The Permanent Council of the German Bishops’ Conference discussed the pastoral guidance of mixed marriages entitled »Walking with Christ – tracing unity. Interdenominational marriages and sharing in the Eucharist«, adopted at the spring plenary assembly (19–22 February 2018). Bishops deal with the question whether the Lutheran spouse in a mixed marriage may receive a holy communion in the Catholic Church. In order to resolve this issue, the rule of the Church should be taken into account: When, in the Ordinary's judgment, a grave necessity arises, Catholic ministers may give the sacraments of Eucharist to other Christians not in full communion with the Catholic Church, who ask for them of their own will, provided they give evidence of holding the Catholic faith regarding these sacraments and possess the required dispositions (CIC, can. 844 § 4). Perhaps these open questions will be an incentive for the Unit of the Faculty of Theology in Maribor, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year (1968-2018), in order to be even more active in the future at investigating the pressing ecumenical issues.
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