Thanks to you both for the insightful responses. The Church seems to, for whatever reason, take a particularly hard stance when it comes to divorce. It’s clear that Jesus was strongly opposed to divorce. It seems though that, according to the rules of the Church, if one commits adultery (within a valid marriage), perhaps even murder and various other sins of a serious nature, one can go to confession, obtain absolution and thereafter carry on with life as per normal, receive communion etc. Whereas a person who has been divorced by a spouse who has found another partner (and in so doing committed adultery) is in effect expected to remain celibate for the rest of their lives.