text: The task of pastors is to lead their flock away from darkness to light, from sin to justification.  Guidance for them to do that comes from scripture, tradition and the magisterium.  Many things are unclear.  For two thousand years it was crystal clear (from scripture, tradition and the magisterium) that those in a state of mortal sin - for example, but not only adulterers - should not receive Holy Communion.  The bishops of Poland nowadays uphold that teaching.  The bishops of Germany do not.  There is a dispute. From apostolic times the Pope has resolved disputed questions - which enable pastors to be good pastors.  Why is it suddenly so outrageous to even ask the Pope to resolve, with clarity, a dispute>  It's one of the primary functions of the papacy to do this.