Cardinal Raymond Burke, prefect of the highest court in the Catholic Church, has said that despite recent murmurs that the Church's views about marriage and divorce are evolving, the Pope does not have the authority to reinterpret Christ's teachings against divorce.

"It is not within [the Pope's] power" to change Jesus' teachings about the nature of marriage, Burke told CNSNews.com. "This is very clear in the teaching of the church that if a marriage has been validly celebrated and consummated it cannot be separated. It cannot be ended by anything except death itself."

Earlier this month, Cardinal Walter Kasper made waves after he said he believes a "growing majority" of the Pope's recent synod on the family was in favor of his proposal to allow some divorced and civilly remarried Catholics to receive Holy Communion.

The move would be unprecedented for the Catholic Church, with critics arguing it would significantly change the Church's 2,000-year teaching on marriage.

Cardinal Burke said at the time: "I do not know how I could accept such [a change] in the Catholic Church. I just could not."

One expert later told Newsmax that despite the reports, the question of a change in doctrine was never being considered. 

"In fact, there never was on the table any doctrinal reconsideration of divorced and remarried Catholics receiving communion," said Dr. Robert Royal, editor-in-chief of The Catholic Thing and president of the Faith & Reason Institute.

A document produced during the meeting, however, suggests that the Church's position on marriage may be open to change.

"There is a need to look carefully at cohabitation, civil marriages, and divorced or remarried persons," said the document. "In such unions it is possible to grasp authentic family values or at least wish for them."

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