the national conference of bishops of brazil published guidelines in august 2017 which state, "there are limited cases where the existence of excuses for non-interruption of conjugal coexistence, for example, the existence of children and certain moral circumstances, may attenuate or even annul the moral responsibility and imputability of unlawful acts". the guidelines continue, "the practice of sexual continence for couples in a second union is not excluded. in this case, the confessor may be merciful with eventual falls."