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 JULY 2006 FATHER KEVIN BATES FATHER AMARO SAUMELL CATHOLICVIEW STAFF
FATHER KEVIN BATES "Does God really care about me?" Father Kevin:
Dear Anne: No wonder you feel abandoned by God after such an awful experience as a child. We often have expectations of God that he will fix things up, protect us, save us from all kinds of suffering, and we often feel abandoned when this doesn't eventuate for us. It's a very natural thing to feel this way and becomes hard for us to believe in God's goodness, or in God at all. The challenge for us as people of faith is to believe that at the end of all our longing God is there, and that at the end of all our journeying, God's heart will be the one place where our own hearts will find rest. Sometimes it feels we have to crawl over broken glass to get to that peace, or that God is simply passive and uninterested. My own sense is that as people of faith, we can only make sense of the mystery of God in our lives by surrendering completely as Jesus did on the Cross. Remember, He didn't go Himself without a whimper - "My God why have you abandoned me?" However in the end He surrendered himself into God's hands. Our suffering is a great mystery and we only find its meaning by entering that mystery with a belief that at the end of the day, life is meant to be good. God, from where I sit, doesn't go round fixing things up or protecting us from life's struggles, but rather provides a way to find meaning and hope even through the darkest of times. To find that meaning, we have to look humbly, patiently and, as Jesus said himself, picking up our cross and carrying it, in order to get some inkling of that meaning. It doesn't come easily to us at all. I believe God cares about each of us passionately. To taste that care, we have to care about God passionately ourselves, and give ourselves to this search for meaning, without limiting God to our ideas of what He should or shouldn't do. I pray that your heart can find some comfort and homecoming, and soon. - Father Kevin
“If NFP fails, can I
use artificial birth control?” - Rebekah Father Kevin: I would like to use Natural Family Planning when I have children but what if it fails? Would we then be allowed to use artificial means? I don't believe that Jesus wants me to suffer like my mother has through having so many children. She felt suicidal sometimes. All the children's faith have suffered as a result, and I do not want this to happen to my children, so would my want to have happy children who are strong in their faith. Would this be a justification for using artificial contraception in the event of NFP failing? - Rebekah
Hi Rebekah: All God asks of us is that we be as life-giving as we possibly can, and God doesn't ask us to be more than we are to be. While it's very easy for us to deceive ourselves and justify our actions, it's also common that we can too hard on ourselves. When you sit quietly before the God that you know and love, and explore your own heart, you will know what the truest and most life-giving way forward is for you. You sound as though you are wanting to be as generous as possible, and would really know in your own heart what you need to do. The Church's teaching on contraception is based on the value that calls us to be life-giving as generously as we can. Sometimes the value and the law require some further conversation with each other so that the law comes more into line with the deeper life of the gospel. There are many such conversations going on at the moment with regard to contraception, and your faith journey could well add to that conversation. Our mission as people of faith is to explore for ourselves what is right, true and loving and then test that beside the wisdom of the Church, and so add to the deposit of the Church's wisdom. As a Church we are always learning more about the moral requirements of the gospel, as we are confronted with the challenges of each new era. Your own experience of your mother's suffering could be a good pointer to the way ahead for you. Every blessing to you and your family. - Father Kevin
"Is Jesus God?"
Hi KC and thanks for your question: The Catholic Church holds that the two sources of revelation are the Scriptures and the living Tradition in the Church. According to the Church's tradition and according to the way in which scholars understand the New Testament, we believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that He is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. So the short answer to your question is that we do believe that Jesus is God, and along with the Father and the Holy Spirit He is equally God. It's a great mystery, but I like to think of it as God sharing His intimate family life with us, by revealing that God is first and last all about relationships, and has revealed Himself to us as the one who relates through knowledge and love, above all as Love. Pope Benedict's wonderful encyclical from earlier this year, might be a good read for you. Good wishes, Father Kevin
Father Kevin
Hi: Good question, Sarah. People often enough claim to have experienced remarkable healings and often enough medical science can offer no explanation for these. The miracles recorded in the bible are truly remarkable. I think their real value for us lies many times, not so much on the miraculous event itself, but in the experience of God's love that they mean to convey to us. God's love is beyond all our reckoning and expectations, and is often experienced by people in all sorts of miraculous ways. On the other hand, we can look for miracles to save us from doing our own living and growing, and expect God to do all our work for us. Sometimes, the miracle is that we get cracking and take authority for our own lives rather than waiting around for God to fix things up. My guess is that some people fall into this trap, or always looking for miracles, rather than trying to create something wonderful themselves out of their lives. - Good wishes, Father Kevin “I am unmarried and I occasionally masturbate for sexual relief. Is this a sin?” - Larry Father: I am in my mid-50s...never married. I am hoping
you can unburden me of some guilt that I have carried for over 30 years. Ever since my
early 20's, I have occasionally masturbated for sexually relief. I have tried and tried,
and it is just impossible for me to totally eliminate this. Is this still considered a
"big sin" that I am bound to confess every other week? From medical literature
I've read, this is normal, and is recommended for single people even 2-3 times a week.
Please advise. Thank you. Larry Dear Larry: This is such a common question, usually asked only behind closed doors. But first, lets examine what is “normal” in life. The “norm” is that there are percentages of countries that initiate war, or peace. The norm is that there are a percentage of kleptomaniacs in the world as well as people of different eye color. It is normal for people to have hair. It is normal for people to lie, over-eat, gossip, and slander. OK, now that we see that “normal” doesn’t always include virtuous or God-loving, we can move on. Yes, it’s normal that a boy in early
adolescence will learn about how his body works and the pleasurable sensations of
masturbation. It is all self seeking. Eventually, he will look for stimuli to help him
initiate this sensation. For example, this will often be a mental picture of a beautiful
woman... or is it? Well, let’s see... when defining a “woman,” we must not
only include her looks, but her intelligence, emotions, decision, participation, freedom,
all those things that make up what a woman is. A fantasy might appear to be beautiful, but
it is hardly what God created a woman to be. What an insult that must be to God. After
all, what has happened is that the image that God created in reality has been diminished
in fantasy... made less, made to be mere utility. Of course, this is all for self
pleasure. Ah, now we have separated the men from the
boys. But just as every woman has a little bit of the girl in her, every man has a bit of
the adolescent boy in him. And, his sexual maturity may relapse into that immaturity. But
because the rest of the man is in fact a man, who knows what God intended in a woman, the
man must struggle with no offending God as a man. Yes, there are “norms” in this
life. Adam and Eve set them for us. But as we sing in the Exultet on Holy Saturday,
“O happy fault of Adam that brought us so great a Redeemer...” We don’t
have to be “normal” anymore. We have the grace of the Holy Spirit to drive us
beyond the norm of humanity into the intention of God. It is that maturity that we all
seek. Think about it. Hope it helps. And, if you
keep slipping into the “norm,” remember that you have a Redeemer who listens to
your remorse and disappointment in earnest.
“Upon seeing Ivan, the Visionary on 3/19/06 I began having Visions. What should I do?” - Julia Father Amaro: Upon seeing Ivan, the Visionary on 3/19/06 I began having Visions inner and outer of Our Blessed Mother and Her Son Jesus. My insulin dependant diabetes has been healed, prais God and my Lourdes Rosary turned gold. A journal is being written in and during Holy Communion I have the gift of tears which is becoming more like Ther Passion and painful inside. I have no control over any of this and although I confide in my Parish Priest, what should I do? - Julia Dear Julia: I often find the work of visionaries intriguing But think about what they are for. Even St. Paul, after being convinced that he had experienced Jesus went to the eleven to confirm that, in fact, it was. He respected the Apostolic authority that Jesus established, especially since he was to call Jesus “lord.”.In that light, I offer you this web site: http://www.medjugorje.org/declars.htm It gives the official pronouncements from the successors to the Apostles concerning Medjugorje. Having said that, I must admit, I’ve been there too. In fact, I have celebrated mass in the very church. But something very strange happened that disturbed me. As I was elevating the Precious Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, Our Lord, I noticed people shuffling around to see if their Rosaries had turned gold. Here before them was the Eternal Lord, and they were more interested in the temporal metal in their Rosaries turning gold. That spoke volumes to me. Shortly after that, I was on another trip to Rome. Here I was all puffed up that I was celebrating Mass at the tomb of St. Peter and as I elevated the Precious Body and Blood, I could almost hear a voice telling me that my enthusiasm should not be because of where I was, but rather, what was in my hands. You see a true mystic has very little interest in the unusual. Padre Pio tolerated, for the sake of Christ, His wounds. They were not a thing of vanity, for that would have been a curse. The other great evidence of real miracles is that they are all deliberate. It’s never a thing of “not having control.” Lack of control is disorder. God is a God of order. Jesus walked on dirt and Mother Theresa imitated that! If we are really looking for the unusual that serves the Lord, we look at it in the face of the poor. Unfortunately, that is the “”usual” of the world. The real miracle is participating in change of that. I would be very suspicions of anything that would tempt you to write a journal during Holy Communion. Why would God ever want you to be distracted by a journal during such a profound moment? Even when Jesus was with Mary and Martha, He said that paying attention to him rather than working was the “better part.” The “passion” of Christ is to live as he lived upon this earth in the service of the weak and hungry. It is in prayer. Miracles were only to get attention and draw people to a new knowledge. In fact, all the Apostles but one after Jesus’ Resurrection suffered a very real and earthy execution. There was nothing mysterious about that reality. Heavenly things will eventually come. Let’s concentrate on the imitation of the Lord and the reality of the Sacraments that give us the grace to live in this world. Then we may be found worthy to enter the fullness of the Kingdom. God bless, Father Amaro
“Does the Catholic Church teach about the synoptic problem in the Seminary?” - Jen Father Amaro: Does Roman Catholic Church teach the
synoptic problem to men coming into the priesthood? - Jen Dear Jen: Before I start, we must explain that the
synoptic problem is not “problem” in the colloquial sense. It’s more like a
challenge to learn and understand. (Obviously, someone with a "little knowledge"
which is a "dangerous thing" has gotten you worried about it as an actual
"problem.") And yes, it is covered somewhat in the seminary. But since it is a
subject that is ongoing and intriguing, the challenge remains to understand the mystery.
"Mystery," by the way, does not mean secret. It means "Something of
which there is always more to know." The “problem” itself is the challenge of uncovering the literary and exegetical connections between the three Gospels. You’ll notice that all writings “about” this “problem” are merely opinions and hypotheses. The research discovers the different writing styles, edits and redaction, colloquialisms, and so much more. In this sense, we can call it a "problem" or a "challenge" or a "mystery." But we can say the same thing about why the moon has craters. It’s a problem to understand, but not one to observe. The problem in no way reduces the reality and validity of what has been observed. - God bless, Father Amaro
“As a Catholic, can I join the Eastern Star?” Marianne Dear Father: I am contemplating joining the Eastern Star.
Do I have anything to be concerned with as far as my standing in the church? - Marianne
Dear Marianne, No Catholic can join any secret society.
God bless, Father Amaro “Why does our priest allow people to come to church wearing thongs and vulgar clothes?” – Audrey Father: I want to know how our parish priest can let
people come to church wearing thongs and vulgar clothes. The lax norms for the American
Catholic Churches (and some European Churches) is mind-boggling. How did we get that way
and does our pastor have the rights to refuse entrance to the church to anyone because of
his or her disrespectful way of dressing? I fear to go to church anymore because it
saddens me to see that kind of blatant disrespect. Thanks and GOD BLESS for your help. -
Audrey
Dear Audrey: There we go again. LOL the priest is not the
“king” of the land. That is hardly
the case. The priests come and go. The community of the faithful is those who form the
etiquette of their own community. That means that through your baptism, you have every
right to educate...kindly...these people. It is not the “priest’s”
responsibility. The priest is one person. The parish is many. How did we get that way? Well, most likely
we got that way because people expected the priest to live their faith for them. New
priests were to miraculously appear rather than vocations fostered in the home. Nuns and
priests were to teach the children rather than the parents. In other words, it got that
way because people didn’t listen to the Gospels or take the time to learn the
profound reality of the mass. It goes along with the immaturity of the person who says,
“I’m not being fed at mass,” Of course not. You’re not going to be
fed. You’re going to worship! These days, adults have chosen to teach their kids that
mass is “good” when there’s good entertainment for them. Entertainment?
Yes! Have you seen what the kids wear to the movies? What not wear the same things to the
good entertainment at mass? As cynical as this sounds, I think
we’ve all experienced its reality. It’s most likely that you are being
called to a ministry of education so that others may know the holiness of the Real
Presence. Audrey, I think the Lord is telling you that it’s time for you to get to
work.
“In five years of marriage, we’ve only had sex on our honeymoon. What should I do?” – Clay Father Amaro: We got married 5 years ago. We had sex for
the first time on the honeymoon. Now there's nothing. She will not discuss it
or go to counseling. I am so unhappy, I hate her. What am I to do? I
didn't want to live with my "sister". Thank you. - Clay
Dear Clay: I think that if I were a woman having to
deal with the aggressiveness in this note, I would keep my distance too. I would like to
recommend that you look at the “Marriage Page” on my web site
(http://www.fatheramaro.com). If that doesn’t describe what you expected in your
marriage, then maybe the problem is not your wife’s. You might want to see how your
leadership is going in the spiritual and romance departments, recognizing that leadership
is not giving orders and that romance is not sex. No person is ever going to leave himself
or herself vulnerable to another if they feel like a “thing.” Sexuality must be
a giving expression and gift. If that expression is reflected as “it” i.e.
“I want it...” than there is no manly expression, only a boyish masturbatory
existence. On the other hand, if your wife has
something that is hurting so much that she can’t talk about it, the man in you should
be more concerned about that. Concern NEVER is reflected in “I hate her.” Tell
me again... Who needs the counseling?
“What would the Church say about a young Catholic man performing priestly duties without ordination?” - Paula Father: I know of a married Catholic young man who
has taken either five or six weeks or several months of training to be an Internet
Minister, but does public weddings/grave site service, and things of a nature that
non-denominational ministers would preside over. He has his certificate and everything he
does is legal. What would the Catholic Church have to say about this young man's service
as a non-denominational minister, who also wears the Alb, Cincture, and the Stole with the
Celtic Cross, when he presides over these non-denominational weddings, even though he is
not an ordained priest, and adds the "Reverend" before his name. Thank you,
Paula Dear Paula: If one accepts a ministry in a non-Catholic
church through any kind of ordination, that person “notoriously “ rejects the
faith and must go through the R.C.I.A. program and re-commit through the church by making
a public profession of faith. This person needs to discuss this with his diocesan Canon
Law office.
“I am struggling to find peace in my heart. Can you help?” - Mary CatholicView Staff:
Dear Mary: What a tremendous burden you bear. Know that all of us are subject to sin. None is exempt. It is in the recognition that we are all sinners, standing in the need of God’s forgiveness that we can purify ourselves. We are made whole by seeking His pardon anytime we ask for it. We have God’s assurance on this and He never takes back His promises. Do not let the evil force of Satan make you believe you are not forgiven. As a Catholic Christian, you must trust in the mercy of God. You have already been forgiven by Jesus Christ Who paid for your sins over 2,000 years ago. Now move forward knowing with assurance that your record of past sin has been erased when you acknowledged your need for God’s forgiveness and promised never to commit those sins again. Now go in peace. - CatholicView Staff “Can I marry my non-Catholic fiancé outside the Church?” - Quentin CatholicView Staff: Dear Quentin: You do not say if your non-Catholic fiancé wants to marry in the Catholic Church. As a Catholic, you are bound to marry within the Church if you want to receive the sacraments. Should she be agreeable to a Catholic Ceremony, there is no reason you and your fiancé cannot have a Catholic marriage even though she is not Catholic. I would suggest you talk to your parish priest. This may solve your dilemma. God bless. – CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff:
Dear Sally: You write that you frequently pray the “Our Father”. Within that prayer, Jesus tells us when we pray we say “Forgive us our debts (trespasses) as we forgive our debtors (trespassers). This says it all. If we want God to forgive us, then we must forgive those who hurt us. Yes, you must forgive this person who has hurt your daughter and grandchildren. This is a requirement we cannot change. BUT, you can and must stay out of harm’s way and avoid contact at all costs with this person. If this person has physically hurt or threatened your daughter or grandchildren, you must contact the proper authorities. And pray that God will touch his or her heart. Keep this person at a distance but in your prayers. Talk to your parish priest and explain how you
feel. And give this worry to the Lord. Above all, pray. – CatholicView Staff Do you feel in some cases one cannot forgive a mother-in-law?” - Deborah CatholicView
Staff: I have been blessed with a happy marriage,
two healthy beautiful children, but after 25 years I can no longer try to have a
relationship with my mother-in-law. Nothing I
do or say is right. She is breaking my spirit
and I cannot forgive. I feel now I need to
totally disconnect myself completely from her so that I may have peace of mind, peace of
spirit. Do you feel in some cases. for the
sake of our own health of body and mind, that it would be wrong of me not to forgive her
as I feel she is taking out all her frustrations with the choices she has made throughout
her life on me, and I just cannot take it anymore. I
am a good wife and mother, and a caring and loving person. – Deborah Dear Deborah: I am sorry to hear of your problems with
your mother-in-law. It is a disruptive thing
and causes such conflict within the family. But,
as a Christian, one must always forgive, no matter what the circumstances are. You do not mention your husband’s part
in this. Perhaps a word from him to his
mother can make understanding begin between you. If
not, try to distance yourself from her if possible. I
would recommend that you talk to your parish priest and perhaps have her present at that
discussion. Maybe she is not aware of her
interference in your lives. If this does not
work, you must try to limit your contact with her for your own peace of mind. Please try to seek help with this problem. And pray for your mother-in-law that she will see
the damage she is inflicting. Do not let this
ongoing situation be a destructive force in your life.
May the Lord guide and help you always. – CatholicView Staff “Why is it wrong to make love before marriage?” – Xavier CatholicView Staff: Xavier: Here are just a few places where you will find references concerning sex outside of marriage. This ACT YOU CALL “making love” is called FORNICATION. Please sit down, open your bible and check out the many references you will find there. Take time to read God’s word. 1Thessalonians 4:3 “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication... “ Ephesians 5:3 “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becomes saints”. 1Corinthians 6:13 “Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.” Mark 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders...” 1 Corinthians 6:18 “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that commits fornication sins against his own body.” Acts15:20 ”But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication...” 1Corinthians 7:2 ”Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.” Romans 1:19 “Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers...” God bless. – CatholicView Staff “How can I truly feel that God has forgiven me?” - Suzanne CatholicView Staff:
Suzanne: It is time to let go of your past. You have told the Lord you are sorry for your
sins and have tried to make amends. This is
all God asks of us. Satan will try to
convince you that God does not forgive sins, but as a Christian, have faith in God’s
promises. Once your sins are forgiven, they
are erased from the His memory. In Mark 3:28 Jesus
tells you "I assure you that any sin can be forgiven...” There are many ways in which you can serve the Lord. Work in the community where you live, volunteer at a hospital, work with children, help in your Church Office, be a Minister of the Eurcharist, or visit the Church sick. You are needed in many areas to serve the Lord. If you have faith in Jesus Christ, believe that He loves and forgives. With all that you hope for, and all that you have asked Him to forgive, you are now in a state of grace. Remember to keep on the path God has set for you, and if you stumble, ask the Lord to forgive again and He will. He does not want any of us to perish but to have everlasting life with Him. Go in peace and continue to serve the Lord always. – CatholicView Staff
“How do we get excommunicated so that we are no longer considered Catholics?” - Rachel
Dear Rachel: You state that you and your fiancé want to stop being Catholic Christians and become part of another denomination. If you do not want to be a part of the Catholic Church, do not attend. There is no need to do anything more. – CatholicView Staff
“How do we show my brother-in law we do not support his decision to reject God?” -Brendan
Dear Brendan: You do not say whether your brother-in-law plans to attend another church. You and you wife should pray for him and by your actions be a living example of Christ in all things. Once his relationship settles, hopefully he will realize there is a void that only God can fill. This is what you will pray for; that God will light his way back home. Keep praying. – CatholicView Staff CatholicView Staff: Kieran: Why would you show “respect” to an idol that represents “nothing” to you? As a Christian and as a Catholic, I bow to no one but God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). I venerate the saints but only as a gesture of respect not of worship. Buddha was a great founder of a way of life, but he never claimed to be God/a god and he never claimed his followers to worship him in his state of nirvana. So, why should you as a Christian bow or offer votive gifts to someone who cannot save? I will show respect in a Buddhist temple, and I show respect in other houses of worship. But I will not pray to their gods as they don’t exist, or in the case of Buddha, I would only respect the others’ form of spirituality as a way to get to know our Creator. Jesus is Lord. No one takes his place ever. An interesting analogy to this is the protocol of an American citizen visiting a foreign head of state, such as the Queen of the United Kingdom. Even though her “subjects” bow in respect for her office as head of state, when an American meets the Queen, an American would only shake their hands without any kind of bow for Americans never bow to anyone. U.S. Federal law states that the American flag (a symbol of the USA and its government) never is lowered in a salute to anyone or anything. This was evident when in the 1936 Summer Olympic Games in Berlin when the flag bearers of the nations represented there were told to bow their flags in salute to Adolf Hitler as head of state and government. The flag bearer of the USA did not bow or lower the flag because by law the USA flag does not bow (or show submission or surrender) to anything. This is just an example of how others see bowing as a gesture of worship or of submission to another. So, is it sinful to offer a gesture of respect through votive offerings to Buddha or any other deity other than the one Triune God? The answer is an emphatic YES. Christians only submit to God. – CatholicView Staff
“I have not attended mass or confession since Easter . Can I take communion?” - ReneeCatholicView Staff Dear Renee: To partake of the Sacrament of Eucharist
(communion), one needs to be in state of grace and worthiness. So, with this in mind, you need to ask the Lord to
forgive you of all wrongdoing and to receive His forgiveness. The bible tells us in We would not sit at the table and eat with our family with dirty, filthy hands. How much more important that we come before God with our bodies cleansed of sin. So, we need to be cleansed by asking for forgiveness, in order to be in full connection or communion with God and with our brothers and sisters of the Church, before accepting the body and blood of Jesus Christ. Hope this will help you. – CatholicView Staff “What is the St. Pauline Privilege” – Sandra
Sandra: The Pauline (from Saint Paul) Privilege is from the scriptures and here it is: ACTS 7:15-16: However, if the unbelieving husband does not consent (to his wife’s Christian belief in Jesus as Lord and all that comes with that), they MAY separate. In these circumstances, the brother or sister is NOT tied (in Christian marriage). God has called you to a life of peace. Saint Paul mentioned that marriage was forever but Saint Paul acknowledges that there is one circumstance in which a Christian can separate in a marriage and it is over the question of belief. In your case, your husband was not a Christian and therefore you were free to marry a Christian because religion was a major issue in the failure of your marriage. If your husband was a Christian but not a Catholic, and your marriage failed because your Catholic faith became an issue, then you are free to marry a Catholic (once again because religious faith was the issue and this version of Catholic married to a Christian non-Catholic is called the Petrine – Saint Peter -- privilege.) But Saint Paul said that you have to work on your marriage and can’t use the excuse of difference of religions as an excuse to simply break up the marriage. – Catholicview Staff
Dear Jennifer: I don’t know of any commandment, or law, that says struggling with bulimia is sinful. It is not on my list of sinful actions. Yet, I know that you are struggling with all the personal issues that are involved in the complicated issues of eating disorders. So, let’s put it this way: you are not sinning when you find yourself in the grips of this illness. But God is trying to heal you of this disorder through your therapy and the love you have from others. Your prayer life will help you strengthen your resolve to conquer this disorder. Trusting in Jesus means not to obsess and focus on your disorder to the point that you are unable to function. Trusting in Jesus means that you leave the problem in His Hands and you live for the moment, in the present time, and not in the past. Now, let go of the past and all its hurts and live now. By doing so, you will find that your eating disorder in time will come under your control with the help of others that God is giving you. – CatholicView Staff
Dear Harold: Yours is a difficult problem. Your son is at an age where he is testing his individuality and is on the edge of adulthood. BUT, you cannot force your child to go to church for it does not accomplish anything. You know the old saying about “leading the horse to water but you cannot make him drink”. This is true of your precious son also. You have given him a firm foundation in his formative years and as he grows older he will return to that foundation. Pray for him. Pray that he will see that without God he is missing a vital part of his life. Once taught, as I am sure you have taught him, he will remember it when faced with real life and hardships. – CatholicView Staff
Dear Carrie: What would you rather do? Pretend or be a member in full standing with the Church and most importantly get your soul in order? And to know you are doing what is right and good. The priest at your parish won’t judge you but will help you to be in full communion with the Church. You cannot fool God Who knows all things. Go and talk to your priest. He has a compassionate answer waiting for you. Don’t delay. – CatholicView Staff “If my husband and I refrain from sexual relations, can I take communion?” - Jeanette
Jeanette: Congratulations on coming back to the Church after 35 years! This is not a matter of abstaining from sexual relations that sanctifies your marriage and allows you to take communion. What you need is to sit down with a priest to determine whether any of your marriages are still valid. The same holds true with your husband who was once married to a Catholic person. Although it seems a insurmountable problem, you will find this problem can be worked out so that you can return in full and complete communion with the Church. This is something that can be worked out to your satisfaction. Please do not give up. Be patient. You have come too far to turn back. God will give you the strength to sort through this with the wonderful help of your parish priest. Don’t delay. All will be well. – CatholicView Staff “Should I keep my promise to God even though
I am not Catholic?” CatholicView Staff:
Dear Richard: Whether you are Catholic or not, no man should promise less than the truth to God, your Creator. In essence you have lied. This is a serious offense. But God forgives. And God knows that you are sorry and He waits for you to come to Him and ask to be forgiven through prayer. You do not say if you belong to another denomination, but God still is God. You might go and have a talk with your clergyman if you think it will help you clarify things. Seek forgiveness.. Never make a vow to God that you do not intend to honor. - CatholicView Staff Please use the link at the top left
side of this page June 2006 "ASK A PRIEST" CLICK HERE
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