Jesus. Although it would not be right for them to receive the sacraments, we need to find better ways to reach out to people in this situation, to offer them loving assistance.”

 

Then, the Cardinal compared the expectations of change that preceded Pope Paul VI’s Humanae Vitae and those—in his opinion equally unfounded—that precede the next synod: "In the years before the letter of Pope Paul re-affirming the constant Christian teaching that contraception is not in accord with the will of God, there was widespread speculation that the Church was going to change this teaching. […] But Christian teaching is based upon the natural law that is written in our very natures by God, and especially upon the revealed word of God. [...] We do not shape God's will according to what currently seems best to us. So, when Pope Paul did not change what he could not change, but re-affirmed Christian faith, many, many people were upset, and simply decided to ignore the teaching. That is our present situation. I certainly hope that we do not suffer a repeat of that, as unfounded speculation swirls concerning a change by the Church of the explicit teaching of Jesus on marriage."