SEPT/OCT 2014
ASK A PRIEST
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

FATHER KEVIN BATES, SM
FATHER LAZARUS CHAWDI
CATHOLICVIEW STAFF
PRIEST STAFF



 FATHER KEVIN BATES, SM

"I suffer from Autism.  If I listen to Holy Mass on the radio
and consume the consecrated host, is this a valid
participation of Holy Mass? - Dirk 

CatholicView:

I suffer from autism. When I go to Mass with public transport it is a burden on my nerves because of over-stimulation. It makes me very tense even before Mass begins. After Mass I have to go back home with the same result on my nerves. At home I need to recover for hours. If I listen to Holy Mass on radio and consume a consecrated Host (which I keep in a Pyx) when the priest distributes the Hosts to the people, is this a valid participation of Holy Mass?  - Dirk

________________________________________ 

Dear Dirk,

Thank you for your question which is a very important one. If we take Jesus at his word, we can be confident that God only asks to do our best. God doesn’t ask us to inflict unnecessary suffering on ourselves, but rather to take care of the life he has given us.  Each of us has gifts and capacities.  Each of us is limited by age, health, economy and so on.  Your autism is a significant burden and I am sure Jesus would be more than happy if you learn to carry that burden as lightly as you can.

So if we treat God as someone we know and love well, questions about laws fade into their proper place.  They are to help us develop a loving intimate relationship with God.  They are not meant to be a burden that is too difficult for us to carry.

In other words, if you are truly coming to know God’s love, you will know that God perfectly understands your situation and the struggle you have going to Mass by public transport. I suggest you have come up with a very good solution to your situation that Jesus would applaud as being sensible.  It seems that you will pray in a more focused and free way if you are fresh and not exhausted or troubled from your travels.

The letter of the law doesn’t always fit all our circumstances.  St Thomas Aquinas noted this in the 16th century and advises us to follow our conscience in all things rather than slavishly following a law which as he put it “May offend the spirit of charity that the law is intended to serve.”  Every blessing.  -  Father Kevin


"Why are you certain, as a priest, there is a God?" - Kieran

Father:

I am an Irish Catholic from county Cork but have been struggling with my faith for a few years.  Can I ask why are you so certain there is a God?  Particularly when the world around us is becoming more and more hostile to religion.  Kieran

 ________________________________

HI there Kieran,

Firstly your question makes some assumption about my faith!  Yes I am a priest.  Do I have doubts about the ultimate questions, including the question about the existence of God?  Of course I do.  Sometimes, especially when I am conducting a funeral the questions will come up for me and I am challenge to explore again what it is I believe.

The whole thing’s a great mystery and none of us knows for certain what the answers to all the big questions are. Having said that, I’m betting my whole life, even in the midst of occasional doubts and questions, on the presence of God and the intention of God for us to find a home in that Love who is God when we die.

It’s the only way I can make sense of our life here. If I imagine that reality starts and ends at the end of my own intellectual capacity, my own imaginings, my own discoveries, then I am truly having myself on and ego rather than a real quest for truth take center stage.

If I allow life’s mysteries to keep calling me forward, to explore, to wrestle, to doubt and  ultimate to believe, then I am always open to seeing and understanding more than I have seen and understood to this point.

When my ideas and opinions are frozen into one set of convictions that allow of no question, no conversation, no growth, then I am as good as dead and probably my life is one of great boredom and frustration, filled with distractions that keep me from asking any further questions.

Life is much more fun and infinitely more satisfying if like Peter that day on the lake, I dare to get out of the boat and go looking for Jesus as he did. Sure I’ll sink now and then, sink into doubts, darkness and a sense of being abandoned.  These times can become the occasions for my best learning and growth and wisdom can emerge.

Enjoy the ride!!  -  Father Kevin



Can my non-Christian Godson's wife receive blessings
from a priest?" - Shirley
    


Father Kevin:

My godson has a wife who is currently ill in hospital. As a non-catholic non-Christian, will his wife be able to receive blessings from a priest? Shirley

 _______________________________

HI Shirley:

Of course, if his wife wishes to be blessed by a priest, there is nothing to stop her from receiving such a blessing and a priest should be willing to give such a blessing.  Jesus was constantly on the lookout for people that were not part of his own religious tradition and some of his loveliest encounters were with people who were beyond the reach of how “good” religious people imagined they should be.  He simply loved them and blessed them with his presence. We’re pretty safe in suggesting that he is our best model in this regard.

Please pass on my blessing to your godson’s lovely wife all the way from sunny Sydney – and one for you too.  - Father Kevin

 



PRIEST STAFF

"I am a bartender and someone wanted advice about
their son's suicide.  Was I wrong with my advice?
 - Steven

 

Father:

As a bartender, I'm often told things that most people would never want to confess. As a Catholic, I try to advise them, but sometimes even I'm stuck. For instance, today, I had someone come in talking about their son's suicide. I know it is wrong, but I suggested that if they loved their son, and their son loved them, then God was there....even at that terrible moment. Was I wrong? - Steven

 ___________________________________

Steven:

Your job as a bartender must be a very interesting one since you have your hand on the pulse of the people who come there to unwind.  I pray that the Lord bless you with wisdom in all that you do. 

Yes, I am quite aware that people would tell a bartender things that they would never tell anyone else, except for me, a priest.  I bet that together we could write a book on the human condition!  Your advice to the parent who lost their son to suicide is RIGHT ON, perfect for the situation that you found yourself.  Why do you say it is wrong? 

Your answer was filled with the Holy Spirit's wisdom for that grieving parent.  Praise God for your words!  I think you may have thought that your sage advice was wrong because in the past, many religious leaders and the Catholic Church itself taught that suicide was akin to murder and the taking of one's life would be covered in the commandment,
You Shall Not Kill (Exodus 20).  And murder is one of the deadly sins (mortal sin) which condemns the one who committed murder to eternal hell.  And since a person who committed suicide would be considered in the past as a "self-murderer," it would appear that this person would be condemned to the fires of hell for this mortal sin.  But things have changed.  With the scientific and psychological studies of the human brain and human action, the Church now realizes that suicide is the end product of an extremely grave case of mental, emotional, and spiritual distress in which hope is lost.  And when a person is in the grips of such dire mental, emotional and spiritual distress and illness, the culpability of their actions is GREATLY diminished. 

To commit a mortal sin, one has to have the complete free will to do such a grave action.  Many who have committed suicide do not have the mental capacity to make a free will decision.  Instead, they are driven to this action by forces that have gotten out of their control.  Therefore, they do not commit sin even though their actions will have such painful and serious effects and consequences that will last a lifetime.  Even civil law recognizes that people with diminished mental faculties cannot be charged with a serious and grave (felony) crime because they do not have a free will unencumbered by mental illness.  Your wise advice to the parent grieving their son is the Church's teaching in this matter.  Thank you for being so compassionate to this parent. 

For your (and our readers) information, here is the official teaching of the Church on suicide as expressed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 2280-2283, and I draw your attention to section 2282 (b) in regards to diminished mental capacity:

Suicide

2280 Everyone is responsible for his life before God who has given it to him. It is God who remains the sovereign Master of life. We are obliged to accept life gratefully and preserve it for his honor and the salvation of our souls. We are stewards, not owners, of the life God has entrusted to us. It is not ours to dispose of.

2281 Suicide contradicts the natural inclination of the human being to preserve and perpetuate his life. It is gravely contrary to the just love of self. It likewise offends love of neighbor because it unjustly breaks the ties of solidarity with family, nation, and other human societies to which we continue to have obligations. Suicide is contrary to love for the living God.

2282 If suicide is committed with the intention of setting an example, especially to the young, it also takes on the gravity of scandal. Voluntary co-operation in suicide is contrary to the moral law.

Grave psychological disturbances, anguish, or grave fear of hardship, suffering, or torture can diminish the responsibility of the one committing suicide.

2283 We should not despair of the eternal salvation of persons who have taken their own lives. By ways known to him alone, God can provide the opportunity for salutary repentance. The Church prays for persons who have taken their own lives.
 
Keep working for the Lord.  God bless you!
  - Father Francisco


"If I find a tabernacle that is not in use, should I
still genuflect toward the tabernacle?" - Eris


Father: 

If I found that the tabernacle is empty (no lights on, no bishop around, and I just know that it is really empty (they emptied it for some reason), what should I do? Should I still genuflect towards the tabernacle? - Eris

 __________________________________

Eris:

You only genuflect to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.  One never genuflects to the tabernacle.  When the tabernacle is empty, one does not genuflect.  Just walk by.  Since we are on this subject, if the tabernacle with the Blessed Sacrament is present, genuflect (usually one knows whether Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is present by the red sanctuary candle light that hangs near the tabernacle...if the candle is lit, the Blessed Sacrament is in the tabernacle.  If the candle is not lit and the doors of the tabernacle are open to show that the Blessed Sacrament is not being kept there, then no genuflection is made).  One always bows to the main (center) altar in the church as a sign of respect for the altar that represents Jesus Christ and His one eternal sacrifice for the salvation of humankind.  So, when you pass in front of the altar, one bows their head and then go on to their destination within the church building.  - Father Cervantes

 

"There's about 240 million males who can't build their
own families.  How can we solve this? - Bob

 

Father Francisco:

There is a 7% access in male population or about 240 million males who can't build their own families. I realize that not all of these men can live single or become priests, so how can we peacefully solve this problem. - Bob

 ______________________________________

Bob:

God calls each person to his singular and special destiny within God's Plan.  We all are made in the image and likeness of God and we are all made according to God's design and Will.  As you say, some men are unable to procreate according to God's Plan and Design for their particular destiny.  This is not a problem for God, therefore not a problem for humankind.  These men are still being called to the married life, to the single life, to the religious life, to the ordained (deacon, priest, bishop) life.  If these "infertile" men do get married, they can still be open to life by adopting children who need loving parents like them (could be that God made them infertile so that they could adopt these beloved children who need loving parents like them).  Men and women who cannot procreate is not a problem to God.  He knows what He is doing.  He made them all to serve His Will and Plan for salvation of humankind. - Father Francisco
 


"I'm getting confused on what appears to be sects of
Catholicism.  What makes them different?"  - Donald
  


Father Francisco:

I'm getting confused on what appears to be sects of Catholicism.  I grew up as a Catholic and have my convictions deeply rooted in our faith but I do see from time to time different speakers from St. Benedictine Monks that are Catholic to Protestants to Eastern Orthodox to Western Church and I guess I don't understand the difference but there is something different about all of these.... Is there an easy answer that can clear up my confusion? I have also been watching some videos from Brother David Steindler -Rast who is Benedictine and agree with his views on spirituality. Do they think any differently than the Church or what makes them different? Thanks again for the help and have a good day  - Donald

_________________________________

Donald:

The Catholic Church, founded by Jesus Christ on the foundation of the apostles, is a Church that has maintained the orthodoxy of the teachings of Christ through the Church's two thousand year existence.  In that time, the teachings of Christ has been taught and expressed to each generation in its particular cultural situation.  Because of this, the Church's teaching is rich with many and varied viewpoints (wisdom) on the gospel of Christ.  (Even the gospel of Christ is expressed in four gospels!) 

There are many varied ministries in the Church, each appealing to a sector of the faithful, yet orthodox in its teaching.  The gospel of Christ and the entire bible is a living and breathing document, teaching each generation about the mysteries of God, the morality of believers, and the destiny of all as expressed in the vocation of humankind to salvation through Jesus Christ.  There is NO difference in orthodox teaching of the gospel of Christ between the various groups, orders, and religious communities in the Church.  There are differing viewpoints and interpretations of the gospel, but the teachings are the same.  The Benedictine order with its various different communities teach the Catholic faith with their own wisdom gained through the ages. 

The teachings of Brother David Steindl-Rast, O.S.B. (please see this link for more information: 
http://www.gratefulness.org/brotherdavid/ ) are based on the spiritual experiences of the Benedictine order founded by Saint Benedict around 550 A.D.  (http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=26 ).  So, within the Catholic Church, there are not different sects but different groups that interpret the gospel of Christ according to their experiences and spiritual needs, yet all teaching the orthodox faith of Jesus Christ.  In regards to Protestants and other Christian denominations not associated with the Catholic Church, their teachings are so different from the Catholic Church's tradition that these Christian denominations are either separated from the Catholic Church or are on their own, interpreting the teachings of Jesus in their own fashion and not on the basis of the apostolic faith that the Catholic Church has received and kept throughout these past two thousand years. 

To answer simply your question, there is no difference between the groups, orders, communities, and various ministries within the Catholic Church.  All are teaching the gospel of Christ as handed down to us from the apostles themselves through their experiences of the love of God and the gift of salvation offered to all through Jesus Christ.  – Father Francisco 



"There is a website on Bible prophecies. 
Are these recognized by the Church? - Bob
 

 

Father:

I found following the website about Bible prophecies www.thepropheticyears.com.   Can you please advise if these prophecies by this author are recognized by the Catholic Church? – Bob

_________________________________

Bob:

These "prophecies," as you put them, are NOT recognized by the Catholic Church as orthodox teaching of the bible.  These are fantastical imaginations of those who do not know the cultural, historical, and spiritual context of the bible as it is written.  Anyone can interpret the bible as they please, it seems.  The Church simply states that Jesus Christ will come again the judge the living and the dead, and that the world will end and a new heavens and a new earth will take its place.  How that will be done is left to God, in His way, in His time, and when He wants to end everything.  God bless. -  Father Francisco
 


"These past years my desire for intimacy with my
husband has dropped.  Is it a sin to mutually
masturbate?"   - Barb
                           


Father Cervantes:

Over the past few years my desire for sexual intercourse has dropped to nearly zero but my husband's has not. Are we sinning if we engage in mutual masturbation to express love rather than intercourse. Due to my age there is no possibility of conception during intercourse. - Barb

____________________________________

Barb:

I am concerned your low desire for sexual intercourse could be a signal of health problems.  If you cannot express your intimate love in sexual intercourse, please see a medical professional so that any major illnesses can be ruled out for your sexual issues.  Otherwise, how your physically express your love and intimacy in the marital bond is between you both and God.  Please be at peace and enjoy the love that brings you ever closer to our Creator Who is Love.  – Father Cervantes
 


"Six weeks ago, I found out my husband
gave me a STD.  How do I get over this?"
 - Delilah
     

Father Francisco:

My husband lost his mother 2 years ago and claims that is his reason for drinking and smoking more.  6 weeks ago, I found out he gave me an STD and 2 weeks ago he cheated on me with another lady.  How do I get over this with God's help? – Delilah

Your husband and others always try to find excuses for immoral behavior to somehow justify their actions and distract from any sense of guilt in breaking God's law. 

I do not accept your husband's excuses for his immoral behavior.  He chose to sin against God and you and his family.  He must seek forgiveness from God and get on his knees in prayer and repentance.  As for you, you have been victimized by the immoral actions of your husband.  Yet, in a prayer that you probably say every day, THE OUR FATHER, you say, "forgive us our trespasses (sins) as we forgive those who trespass (sin) against us."  Our call to follow Christ means that we forgive those who have wronged us, including your husband who has hurt you beyond understanding. 

Forgiveness does not mean to say that everything is fine between us.  What forgiveness does is an action on your part to live in the present and not in the past.  Your husband has a lot of repentance to do.  On your part, you must call him to this repentance through your forgiveness of him which means that you will live in the here and now and not in the past.  Remember, forgiveness is not a license to sin.  Forgiveness is the call of repentance to your husband from your broken heart and spirit.  Forgiveness heals because it is a conscious decision not to live in the past and bring up the past.  Live for today.

God helps those who help themselves and that means that you may need the help of a professional marriage counselor to get through this betrayal of your love for your husband in the bond of marriage.  Your husband has many issues to overcome, and some of them seems to be addiction to alcohol, smoking, and sex (sexual addiction?) outside of the sacrament of marriage.  He will need to speak either to his priest/deacon to start the road to repentance and healing, and you both need to get into marriage counseling as soon as possible.  Trust in God's plan for you.  He will heal your broken heart.  And if if your husband wants to, he too can be healed by God from his immorality and addictions.  Know that God loves you.  – Father Francisco


"My heart is guiding me towards Catholicism.  How can
I guide my wife to do this and that Catholicism is worth
it?" - Nicholas
                          


Dear Father:

I am currently struggling with my devotion to God. I know he exists but I feel lost and not sure what path to follow. I am not currently a Catholic, technically I'd probably classify myself as non-denominational. I have this pull or heavy feeling on my heart that seems to be guiding me towards Catholicism, and my wife and I are to meet with our local RCIA group soon and discuss this as well. I guess my question would be how should I help guide my wife to understanding why I feel we need to do this and why Catholicism is worth it?    -  Nicholas

 __________________________________

Nicholas:

I am impressed by your spiritual journey to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior in the Catholic Church.  The Catholic Church, founded by Jesus Christ Himself on the foundation of the apostles, is the keeper of the tradition of Christian teaching as it is passed down through the ages.  You have been called by God to know Him within the Catholic Church and its spiritual teachings, its spiritual discipline and way of life. 

I am so happy to know that you are to meet with your local Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) parish group.  Your spiritual maturity in Jesus Christ is a life-long process, and I pray that you will grow in the Lord within the Catholic Church. 

As for wife and you wanting her to be a Catholic with you, please know that your wife's spiritual destiny is a journey that you share but one that she has to take up on her own.  Her spiritual journey is different from yours.  There is no need to convince her that your spiritual journey must also be hers.  You cannot, nor should you, control her spiritual maturity in Christ.  You must first focus on your own relationship with God through the Catholic Church. 

Once you begin to understand the call from God to be a Christian within the Catholic Church can you begin to share with your wife your journey to the Catholic Church.  For now, be at peace and focus on your own relationship with Jesus as your Lord and Savior.  Let your wife follow her own journey to God.  God Bless you.  –  Father Francisco



Our local priest is living with a male 'live in '
companion'.  Do I still have to attend Sunday
Mass or can I attend TV Mass? - PJ

Father Francisco:

A parish employee told me our local priest is living with a male live in 'companion', in an active homosexual relationship is what I gathered from our conversation.  It has been, sadly, rather common and well publicized in this part of the country.  I have some proof the employee is telling the truth, enough to feel horrible about attending Mass every time I go there, it's logistically almost impossible to attend elsewhere, I am a full time care giver. what is the correct way to handle this situation?  Do I still have an obligation on Sunday or can I attend TV Mass?  – PJ

 _________________________________

PJ:

You have an obligation to attend Mass every Sunday at church -- in person -- and not through the television or other ways of media. 

The validity of the Mass and the sacraments does not depend on the morality of the minister of the sacrament (the teaching of the church, in Latin,
Ex Opere Operato:  please see link for a definition:   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ex_opere_operato). 

The Mass is valid no matter if the priest is in a state of grace or not.  Now, to the problem: If it is true that your parish priest is living in sin, then it is EVERYONE’S responsibility in the parish church to confront your parish priest about his immorality and make your complaint known to the diocesan bishop and the vicar (counselor) for clergy of your diocese. 

If the bishop doesn’t know what is going on but you do, you have the responsibility of informing the bishop about his intolerable situation. As priests, we call our congregations to repentance in Jesus Christ.  As believers in Jesus in the Catholic Church, you can call your priest to repentance too.  As a matter of fact, you have the spiritual responsibility to do so. 

Please call or write the bishop about what you know about your parish priest.  Please sign your letter.  Anonymous letters get thrown in the trash.  You have no idea how many anonymous letters a bishop receives about various different topics.  But if your letter is signed, or if you mention your name over the telephone, then your letter or call will be taken seriously and an investigation will be done, and a confrontation with the offending priest will happen as soon as possible after the facts are known.  There will be an Episcopal intervention for the offending priest and it won’t be nice.  But it must de done to maintain the integrity of the teaching of the gospel of Christ. 

Now that you have written to me, you are now tasked to write to your bishop about this situation NOW.   Immediately.  Don't wait.  You are in my prayers this day.  Being a caregiver is a challenge but you will be richly blessed because of what you are doing for another human being.  And being a faithful Catholic, you are also challenged to keep the faith pure and you will be richly blessed when you bring this matter to your diocesan bishop.
  May God bless you for all you do for God's Church.  - Father Cervantes

 


CATHOLICVIEW STAFF

"27 years ago I was intimate with a man who later
committed suicide.  This was a terrible mistake.

Is there any hope for me?" Colin
 
     

CatholicView Staff:

27 years ago when I was reckless I laid with a man.  This was a terrible mistake.  Is there any hope for me because I truly believe in God.  The person who I laid with committed suicide and I believe that the circumstances led him to this.  Is there hope for me or will I be put to death?  This sin was a very long time ago and now I realize the sin that I committed was terrible and feel ashamed.  But now I try and live a Godly life and I have surrendered to Christ. Can I be saved?  - Colin

__________________________________ 

Colin:

Do you believe in a God Who sent His only Son to die for all of us who have sinned?  And have you asked the Lord for forgiveness of the sin you committed over 27 years ago?  If you did, you have a friend in Christ, a God Who never sleeps and knows all about your sin and is willing to forgive you, so you have nothing to be concerned about.  Jesus has already paid for your sin when He died on the cross for you and for all mankind. 

Remember, if you have prayed for His forgiveness, that sin has already been erased.   If not yet, He is waiting to forgive you right now and your sin will be forgotten and blotted out from the Book of Life.  

We do not know if the man you slept with asked for forgiveness in the final moments before his suicide, but we can only hope that he did.  If so, he is already in heaven, for God is a just God Who sees all things, including sorrow for past sins.

Ask God for strength.  Know that you, through asking God to forgive you, have been redeemed in His eyes.  Move forward now and continue to love the Lord.  Be at peace.      -  -  CatholicView Staff
 


"I'm dating a Christian girl whose mother won't let us
date because of their religion.  I don't consider myself
Catholic or Christian.  What should I do?" Anthony


CatholicView Staff:
 

I am dating a Christian girl and her mother won't let us date simply because she says I'm not from their religion but I don't consider myself neither Catholic or Christian.  We both love each other very much and we don't what to end our relationship because of that.  What should I do ?  - Anthony

_________________________________
 

Anthony:

From your letter it seems that you are saying you are not a Christian?  What do you consider yourself to be?  You list yourself as a Catholic in your email to CatholicView. 

If you attend Church regularly, you are a Christian Catholic.  If you are, then I would suggest you make up your mind and live as the Church teaches, so if you decide you are a Catholic Christian, please make an appointment with your priest to discuss this further before you move on to arranging a possible marriage.  May the Lord bless you and give you clarity.  - CatholicView Staff
 



"The man I am dating is struggling with his faith.
 How do I help him?"  - Annie
         


CatholicView:

I have been dating the same man for 1 1/2 years now, and I'm very much in love with him, but recently, he told me that he was struggling with his faith and I offered to help and he said he doesn't believe.  He said he believes in philosophy and science and he just can't come to believe the Catholic teachings.  How do I deal with something like this? How do I handle the situation myself?  And how do I help him? - Annie

 __________________________________

Annie:

I am going to assume your friend is Catholic but has lost his faith. 

Please pray for your boyfriend  and let him see the pure joy you feel as you attend mass on Sundays and take the Eucharist... let him see that you are strong in your faith.  Be a witness to him, telling him that you are praying strongly that he returns to his faith in the Lord.  

If all fails and he will not change, you must discern what this may bring to you in the future should you continue this relationship.  Think very carefully before you marry someone who does not believe as you do.  And if he refuses to change, you must decide if you want this man in your life.

If possible, talk to your priest and discuss this situation.  May the Lord be with you.  Hope this helps a bit.  - CatholicView Staff



"Where can I find the story of the mother of seven sons  
who were tortured and killed for not disavowing God?
 - Tom
  


CatholicView::


I am seeking verses telling the story of a mother forced to watch her sons' torture attempting to force them to disavow God. - Tom

 _____________________________________

Dear Tom: 

I believe you are referring to the 2nd Book of the Maccabees 7:1-42.  It is a story of a Jewish mother who had to watch her seven sons brutally killed.  When they refused, Antiochus 1V Epiphanes arrested a mother and her seven sons, and tried to force them to eat pork.  When they refused, he tortured and killed the sons one by one.  The remarkable mother had to watch her sons die one by one.  She watched her seven sons die in the space of a single day, yet she bore it bravely because she put her trust in the Lord.  Each of the sons makes a speech as he dies, and the last son says that his brothers are "dead under God's covenant of everlasting life". 

To read this amazing story in full, please visit this link:  http://www.catholic.org/bible/book.php?id=21&bible_chapter=7

This is a beautiful story of true faith in God.  God bless you for bringing it to light for others to read.  - CatholicView Staff

       


"My fiancée wants to raise our children Protestant and
when they are of age choose for themselves..  Will the
Church permit such a marriage?" - Brian
 

CatholicView Staff:

I am a Catholic seeking marriage with a Protestant woman, but she wants to raise our kids Protestant until they are old enough to make their own decisions. If she refuses to raise our kids Catholic, is there any way the Church would permit such a marriage? - Brian

____________________________________

Brian:

It seems you are planning to have your marriage in the Catholic Church.  If so, your fiancée would have to stipulate that she will raise the children Catholic.

I would strongly suggest that the both of you sit down with a Catholic priest to discuss this union and what the Catholic Church has to say about what your fiancee would like to do concerning how your children will be raised.

Remember, the children will grow up knowing nothing of your faith.  May God be with you as you make this important marriage decision. - CatholicView Staff
 



"I want to be Catholic but there are no nearby
Churches.  What shall I do?" - Jonathan


Catholic View Staff:

I am very interested in becoming a Catholic, but I don't know of any Catholic Churches in my area. How can I become a Catholic? - Jonathan

______________________________

Jonathan:

I am sorry to hear that there are no Catholic Churches in your area.  I do not know where you live but here is a directory which may help you:  http://www.thecatholicdirectory.com/ .  Put in your living information.  Also, you may try to find a diocese close to you and they may offer some advice on finding a nearby Church where you can worship.  Here is another link which may help: http://www.ehow.com/how_2322142_find-catholic-church-area.html .

I am hoping these two will be helpful.  Remember if you find one that is fairly close but yet too far for every Sunday, call them and ask for a referral to one even closer.   Better yet, ask them for the telephone number of their diocese.  They will help you.   May the Lord bless you in finding a spiritual home.  - CatholicView Staff



"A future pregnancy would be life threatening to my
wife and I as Catholics.  What should I do?" - Jeff
   

CatholicView Staff:

 My wife and I use artificial contraception to supplement NFP because a future pregnancy would be life-threatening to my wife (and child) and her very irregular periods have made NFP less reliable. I don't think abstinence for the next 15 years is realistic for us. Is there any way I can receive Communion between now and when she reaches menopause since I can't give a true confession because of this? Can I even continue to attend mass or raise my children as Catholics? - Jeff

 __________________________________

Jeff:

If a doctor has told you that a future pregnancy would be life threatening to your wife and child you must obey this ruling.  You must safeguard your wife’s health.  Not to do so would mean that your child could lose its mother.  Your wife must follow her doctor’s advice.   

May your love mature and grow as God wills it.  Remember that God sees all things.  He would not want your present child to be motherless or worse, jeopardize your wife’s life.  May the Lord grant you peace. - CatholicView Staff 

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