JUNE/JULY2015
ASK A PRIEST
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
FATHER KEVIN BATES, SM
FATHER LAZARUS CHAWDI
PRIEST STAFF
CATHOLICVIEW STAFF
PRIEST
STAFF
"My wife
died of cancer in 2007 and I married 3 years
ago
a woman who has three children by two
different men. She
never married either and one had a wife. Am
I a sinner
in the eyes of the Church? - David
Father
Francisco:
I am 58
years old. My wife of 30 years died of
cancer in 2007. I have since married again
(3 years). My wife has 3 children of her own
by 2 different men whom she was not married
to. This I had known while we were dating. I
have recently found out the father of her 2
youngest children was married when they had
these 2 children together. The fact that
this was not told to me troubles me. I do
not know if I would have married her had I
known this. Am I a sinner in the eyes of the
Church for being married to someone that has
committed adultery? - David
___________________________________________
David:
I want to make this as clear as possible to
you. You are not a sinner because you
married someone who had committed adultery
in the past. What is important is your
marriage now.
You do not say if you were married in the
Church in a sacramental marriage. So, I am
going to presume that you were married in
the Church. Even though you did not know
all the details of how your present wife had
these children (with a married man,
therefore she was the children's father's
mistress), your present marriage to her is
valid in the Church's eyes unless proven
otherwise in your diocesan marriage
tribunal. You did not have all the
information about your wife's past, but you
had some and you married her, children and
all. You could say that you were deceived
in some form, which is a cause for an
ecclesiastical decree of annulment. But I
am sure that you love your wife, and you
love these three children no matter how they
came into being by God's Will.
You did not sin. You loved with a huge and
generous heart. That's what God sees, and
that is what the Church accepts. Go
forward, for what is real and true is the
present and not the past. That is what
forgiveness is all about. -
Father Francisco
"Will God Forgive Me If I Get A Religious
Tattoo? - Jessica
Father
Cervantes:
I'm Jessica
from Winsted, CT. I'm planning to get
baptized Christian at my church sometime in
the future, and after the baptism, I want to
get a tattoo with a cross and the date I was
baptized going down my back (not leading to
inapropriate areas), but I heard and read
online that getting a tattoo is a sin, I've
been thinking about this for a long time and
I really want to do this, but at the same
time I don't want the baptism to go to waste
because of this, so my question is, Will God
forgive me if I get this tattoo? -
Jessica
_________________________________________________________
Jessica:
Tattoos are not something I personally like
on my body or anyone's body. But people get
tattoos for various reasons. I cannot judge
anyone with tattoos. With that said, I am
sure that people have told you of their
dislike of tattoos. I am sure that you were
advised by other Christians that the
prohibition of tattoos for believers in God
is against the Bible. Here is what the Old
Testament (the Hebrew scriptures) say about
this subject: In Leviticus 19:28 -
Do not lacerate your bodies for the dead,
and do not tattoo yourselves. I am the
LORD.
In the Old Testament times, and even in New
Testament times, tattoos were always
associated with pagan rituals and pagan
religious practices. So, the above
mentioned bible verse is to be seen in this
context: tattoos were a way to identify
oneself with a pagan entity, a pagan
religious practice, or even an immoral
career choice, such as prostitution. This
prohibition against tattoos were part of the
Old Law and Covenant that was fulfilled in
Jesus Christ and His death and
resurrection. We now live in a New Covenant
and a New Law which does not include this
prohibition.
I am happy that you will be baptized and be
part of the Body of Christ and the Church.
Getting a tattoo is not sinful as long as it
is not done in praise of a pagan deity,
pagan religious ritual, or for some
anti-Christian reason (anything Satanic).
Now, I would advise you not to get a tattoo
at all. But that's me. I do not want you
to regret any permanent mark on your body
later.
I am reminded of what Saint Paul wrote in
the New Testament, in I Corinthians 6:19:
"Do you not know that your body is the
temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom
you have from God, and that you are not your
own? For you have been purchased at a
price. Therefore glorify God in your body."
Now, I would not like anyone putting
graffiti on the temple of God. Your body is
the temple of God. That's the reason I
personally do not like tattoos for myself.
Once again, that's me.
But the tattoo as you describe is not
sinful. And your baptism can NEVER go to
waste, as you say, because it is your faith
in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior that
makes your baptism meaningful (and that
saves you) and for Catholics, sacramental.
Be at peace with the decision you make.
Getting a tattoo is not sinful. But, I just
don't like them. I strongly advise against
it. But getting a tattoo is not against
God.
- Father Cervantes
"I made a promise to God that I would never
do something again
because it was causing me to sin. Now I
can do that thing
again without sinning. Can you help me tell
God I don't
need this prayer to be a good Christian
anymore?" - Jim
Father
Francisco:
I made a promise to God that I would never
do something again, because it was causing
me to sin. I now can do that thing without
sinning, i.e. in accordance with the
scriptures and I really want to, but I
cannot break my promise to God. This is
causing me to get into a lot of grey areas
on my promise and I cannot stand it. Can you
help me tell god I don't need this prayer to
be a good Christian anymore? Can you dispel
this? (can. 1196)? Please help. - Jim
________________________________________________________
Jim:
I do not understand what you are asking.
You say that you promised God that you
wouldn't do "something" that was causing you
to sin, but now you say that this
"something" is now not causing you to sin.
I do not understand what this act is since
you do not describe it.
I would presume that something that causes
you to sin would always cause you to fall
into sin and cause problems. I don't see
how that can change. If you are having, as
you say, a lot of gray areas, then don't
do the action and keep your promise. Then
you say it is a prayer that you don't need
anymore to be a good Christian. So, your
question is confusing. If you truly believe
that this act no longer causes you to sin,
then God understands and you are free from
your promise. You don't need any deacon,
priest, or bishop to release you from this
kind of promise. This was a promise between
you and God. You have fulfilled the promise
and now you are free from this promise.
As to Canon 1196 that you mentioned from the
Church's Code of Canon Law, this particular
code has to do with someone who has made a
personal vow of either celibacy, poverty, or
obedience to a religious superior. Your
promise is NOT covered by Canon 1196 which
says this and as you can see, it does not
apply to your situation unless your promise
had to do with private vows of celibacy,
poverty, and obedience:
Canon 1196: In addition to the Roman
Pontiff, the following can dispense from
private vows for a just cause provided that
a dispensation does not injure a right
acquired by others:
1/ the local ordinary and the pastor with
regard to all their subjects and even
travelers;
2/ the superior of a religious institute or
society of apostolic life if it is clerical
and of pontifical right with regard to
members, novices, and persons who live day
and night in a house of the institute or
society;
3/ those to whom the Apostolic See or the
local ordinary has delegated the power of
dispensing.
Hope this clarifies your question. -
Father Francisco
"My
sister has been
indulging in
what she calls "self healing.
What should I say to her regarding the
Catholic Church and
this practice?" - Hugh
Father Francisco:
My sister
has now for a few years been indulging in
what she calls "self healing", by which she
claims she can cure herself and others by
working on their "aura". I thought this to
be a silly superstition and have never
believed in any of this. Lately my sister
came for a visit and we went for a walk. On
our walk she began telling me that I should
walk barefoot to get a good grounded
connection with the spiritual energy of the
earth. When I disagreed with her (the
spiritual energy I need comes from the
sacraments) she began waving her arms around
and explained to me that this is how she
deflects negative energies. I told her that
this sounded a lot like new age practices
and was not certainly not condoned by the
Catholic Church. Her response was that
before indulging in said practice, she prays
to the Holy Spirit and so the practice is
fine. My sister is a Catholic and I find the
whole thing very disturbing. I am not sure
about what to say to her about this. She is
very intolerant about any criticism
regarding this and says she keeps herself
healthy by healing herself this way. Should
I be talking to her regarding this and if
so, what should I say regarding the Catholic
Church and this practice. - Hugh
______________________________________________________
Hugh:
Your sister probably has had many burdens in
her life and she sought ways to help her
navigate through the pain of her burdens.
She found a way to help her overcome her
fears, anxieties, and insecurities through
this "new age" energy practices. This is
certainly and clearly not your way in
dealing with the ups and downs of life. But
because it is not for you and you deal with
life differently through our Catholic faith
in Jesus as Lord, please do not put down
your sister's coping mechanisms even though
these mechanisms seems foreign and crazy.
When you say that "the spiritual energy I
need comes from the sacraments," you admit
to the
energy
of the Spirit of God working through the
sacraments and I totally agree with you.
But God shows His healing and loving energy
all around us and is not limited to
sacramental rites. All creation is filled
with the energy of the Creator.
Your sister has her way of tapping into
this Divine energy, and you have yours. But
both of you are believers in Jesus Christ,
and both of you find that your spiritual
lives are filled by the sacramental life of
the Church, and that both of you have been
saved by the blood of Christ. She says that
she prays to the Holy Spirit before she
tries to get in touch with the Creator's
energy around her. Well, then, I say, good
for her. As long as she keeps her practice
of trying to tap into the positive energy
around her by the power of the Holy Spirit,
she is on her own blessed spiritual path to
being one with God in heaven. People's
spiritual journeys are individual and
unique, yet connected to the Body of Christ,
the Church.
Don't condemn your sister. Instead, just
accept that your sister's spiritual journey
is different from yours, yet you are both
believing Christians in the Catholic
Church. I suggest that you no longer argue
with your sister about this issue. Instead,
when it is time and it is appropriate, pray
with each other! Arguing about one's unique
spiritual journey only brings negative and
hateful energy to the discussion to no one's
benefit.
God is energy, and God is love, and God is
everything beautiful and good. Share
the "good vibrations" with your sister
instead of fighting with her. You don't
have to go barefoot to find God. But you
don't have to put down anyone because they
see the world in a different way from you.
We are all God's children. -
Father Francisco
"My husband has been abusive to me in our
entire marriage.
We have small children with one having a
health issue. Should I
divorce him? What do you think?" -
Jessica
Father Francisco:
My husband
has been abusive to me in nearly every way
through our entire marriage. He sought help
five years ago and the more serious abuse
(physical, spiritual, sexual) stopped
completely. He was better in all ways for
nearly two years, then the emotional and
verbal abuse started to creep back in. It is
now a daily occurence and he is now verbally
and emotionally abusive to our oldest teen
daughter. I know I am right to want to
divorce but struggle with actually taking
that step. I fear how I will support my
children, what will happen once I file the
papers, etc. I am in a private online
Christian support group for women in abusive
marriages and several of them always talk
about praying for God to open a window/door
for them to leave, usually in the means of
financial resources. I did not get married
in the catholic church, my marriage leads me
to sin, having anger and hate towards my
husband, not practicing my faith, etc. I
knew I should not have married my husband
before I did, and ignored God talking to me.
So I think at least in my case I can't wait
on God to open a door for me. I think he is
waiting for me to open the door myself and
show him that I am ready to live right and
follow him and to rely on him to provide for
mine and my children's needs. I think that
if I were to stay waiting for this magical
windfall of money that I would be choosing
to live in sin and God does not want us to
wait around in sin for a more opportune time
to stop sinning. Is this thinking right? I
have sought legal counsel and they say I am
in the position to seek spousal support and
exclusive use of the home from my husband,
but based on his character I fear he will
have a break down and quit his job and
possibly disappear, leaving me financially
ruined and helpless as I have small
children, one of whom has a health issue and
leaving him in daycare for me to return to
work is not ideal. But I keep telling myself
that is the wrong thinking, and I just need
to put my faith in God and do what is best
for the mental well being of myself and my
kids, and once I make that first step, then
maybe God will open some doors for me. What
do you think? - Jessica
____________________________________________________________
Jessica:
Your last paragraph is your answer: "But I keep
telling myself that this is wrong thinking,
and I need to put my faith in God and do
what is nest for the mental well being of
myself and my kids, and once I make the
first step, then maybe God will open some
doors for me." What you said was very wise
and very inspirational. You are on the
right track. No one needs to stay in any
marriage that is filled with the abuse that
you describe. The old saying that "God
helps those who help themselves"
is another way of saying what you stated in
your last paragraph above.
I am sorry to hear of the suffering you have endured
over the years, suffering you endured for
the love of your children. I am also happy
to hear that you are in an on-line Christian
support group and I suggest that you
continue to share your burdens with them and
seek their wisdom gleaned from their
experiences. You are on the right track.
May the Spirit of God open doors for you and
may your children grow in the love of God.
And keep praying all the time. You have
discerned correctly that the time is right
to move forward into peace. -
Father Francisco
"
How can we pray to our loved ones if we
don't
rise from the dead until Judgment Day? -
Ann
Father Cervantes:
I'm trying
to become deeper in my faith and have a
question. How can we pray to our loved
ones, or to Saints, if we don't rise from
the dead until Judgment Day? Do we just
stay in the ground until then ? Thanks for
your help. - Ann
________________________________________________________
Ann:
Your body stays in the ground but your soul,
your spirit lives forever. The soul is what
animates the body. Once the soul leaves the
body, the body dies and becomes motionless.
Your soul is the energy of the body, and the
soul contains your entire being, your
energy, your memory, everything you are.
Once your soul is freed from the body, you
go to heaven or to hell....according to your
faith and life. This is explained quite
clearly when Jesus did this on the cross as
He was dying (see Luke 23:42-43):
Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you
come into your kingdom." Jesus replied to
him, "Amen I say to you, TODAY you will be
with me in Paradise."
Jesus told the thief crucified with Him that
he would be in Paradise that very day! How
can that be since the thief's body was
buried and is still awaiting the
resurrection of the dead at the end of
time. The thief's soul, his total
personality, would be united with Jesus
after his death!
Also, Jesus told this parable that shows
souls live on despite the body waiting for
the resurrection of the dead. This parable
is in Luke 16:19-31. The parable story is
about Lazarus and the rich man. Here is the
summary version of the story that you can
read yourself: "When
the poor man died, he was carried away by
the angels to the bosom of Abraham. The
rich man also died, and was buried, and
from the netherworld, where he was in
torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham
far off and Lazarus at his side."
The rest of the story is fascinating and a
glimpse of the afterlife. Jesus describes
that Lazarus died and was carried by the
angels to heaven. The rich man was speaking
from his place in torment called hell.
Quite clear that our souls live after
death either in heaven or hell, in God's
presence or not.
In Revelation, Chapter 6, Verse 9-11, John
the Elder wrote about what he saw in his
vision of the Last Day and made this
observation about the souls of the just and
the martyrs who were awaiting the Last
Resurrection and Judgment. "When He broke
open the fifth seal, I saw underneath the
altar the souls of those slaughtered because
of the witness they bore to the Word of
God. They cried out in a loud voice,
"How long will it be, Holy and True Master,
before you sit in judgment and avenge our
blood on the inhabitants of the earth?"
Each of them were given a white robe, and
they were told to be patient a little longer
until the number was filled of their fellow
servants and brothers who were going to be
killed as they had been. From this biblical
verse, it shows quite clearly that when we
die, our souls live on, and even talk to
Jesus face to face, praying and asking for
judgment on an unbelieving world (once
again, intercessory prayer in action in
heaven).
When we talk to the saints or to our family
members that have died and went to heaven,
they hear us and, in their own way, they
watch over us and await that day when we
will join them in heaven. When you die, the
angels will carry you to Jesus, and your
love for your family lives on forever, and
from your place in heaven, you will watch
over them all, and even ask Jesus face to
face to help your family members
(intercessory prayer). For your soul lives
on forever, and when the universe comes to
an end, your soul will be reunited with your
glorified body in a new heavens and a new
earth (Revelation 21:1). In
Philippians 3:21: 'He
will change our lowly bodies to conform with
the glorified body by the power that enables
him also to bring all things into subjection
to himself.'
Until that time, our souls are at peace with
the Lord when we die. We live forever! -
Father Cervantes
"When people go to Heaven do they forget
about their
life on earth?" - Airam
Father Francisco:
When people
go to Heaven, do they forget about their
life on earth or the people that became a
part of their earthly life? - Airam
_______________________________________________________
Airam:
When you die, your soul goes either to
heaven or hell, depending on your faith in
Jesus and your life in Jesus.
In heaven, you will always remember
everything and you will continue to love
your family and friends. In hell, the lost
soul will remember everything in regret and
pain. You will remember everything. Your
memories will be your joy or your hell in
the afterlife.
So, live your life in Jesus and rejoice with
Him forever with the happy memories you made
here on earth.
- Father Francisco
"My
wife and I were married civilly. Why
can't Catholic go to Communion? - Lawrence
Father Francisco:
We have a
civil wedding. One is Catholic. Since
Church doesn't recognize marriage why can't
Catholic go to communion? We wed 50yrs and
other person is Protestant. Thank you. -
Lawrence
_________________________________________________________
Lawrence:
We ask all Catholics who are going to get
married to have their marriage solemnized in
the Church with the sacrament of Holy
Matrimony. Once you are living the
sacrament of Holy Matrimony, you become
living symbols of Christ's love for His
bride, the Church. Civil marriages without
the Church's blessing do not symbolize this
great mystery of Christ and His Church.
In the New Testament, Ephesians 5:31-32:
"For this reason, a man shall leave his
father and his mother and be joined to his
wife, and the two shall become one flesh.
This is a great mystery, but I speak in
reference to Christ and His Church."
And in the Book of Revelation, Chapter 21,
Verse 2,
"I also saw the holy city, the new
Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from
God, prepared as a bride adorned for her
husband."
When Catholics marry outside of the
sacrament of Holy Matrimony, the Church says
that they cannot receive communion until
their marriage is recognized by the Church
as being the living symbol of Christ's
marriage to His Church. You can have your
marriage solemnized in the Church. All you
need to do is present your baptismal
certificate and your wife's Christian
baptism document (or if she can't, no
problem) and you can have your marriage
solemnized in the Church. Then you can
receive communion again. Please talk to
your parish priest or deacon and have your
marriage symbolize Christ's love for us all.
-
Father
Francisco
FATHER KEVIN BATES, SM
"
"Is it a sin to download music videos from
YouTube?"
- Miguel
Father Kevin:
I
have a question. Is it a sin to download
music videos from YouTube? Thank you.
–Miguel
______________________________________________
Hi Miguel;
I suppose if you are breaching any copyright
provisions that accompany the music video,
there would be a moral question there. If
the clip has no copyright notice attached, I
would presume the people responsible want
you to enjoy it!
All good wishes. - Father Kevin
"During confession I feel that my priest
doesn't
like me. Is this me?" - Jimmy
Father Kevin:
Sometimes I feel like my priest doesn't like
me. I feel that during confession he
doesn't care. Is this me?
– Jimmy
___________________________________________________________
Dear Jimmy:
Maybe your priest doesn’t like you, or maybe
your priest is wrestling with his own inner
demons and finds it hard to engage with
yours and perhaps other people’s struggles.
I think it best not to take it personally
and know that in the Sacrament the
conversation is strictly between you and
God. The priest is only the mediator
and what is said there is really not his
business. It is your sacred ground and the
priest needs to respect that.
If your priest acts as if he is not
respecting you, one suggestion would be for
you to seek out another priest with whom you
feel more at ease.
Every blessing and prayers coming your way.
- Father Kevin
"Would Jesus wake me up at night to
accomplish some
work for Him?" - Kenneth
Father Kevin:
Does Jesus wake you up 2:00 A.M or earlier
to accomplish some work for him? I'm
writing religious stories. However, I feel
tired for the rest of the day. I believe
it's a spiritual force involved. If it's
Jesus, then could it be a way of the cross
to suffer for Him?
–
Kenneth
________________________________________________________
Hi Kenneth and greetings from Sydney:
You could be on to something and only you
will know the truth of it in your own heart.
Your experience may well be a genuine
experience of the Cross and only you will
come to know the truth of that. If I
get woken up at that hour of the morning
it’s usually more urgent calls of nature
that are responsible! Every blessing with
the writing you are doing. -
Father Kevin
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