 APRIL 2007 FATHER KEVIN BATES, SM CATHOLICVIEW STAFF FATHER KEVIN BATES, SM ________________________________________________ “We read that
nothing is impossible with God, yet we never see healings of birth defects, etc.?” -
Rich Father Kevin:
Hello Rich: It's a great and enduring mystery why things are as they are. In our human quest for meaning, we have often attributed things to God for which we have no explanation. We have also attached blame to God for our pain and suffering, in order to ease our pain and confusion I guess. We will never know fully the reasons for sufferings of some and the healings of others. All I know is that God is unconditional love, and that when we embrace that mystery, whether we are in suffering or are in good health, we find the meaning for our journey in embracing that love. Good wishes, Father Kevin
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Father Kevin: HI Alec: Yes, it is not only possible for such a man to
become a priest but it in fact happens from time to time. I know a number of such
men who have been ordained. Once it s clear that the children are properly cared for
or are able to look after themselves, there is no problem about seeking ordination.
Likewise for a man who has had children in the past.
Even though he was not married, this should be something that is easily
overcome once all other circumstances are sorted out. Kindest regards. - Father
Kevin _______________________________________________________ Father Kevin: Hi Mike: All the best to you as you go through whatever sadness and pain your divorce entails. Under Church law you can still share in the Eucharist after your divorce. The law comes into play only if you re-marry without an annulment and in that circumstance, the law says you should not receive Communion. Even then, things are not quite as black and white as all that and a connection with a wise priest should help you to have all the nourishment you need from the Church. Every good wish to you. Father Kevin ______________________________________________________ Father Kevin: Hi Aaron: Over the years we have divided ourselves into
thousands of churches, all thinking we are correct and the others are wrong. It is a
pretty childish way to respond to the wonderful love of God displayed in the gospel.
We seem to think that we "own" God and God's truth in our little groups
or churches. I wish you all the best with your wedding and pray that your parents'
love for you can transcend their loyalty to what they perceive to be their faith.
God has a big heart and the whole universe breathes with God's breath. Something
like this should never divide a family, but rather be a source of new and deeper unity and
understanding. Our faith is meant to connect us with each other, not divide us, but
sadly, so often division is our normal way! I'll pray for you and for your parents
that between you all you can find a way for them to participate in your wedding
celebration.
All Good wishes. – Father Kevin
__________________________________________________________________ ”If a person is unconscious, can a priest forgive their sins?” - Chloe
Dear Chloe: Yours is a very interesting question. If the person is close to death but is conscious, he/she has the opportunity during the Sacrament of Healing, formally called the Last Rites or Extreme Unction, to convey his transgressions to the priest. If sins cannot be spoken, it may be possible that the person can ask for forgiveness of sins to Almighty God without speaking, or somehow motion to the priest the need for forgiveness during this Sacrament. If the person is unconscious and unable to speak or cannot respond during the Sacrament of Healing, there is no way to judge whether that person wants to ask God’s forgiveness. In this case the priest will ask that God in His loving mercy forgive any sins of that person and receive him or her into His everlasting kingdom. Hope this helps to answer your question. – CatholicView Staff ________________________________________________ CatholicView Staff: Dear Candise: You ask whether God can forgive your lapse away from Him. The answer is YES He can forgive you because this is what salvation and Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is all about. You can always ask and receive forgiveness. Read the article that was published in this month’s issue of CatholicView titled “Taking Back Your Past”. Even Saint Peter, Christ’s disciple denied Christ. See John Chapter 18 for the whole denial that tells in part: “Meanwhile, as Simon Peter was standing by the fire warming himself, they asked him again, “You’re not one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it, saying, “No, I am not.” First, you must talk to your parish priest and ask God to forgive you through the Sacrament of Confession. Be sincere in your prayers, telling Him that you are sorry and asking for strength to never repeat your sin. Once this is done, you are free to be in full union with the Church and most important of all, in the eyes of Almighty God. Talk to your priest. He will help you to “Come Back Home” again. Jesus is waiting to receive you. Pray to Him quietly and listen to your heart. He is always there holding out a hand of welcome. May the Lord give you the courage to move ahead out of the darkness of sin into God’s everlasting light. – CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: Dear Hannah: Mary is an integral part of the Church because she was chosen by God to give birth to our Lord Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. She was without the stain of sin therefore God chose her. However, she is not to be worshipped but she is to be greatly honored. – CatholicView Staff ______________________________________________________________ Catholicview Staff: I need to understand receiving communion better. I personally feel awkward receiving Holy Communion from a Eucharistic minister and not from a Priest. I feel it wrong and sinful when I see people putting communion in their hands and chewing it. I still believe in the "old rules" that I was taught in the 1960's, where you weren't allowed to touch the host and had to melt it on your tongue, then "offer up" your Holy Communion for someone's soul/life or something that needed God and Christ's blessing, help or forgiveness, before you swallowed it. Was I taught wrong back then??? I consider myself a good and practicing Catholic and am raising three children w/ my also Catholic husband and send my kids to Catholic school, etc. etc. Please explain to me why the Church changed this rule or if it ever actually officially had this rule. Further about Holy Communion, is it acceptable that I refuse to take Holy Communion in my hand, but only placed in my mouth by (preferably) a Priest? In fact I feel kind of wrong when I have received from a Eucharistic minister- and only do so out of desperation, like when I was hospitalized or when the Priest is not near the line I am on for the Eucharist. PLEASE HELP BY answering my questions about Holy Communion and help me to understand. I am too embarrassed to ask my Priest. Thank you and God Bless you and your co-workers in Christ Our Lord. AMEN Dear Dawn: Many people feel that receiving communion from Ministers of the Eucharist somehow takes away from the sacredness of the Sacrament. This is a misnomer as the host has already been consecrated and blessed by the priest. Although Ministers of the Eucharist cannot consecrate the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ, specific training and instruction are prerequisite to becoming one. Respect for this sacred position should be honored. An attitude would be a dishonor and would take away the joy of receiving Christ. Ministers of the Eucharist are members of the church community who feel called to assist in the celebration of mass. They have the duty of helping the priest to distribute the body and blood of Christ. Pope Paul the VI once described these special Ministers of the Eucharist who share in this ministry saying, "The faithful who are special ministers of communion must be persons whose good qualities of Christian life, faith and morals recommend them.” Ministers of the Eucharist are involved in lending their time and efforts to the church and the presiding priest. As to your other question, many traditionalists prefer to receive the body on the tongue rather in the hand. There is nothing wrong in this. No one can dictate how one is to receive Holy Communion. The communicant and only the communicant decides this way of receiving. Either way is correct. The most important thing is to be worthy of accepting it. Be generous and embrace your Christianity. Things have changed for the better. If someone is doing work for the Lord, let that
work be appreciated for what it is; service to the Lord. – Catholicview Staff
____________________________________________________________ CatholicView Staff: Dear Cassandra: Thanks for writing. The Church has taken the position of “love the sinner, hate the sin. No, to be a homosexual is not in itself sinful but to practice homosexuality is considered immoral. The Church bases this reasoning through scripture. Bible references can be found in Genesis 19 and 20:13, Romans 1:24-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, and 1 Timothy 1: 9-10. God bless you. – Catholicview Staff _____________________________________________________________ “Why don't Christians celebrate Jewish Holidays such as Hanukkah, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Passover?” - Kristen CatholicView Staff:
Dear Kristen: Here is a link below that might shed some light on your question of why Catholics do not celebrate Jewish holidays. http://en.allexperts.com/q/Catholics-955/Passover.htm In the early Church many of the original
Christians were still Jewish. Christianity was actually considered a sect within Judaism.
Thus, what actually happened was Gentile Christians had to be "dispensed" from
many of the requirements of Judaism. This was true especially of halakic matters, food,
circumcision, etc. With regard to the central Jewish festivals you are right about some of
the reasons. After all the Tritium marked our definitive Passover. During this time Jesus
was the Passover lamb and suffered, died, and rose again. He implicated God into the realm
of human sin and godless death, and further changed us as well. In so doing He
accomplished the reconciliation of humankind with God. This thus became our central
festival, the definitive action of God in human history that not only sums up Jewish
history and hope, but also ALL human history and hope. Passover had once summarized this
history and activity of God. Now that had been surpassed and incorporated into
Jesus' own story, and especially in the story and theology of the cross.
______________________________________________________________________
Dear Doug: You are not crazy. You are to be commended for praying for the
victims of the Virginia Tech Massacre AND Cho Seung-Hui who
caused the deadly shooting of over thirty people.
Jesus taught us that we should pray not only for ourselves
and other Christians, but all people. Keep
up your prayers. God is pleased with you. – CatholicView Staff ____________________________________________________ ”If a dying person does not want
"heroic measures" to save life,
Dear Tim: It is permissible to make do with the normal
means that medicine can offer if a dying person does not want “heroic means” to
sustain life, on the contrary, it should be considered as an acceptance of the human
condition, or a wish to avoid the application of a medical procedure disproportionate to
the results that can be expected, or a desire not to impose excessive expense on the
family or the community. When there is inevitable death in spite of the means used, it is permitted in conscience to make the decision to refuse forms of treatment that would only secure a precarious and burdensome prolongation of life, so long as the normal care due to the sick person in similar cases is not interrupted. Here is a link that fully explores this matter: http://www.newadvent.org/library/docs_df80eu.htm. His Holiness Pope John Paul II approved the declaration you will read at this site, adopted at the ordinary meeting of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and ordered its publication. May the Lord be with you always. – CatholicView Staff ________________________________________________________________ Catholicview Staff: Dear CJ: You are to be admired for maintaining the precepts taught by the Lord. I am sorry you have reservations that you may be pressured into sexual sin because of this. I think you need to think about this relationship and determine if your new girl friend is trying to live righteously and has changed her lifestyle. Talk this matter out carefully with her so you will understand her intentions. To offset this problem, I would strongly suggest that you make it clear that you will not be a participant in strong sexual activity, thereby jeopardizing you religious beliefs. Be firm. Avoid heavy petting or touching and avoid occasions of sin. If you feel yourself weakening, see your parish priest and talk it out so you can gain strength and resolve. – CatholicView Staff ______________________________________________
Dear Rosy: Obviously this is not normal behavior. Unfortunately, we at CatholicView are not psychologists and can only offer limited information on a serious matter such as this. I would suggest you talk to the child’s parents (your son or daughter and spouse) to determine if this has happened before. The parents have an obligation to seek help for your grandson for activity that seems out of the normal behavior pattern. As to possibly being abused at home, this is something you will need to find out by speaking to your own child and perhaps they will be able to allay your fears on this subject. Please talk to YOUR son or daughter about this. Offer to help them find the professional help your grandchild might need. Why not talk to your priest who may be able to help you by giving more detailed information on securing a reliable professional in your area. May the Lord go with you. – CatholicView Staff _______________________________________________________ CatholicView Staff:
Dear Charles: Congratulations to you and your wife on wanting to become Catholic. You ask whether it is possible to join the Church because of previous Protestant marriages. Certainly! Christ died to save everyone and everyone is welcome to join the Church. However you must talk to a priest concerning your previous marriages. The Catholic Church presumes a marriage is valid until it is proved otherwise. If they are valid, the process of annulment must be done before you get your present marriage blessed. And if they are declared invalid, you will still be required to have the union solemnized in the Church. So there is a protocol that you must follow to find out where you stand. As far as becoming Catholic, certainly you and your wife can become Catholics. Ask the priest about attending RCIA classes (the Rite of Christian Initiation). On paper, this answer may seem complex but if you talk in person with a priest he will be able to simplify these issues and get you both on the path to becoming members of the Catholic Church. God bless you with this decision you have made. – CatholicView Staff CatholicView Staff: Dear John: CatholicView is very
happy to hear that you have come back to the Church after being away for such a long time. The joy you must feel is phenomenal, for you are
now back in the fellowship of our Lord, Jesus Christ and in good standing as a member of
the Catholic Church. How blessed you are! You write in your
letter “I have to be on guard all the time now during prayer to prevent my
thoughts from leading me to sin”. Please remember that Satan is
not happy with you right now. He has lost the
fight for your soul. He still has the power
to try to take you away from your renewed faith in Jesus Christ and he will use all his
wiles and any means he can to get you back for he wants to claim you for his kingdom. Keep praying, knowing
that through prayers, Satan is helpless. His
power is limited because you are in a state of grace.
He CANNOT win in the face of the mighty force of Almighty God. When you recognize the reason you are struggling
with these thoughts you are having, they will soon fade away through the majestic
omnipotence of God’s Holy Spirit. The
prayer you are praying “Come Holy Spirit” has tremendous power and it will
continue to bolster you throughout this time. Say
it with confidence! There is always a
struggle when a Christian denounces sin in his life but know that God will always prevail. These thoughts will lessen as the strength of your
faith grows and stands firm. Move
forward in that great faith, and watch the temptations lose THEIR strength. Be at peace. The Lord is on your side. CatholicView Staff _ Catholicview Staff: Dear Alice: Thank you for your question. As Christians we know that the Lord has asked us
to help the poor, whether it is in spirit, need of food, clothing, shelter, or in need of
honest protection. You ask what was Jesus saying to the poor or
those in need? I think the following verse
contains what you are asking. Read James
Chapter 2. In verse 5 of that chapter it says
the following: “Listen to me, dear
brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith?
Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom He promised to those who love
him?” That, I believe, is your answer. He sees the suffering of the poor and although they suffer in this life, their reward is the strong faith they have if they are Christians, and that the Lord will provide not only on this earth but also in heaven. Read the parable of the Rich man in Luke 16:19: Jesus said, “There was a certain rich man who was splendidly clothed in purple and fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. At his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus who was covered with sores. As Lazarus lay there longing for scraps from the rich man’s table, the dogs would come and lick his open sores. “Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and his soul went to the place of the dead. There, in torment, he saw Abraham in the far distance with Lazarus at his side. “The rich man shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send Lazarus over here to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’ “But Abraham said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you wanted, and Lazarus had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. And besides, there is a great chasm separating us” Hope this answer helps a bit. – Catholicview Staff ___________________________________________________ CatholicView Staff: Since the church believes life begins at conception, what is to preclude baptizing a baby before it is born, circumventing the whole baby limbo problem? Dear
Karen: You ask a very interesting question. Please trust in God's mercy if a miscarriage should occur without baptism. If the baby is miscarried, it can be baptized outside the womb by the mother or any believing Christian if a priest is not available. Stand on God’s mercy. – Catholicview Staff
_______________________________________________ CatholicView Staff: Dear
Susan: What a
blessed vocation your son has chosen. I am
sure you are very proud of him. Here is
a link about what to expect as well as some information obtained from the web site. This will give you an idea of what to expect
for your son. http://www.arlingtondiocese.org/offices/vocations/steps.html Please
talk to your parish priest who will be able to give first hand information for your son. May the Lord guide and strengthen him as he
follows the call God has placed in his heart. –
Catholicview staff General Qualifications & Criteria for Acceptance Baptized, confirmed and practicing Roman Catholic men with a desire to serve God and His people as a priest here in the Diocese of Arlington must possess the following general qualifications: Faith in, and love for Christ and His Church. Good moral character. A high school diploma with favorable academic abilities. Emotional balance and maturity. Good physical health. Psychological readiness and capacity to pursue a sustaining, life-long commitment. A deepening habit of prayer and a balanced devotional life. Maturity to recognize and the willingness to respond to the needs of others. Readiness to serve in the manner to which he is called by God, through his Bishop. A developing spirit of detachment that helps him be in the world but not of the world. Freedom to enter this state in life. Be between the ages of 17-55. (Rare exceptions are considered on a case-by-case basis regarding this upper age limit.) Does not have personal financial liability, i.e. car or personal loans, credit card(s), etc. verses personal assets that exceeds $3,000; nor have total outstanding college student loan debt that exceeds $40,000. Have some familiarity with the Diocese of Arlington and the people with whom the candidate feels called to serve here as a future priest, i.e. by living (past or present), working or studying within the diocese. (On a case by case basis, consideration will be given to those who do not meet this criterion only after they have seriously considered the possibility of serving in their home diocese with the consultation of their home Bishop and/or Vocation Director.) Not suffer from a disordered sexual orientation, i.e. not consider oneself to be homosexual. If the candidate has previously been dismissed from another priestly formation program or from an institute of consecrated life or society of apostolic life, he must wait at least two years prior to being considered for the priestly formation program in the Diocese of Arlington. If the candidate is a recent convert to the faith or has recently returned to the regular practice of the faith, he must wait at least two years prior to acceptance into the priestly formation program in the Diocese of Arlington.
_______________________________________________________ CatholicView
Staff:
Dear
Erica: Let’s
address the ear surgery you had first. Having
plastic surgery in itself is not a sin and I am not aware of any Church law forbidding
this procedure. The teasing of unkind
schoolmates was very unfortunate and cruel and the surgery made a difference in how you
viewed yourself so these were important reasons to have the surgery. However,
it is serious that you are not attending Church. You
need to take care of your religious life. Do
not obsess on your surgery any longer but renew your relationship with God by attending
Mass. Let go of the idea you have sinned in
getting your ears done. Move ahead and get
reconciled with the Church. Pray and ask God
to give you the peace and the strength to once again be a member in good standing with the
church. God loves you. In your case, no sin was committed. Stop
making excuses for yourself. The real danger
is your estrangement from Jesus Christ and the Church.
You say you believe, so prove it and watch peace and joy enter your life. May God bless you always. – Catholicview Staff ___________________________________________________ CatholicView Staff: Dear Peg: The title “Basilica” dates back to the early Greek and Roman times and refers to a type of public building. During the 4th century, Basilicas began to be used as places of worship. It was during this time that construction of the greatest Basilicas of Rome was started. Today the term Basilica, (a church that has been consecrated), is a special designation given by the Holy Father to certain churches because of their antiquity, dignity, historical importance or significance as a place of worship. – Catholicview Staff. __________________________________________________ CatholicView Staff: Dear Ann: The reason that the Catholic Church does not
speak of the "rapture" is that the "rapture" is not in the bible and
is not a biblical concept. To explain what is meant by the "rapture,"
according to those of the fundamentalist and evangelical Christian sects, before the seven
years of tribulation mentioned in the Book of Revelation ( as explained in Chapters 15 and
16), all true Christians will be taken from the earth leaving behind the unbelievers and
those who do not follow Jesus as Lord and Savior to suffer terribly. After the seven
years of tribulations are completed, Jesus will establish his one thousand year reign of
peace. I must tell you, I do not understand how those who hold this belief in the
"rapture" biblically explain it. The Book of Revelation does not say
anything about a "rapture." The word "rapture" is nowhere in the
bible. The concept of "rapture" is nowhere to be explained. Some
have attributed a verse from I Thessalonians 4:16 as a scripture proof for the rapture,
but it is not, instead a prophecy of how the end will come, not a "rapture" of
believers before a supposed seven years of suffering and tribulations for the unbelievers
on earth: For the Lord
Himself, with a word of command, with a voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of
God, will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who
are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the
Lord in the air. Thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore, console one
another with these words. Notice that the verse does not say that true believers in
Jesus Christ as Lord will be taken and then those who are "left
behind" will be tortured for seven years for their disbelief. What the
verse does answer is this question: what about those Christians who die before the
second coming of Christ? Paul answers that those who have died will rise while the
rest of us will be taken to heaven (where we -- both living and dead -- will all be
reunited in Christ's eternal love) and the world will end. Simple.
The concept of the "rapture" is unbiblical, a false teaching, and a
misinterpretation of scriptures by twisting the Book of Revelation to some odd, complex,
and untrue concept. That's why the Church does not teach something that is so
clearly false. What the Church does teach with clarity is that Jesus Christ will
come again and he will separate the "sheep from the goats" (see the Gospel of
Matthew, Chapter 25:31-46), then the end will come. Then according to the Book of
Revelation, Chapters 21-22, there will be a new heaven and a new earth with Jesus as the
center and light of this new heaven and new earth. As you can see from the biblical
verses that have been mentioned, there is nothing there about a "rapture" of
believers before some kind of seven-year tribulation. As for your dream,
dreams are simply dreams sometimes. What your dream is telling me is that you are
mentally and spiritually prepared for the second coming of Christ. And that's
how all Christians should be: not afraid of the end of times nor even of death.
We stand waiting for Christ to come as we live our lives giving witness to the Lord
in what we say and do. – CatholicView Staff ________________________________________________ CatholicView Staff:
Dear
Rebecca: In the Hebrew and Christian scriptures, there is no mention of the possibility of “alien” life since the scriptures were more concerned about humanity’s relationship with God. So, there is no teaching, doctrine, or tradition in the Catholic Church concerning the possibility of life on other planets or universes. That is not to say that there might be intelligent life on other worlds throughout the universe. The Church does not concern itself with life outside of our own experience. But if “alien” life were to appear and introduce itself to us all, then the Church will respond. Until then, we have no direction on the question. - CatholicView Staff _________________________________________________ CatholicView Staff: Dear
Margaret: Your
husband and the woman who give birth to his child will both need counseling. This is an innocent child that came from the union
of two people: your husband and the mother. Catholicview
would recommend that the child be baptized. To
deny an innocent child this Sacrament of Baptism is wrong.
The child is not at fault. If
remorse or repentance because of adultery is what you seek, you must look to both your
husband as well as the mother of the baby. As the
legal wife, you have been wronged. I would
suggest you should try to mend your marriage by talking to a priest also. This is a very difficult time for you. There are issues that must be resolved. Please sit down and talk to your parish priest
about this. He will help you get through the
trying days ahead. God bless you and your
family. – CatholicView Staff _______________________________________
Kate: I would choose not to
have anything to do with this imaginary man. In
the world of Internet Communications, a person can be anything they want to be on-line
without any kind of accountability. In
regards to your question about seeing what he wrote to others, MY SPACE.COM gives you the
ability to see the messages of others so, in that regards, there would be no
“sin” involved since everything is in the public domain. If you have the intuition that tells you something
is not right, I would listen carefully to that inner voice which is God’s way of
warning you. I am also warning you: stay away from this man. You are “in love” with only the man in
your mind and imagination. Find a real person
you can see in order to judge whether you want to enter a relationship with him. On-line romances many times can be painful and as
well as very dangerous. Please stay away from
makes believe. God will send you, when the
time is right, someone you will be able to see and love in real life. Be patient! -
CatholicView Staff ________________________________________________________ CatholicView Staff:
Maria: Your brother can receive and celebrate the Sacrament of Penance (confession) anytime he wants. Your brother has not co validated (sacramentally blessed and solemnized) his present marriage in the Church. Because he has not done so yet, he is not in full communion with the church and cannot receive Holy Communion until he has his marriage sacramentally solemnized. – CatholicView Staff
_______________________________________________ CatholicView Staff: I am in
a very loving relationship with a man who does not believe in God. In order to be
completely honest with my parents about the relationship, I recently informed them that my
boyfriend is an atheist. My mother is Catholic and my father is Baptist. They took the
news VERY hard, which I suppose was to be expected. My mother told me although it bothers
them, it's only my business, and I need to do some real soul-searching on the subject. Of
course, this is the most religious thing my parents and I have ever talked about, so I'm
feeling a little confused. My boyfriend's atheism doesn't bother me, because I believe in
respecting people's religious choices. But, to appease my mother, I would really like to
know how a priest feels about this subject. What are the hardest things we can expect to
face in our relationship (we have discussed marriage) due to our religious differences,
and how can I help my parents understand that although he doesn't share their beliefs, he
is a wonderful, caring person? Thank you so much for your time and help. Dear
Annie: I must agree with your parents on this issue. They are right to be concerned. You say that your boyfriend’s atheism does not bother you. Unfortunately it should and will in the future. The bible clearly states that an alliance such as yours comes under the heading of being unequally yoked. In 2 Corinthians 6:14, Saint Paul tells us “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” If you marry, how will you raise your children? When you attend Church, will your boyfriend attend with you? Will he pray with you during times of crisis? These questions are just a few of what you will face should you align yourself with your boyfriend. You are a Christian Catholic. Think very, very carefully before committing yourself to a nonbeliever in God. May the Lord give you the wisdom to make the right decision. God bless you always. - CatholicView Staff _________________________________________________ Catholicview Staff: Margaret: This is in answer to your question sent to CatholicView: The only problem I have paying with cash is this: the accountability of the people who do the work. What I mean is this: if I pay them, what recourse do I have if the work is not done well? As to your other questions, wondering if the workers you would hire are paying taxes, or want cash only to avoid any governmental issues, there is nothing immoral about hiring good and competent people to do your work, no matter how they want to be paid. They are responsible for reporting any income and taxes, not you. But if you want accountability in regards to the quality of work they do, hire someone who has a license and is recognized by the state for such work. They are bonded and insured if accidents should happen on your property (a major financial issue that would affect your finances if the workers you hire should get hurt while doing a job for you). – Catholicview Staff ____________________________________________ Catholicview Staff: Dear Dawn: You are civilly and legally divorced. Why are you still having sexual relations with a man who opted out of your marriage? You say you feel he has no permanent intentions. Move on with your life. Sometimes it is hard to let go of something vitally important that you want to repair, especially if you have children. But he is no longer your husband therefore it is a sin. He is using you. You are divorced. Talk to your priest about getting a church annulment. Sit down and explain exactly what you feel. It is time to look ahead. Don’t waste any more time on a marriage that your husband does not want. – Catholicview Staff ____________________________________________ ”Is it true that the Easter Vigil on
Saturday does not count as a Sunday obligation?” - Carol CatholicView Staff: Carol: You wrote: “My sister in South Carolina told me that her pastor told them that the Easter Vigil is the only Saturday evening Mass of the year that does NOT count as the Sunday obligation.” I do not know why this pastor said this but this is not true. The Saturday Night Easter Vigil is the first Easter celebration of the Church and is therefore fulfilling the obligation of the Easter Sunday Mass requirement. – CatholicView Staff ______________________________________________________ CatholicView Staff: Brian: You wrote:
“Wouldn't this action be a
sin since my friend’s wife agreed before the marriage to raise the kids
Catholic?” Your best friend has a say in this situation as well. He must insist that his children be brought up in the Catholic faith. Why isn’t your best friend saying anything about this? There is no problem of her going back to the Methodist church since that is the church of her up-bringing. But the promise was made to bring up the children in the Catholic Church and must be kept. Not to do so would be deception on her part and his. – CatholicView Staff
__________________________________________________________ CatholicView Staff: Heidi: Good Friday ends at midnight. Saturday morning at 4:00 is Saturday morning and not a day of fasting and abstinence. You did not break any spiritual requirements of Good Friday by eating a 4:00 AM snack on Saturday. – Catholicview Staff _________________________________________________ Catholicview Staff: Mikhail: Love involves every aspect of one’s personality; emotional, spiritual, physical, mental, and intellectual. You are correct in saying that love is an act of the will, a will that is based on emotional, spiritual, physical, mental, and intellectual aspects of my personhood. From what I understand about those with a dysthymic disorder (a state of being prone to depression and seeing the negative of life), love can be explored and experienced even if you do not “feel” anything. You can love according to your own capacity to love. You are only confused in thinking that love must be something that tingles or involve only the emotions. Love involves so much more and changes every aspect of my life. Maybe your confusion lies in the struggle you have dealing with negative emotions out of your control and the positive emotions you feel when love surfaces. Do not be afraid or apprehensive in exploring love in your friendships, family relationships, and even intimate relationships. – CatholicView Staff
______________________________________________ CatholicView Staff: Dear
Frank: Thank
you for your question. It is
not a matter of the Church allowing or disallowing someone to partake of communion
although the Church has an obligation to do so. The
bible clearly tells us that we MUST NOT take communion if we are in a state of sin. This is why we must confess our sins and be in His
grace in order to be worthy of this precious Sacrament.
Would
you sit down to dinner with dirty hands? No,
you would clean yourself up in order not to offend the host. How much so must we be careful to cleanse
ourselves before partaking of the body and blood of our Savior. Communion does not cleanse, forgiveness does. 1 Corinthians 11:27 tells “So anyone
who eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord unworthily is guilty of sinning against
the body and blood of the Lord”. Unworthy
means in a state of sin. No one is denied in the church; we deny ourselves when we
do not get our souls in order. It is in the
recognition of those sins and the subsequent cleansing of forgiveness we are responsible
for that we purify ourselves and make ready for this sacred offering of the body and the
blood. We must
do our part. This responsibility is
ours as it will be when we stand in judgment before the Lord someday. God bless. CatholicView
Staff. ___________________________________________ CatholicView Staff: Dear David: If you feel that the Catholic faith is the
way God is calling you, why would you turn your back on that call? You cannot be
Catholic and an ordained Anglican minister at the same time. The Anglican Church is
not in communion with the bishop of Rome. There are other ways within the Catholic
Church that you can serve the Lord and His people. Ordination is not the only way to
serve and praise God in all His wonder and awe. There is also a possibility that you
could serve as an ordained Catholic deacon, one of the Holy Orders of the church
(deacon, priest, bishop). The simple answer to your question, "is it
permissible to be an Anglican priest?" The answer, as a Catholic, is no. Just to clarify, when you become a Catholic, the
desire to be ordained would still be years away in being fulfilled. Being ordained a deacon or priest demands that you
would already be involved in some kind of ministry and be recognized as being active in
the Church. CatholicView Staff CatholicView Staff:
Dear Patrick: The indulgence that you are talking about is the PLENARY (meaning all as versus PARTIAL meaning some) indulgence that is received from saying the rosary in a public forum and/or in front of the Blessed Sacrament after receiving the Sacrament of Penance and Holy Communion. As a reminder, also asked for is that the intentions of the Pope and the Church also be remembered by saying one OUR FATHER, one HAIL MARY, and one GLORY BE TO THE FAITHER…. Yes, you are fulfilling the requirements for a plenary indulgence when you do this. May the Lord bless you for your striving to be closer to God and becoming more like Christ in your daily life. – Catholicview Staff ________________________________________ ”I am married and want to move to another state. My wife disagrees. Am I wrong in not following my heart?” - Hernan CatholicView Staff:
Dear Hernan: I am
sorry you are having such a difficult time trying to seek employment that will be
fulfilling for you. You do not say if you are
presently working. Sometimes
it is hard to determine if it is truly God’s will to make a particular choice in life
or whether it is just be a strong desire on your part.
Remember this is a decision that will affect not just YOU but your wife as well. Does she know that you feel so unfulfilled and
unhappy and think you will die if you do not pursue this dream? Have you seriously talked it out? Many times a spouse is resistant because of past
experiences concerning employment and stability. I think
this is a question you will need to discuss with your parish priest. You need to bring your wife with you and both of
you present the whole picture to an understanding ear.
This is a big decision and one you must be certain is the right thing to do. But at the same time you do not want to endanger
your marriage. Children, if you have any,
must be a priority too. Please
seek some professional guidance before you make up your mind. This is not just about you but your family as
well. May the Lord give you the vision and
strength to make the right choices. –
Catholicview Staff _______________________________________________ Catholicview Staff:
Dear Babe: I don’t understand why this priest is advising your brother in such a negative way. This priest’s advice is WAY OFF THE MARK. No one can judge a person’s spiritual journey or his own spiritual growth and maturity. I suggest that your brother go to another priest who can appreciate your brother’s struggle to be what God wants him to be, the presence of Christ in a broken world! - CatholicView Staff ________________________________________________ CatholicView Staff: Dear Dave: I am truly sorry to hear that you are having
such sad thoughts and what those thoughts imply. Sometimes
life can be so overwhelming that our vision and judgment becomes cloudy and we cannot see
the precious beauty that surrounds us. When we are tired and discouraged, we
might even think we are an impediment to others simply because we are so beat up and
worn down by all the hardships just living places upon us. As precious as it is, there will be stones
placed in our pathways that we must overcome. But, there is no exception that God makes
for the trials of this life. He gave us life
and wants us to live it until He decides to take it back. We have life because God
gives us life. If God didn't want us alive, we wouldn't be alive. So, the fact
that you are living and breathing means that God WANTS YOU alive and WANTS YOU on earth
for a reason. No exceptions. You cannot give up on a life that you had no part
of creating. God placed this
gift in your hands for safekeeping. Dave,
you cannot do away with it because you cannot handle its upkeep. Yes, there are ups and downs as well as the
good and the bad times that accompany living. But
there is no escape from your personal responsibility to protect your life. It is to be lived, through whatever comes your
way. This will make you stronger for having faced the miseries head-on. As to the people you say would be better off
without your existence in this world, who made you the judge of that reasoning? Things and situations change. We all have rough times. This is when we pray for the strength and the
courage to overcome, to be that person who wakes up in the morning thanking God for all
the blessings He bestows each day; your waking and arising, your mobility, your health,
the air you breathe, all the beauty of God’s creation, and the people who love and
care for you. Have you ever thought to pray and ask God to
help you? Yes, life is hard, but laced
between the hard times are the good times also. Look
for the good and embrace it! You
have a right to do so! You have a right to be
here otherwise God would not have given you life. Suicide
is the ultimate sin, the ultimate break with God's life and love. One's life is the
property of God and to destroy that life is to wrongly assert dominion over what belongs
to God and God alone. You will be in my prayers tonight for you
are very special indeed in God’s eyes. He
loves you and wants you to find peace. May He
bless you, give you understanding, and keep you safe from harm always. - CatholicView
Staff
_________________________________________________
Dear Jared: I am sorry to hear of your religious unrest. No one can know or judge who is going to hell. Only God knows because He can read our hearts. As you know, Jesus Christ died on the cross for our salvation and He gives that salvation freely to anyone WHO WILL ACCEPT it. He made it possible for ALL who believe in Him to enter God’s perfect kingdom. But yes, they can refuse to accept, and turn away from the gift of salvation through Free Will. There are those who do not know Jesus Christ. They simply have not been able to understand even though God’s loving promises have been made available to them. Many are good people. There are also people who have not had the opportunity to hear about our Savior. Some are in poor countries where there are no missionaries or TV. Most important, there are people like you, who are concerned and trying to bring others to church where they can learn about this wonderful and miraculous gift of eternity through faith and belief in Jesus Christ. Remember, God is a merciful God. He sees what you cannot. Only God will determine the fate of your friends, NOT YOU. You do not know what your friends’ relationship truly is with Almighty God. Pray for them and speak to them of your own beliefs. This is what Christ has asked us to do. If they are resistant and will not listen, continue to pray for them that their eyes will be opened to truth. But always remember the mercy of our Heavenly Father for He alone decides who is worthy to enter His Kingdom. God is still in control. Be at peace. – Catholicview Staff ________________________________________________ Catholicview Staff:
Dear
Denise: I see no
reason for you not to be a member of the Church in good standing except for your
husband’s previous marriage and the fact that you will need to have this present
marriage solemnized. This is
something that you can take care of in order for you to receive the Sacraments. Go and talk to your priest. Sit down and explain everything. After 24 wonderful years of your marriage, he can
arrange for you to have your husband’s first marriage annulled, should he need to do
so. And then the priest can solemnize
your present marriage. I think you will find
it easy to sort this out once you go to talk to your priest. You have
a beautiful son who has been baptized and a good husband who supports this. You are more than halfway there. Please don’t delay longer. SEE YOUR PRIEST and enjoy the peace you are
seeking. We will welcome you back with open
arms. – CatholicView Staff __________________________________________ Catholicview Staff: My
fiancé and I are trying to plan our wedding. However neither of us wants any sort of
fuss. Is it possible to have a wedding that is recognized by the Catholic Church BUT
doesn't involve a big ceremony? Thanks! Dear
Michele: Certainly, you can have a small wedding. Go and see your parish priest and discuss how this can be done. Tell him your plans for a small ceremony. The main thing is to have your marriage within the church. – CatholicView staff ________________________________________ CatholicView Staff:
Dear
Emmanuel: The
doctrine of the Trinity states that God is One Being Who exists, simultaneously and
eternally (without limit of time) as a mutual dwelling of three Beings: the Father, the
Son, (incarnate as Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit (the Godhead. As such, Christians
with a definitional basis in the Nicene Creed view the Holy Spirit as God himself. This doctrine has been stated as "one God in
three persons”. Jesus speaks of His Father in John 14:9: “Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking me to show Him to you? The Holy Spirit is mentioned numerous times in the four gospels. Here is one in Luke 1:35 “The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Baby to be born will be holy, and He will be called the Son of God.” Now this is a reference to not only the Holy Spirit but to Jesus as the Son of the Most High, Who is God. – God bless you. – Catholicview Staff _____________________________________________ CatholicView Staff: Dear
Judith: Read the Book of Job. Start with Chapter One. Here was a good, believing man of God and Satan was allowed to not only destroy Job’s wife and family but caused him to suffer greatly with boils all over his body. But he did not give up his faith in God. Enjoy this story of great faith and persevance through heavy trials. – Catholicview Staff ______________________________________ CatholicView: Dear Diane: Jealousy and envy has no place in heaven. The human capacity to be happy is different in each person. If you believe in what Christ promises, we will be very happy. Personally I would be happy on any level to get into heaven, as long as I can see God and my Savior, Jesus Christ face to face. – CatholicView Staff _____________________________________ Catholicview Staff:
Dear Bo: When a
person loses someone they love, there are always regrets such as the decisions made under
the duress of oncoming death. If you
know in your heart you did what you thought best at the time, then you did the very best
you could. Your mother did not die
because of something you did or did not do. You are
human. Forgive yourself and move
ahead, serving the Lord and knowing that you did nothing wrong. God knows your sorrows and your depressions and
He will strengthen you and help you to go on with life.
Be at peace. May the lord
comfort you in your loss. – CatholicView
Staff __________________________________________
Dear Erica: There
are some things that Catholic Christians should stay away from. Many
people would feel very uncomfortable with curses in the music and movies. If those curses are pertinent to the movie
and not continuously thrown in at random for adverse effect one may be able to tolerate
this in limited moderation. But be
careful as sometimes this type of music or movie will reflect in your own behavior. Be prudent in your choices and be watchful always
of anything that may infringe upon your Christianity. – CatholicView Staff
________________________________________________ Catholicview Staff: Dear
John: You are
correct in that your friend needs to speak to her priest about getting her annulment so
she can become a member in union with the Church. She
not only needs to seek annulment from her first marriage, she must talk to the priest
about her present marriage to a divorced Protestant.
Until this happens, she should refrain from taking communion. – CatholicView Staff ___________________________________________________ CatholicView Staff: Dear
Carla: Thank
you for writing to CatholicView. Let me
assure you that God sees all the wonderful things you are doing for your family. He is well pleased with your care of your elderly
mom and your unstable daughter. You see, each of us is human. When burdens get heavy, many times we react with a
harsh word or even anger. Do not become
anxious, for God can read your heart and He knows the stress you are going through. He knows you are trying to be everything you can
be to your family. This is not an easy task. Remember
each trial and setback we face in our lives will make us stronger. This life is never easy but hang onto your faith. Know that our Lord is on your side and will help
you carry your heavy load. Keep
praying. God knows you cannot get to church
at this time. Be at peace. You are not going to hell. God knows what you are going through and He knows
human limitations. Sit and read your bible
during a free moment. Reflect on the
goodness of the Lord. Tell God everything. Ask Him to give you courage to take care of your
family. Please
call your church and talk to the priest there. Let
him encourage you and build you confidence in our all-loving God. And perhaps you can have a Minister of the
Eucharist bring you communion during this time that you cannot attend Church. God bless you and your family. – CatholicView Staff
____________________________________________ CatholicView Staff: Dear Richard: The first part of the Hail Mary consists of the greetings, which the angel and Elizabeth addressed to Mary, as recorded in the Gospel; the second part was added by the Church as our response under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Luke 1:28 “And when he [the angel] came
into her presence he said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!" Luke 1:42[Elizabeth] exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!" Hope this helps. – CatholicView Staff _________________________________________________ Catholicview Staff: Dear Beth: I am so
sorry about the state of your marriage. The
failure of a marriage is always a sad and difficult thing for the injured party. You will
need to talk to a priest. It seems that
because you DID NOT KNOW the intensity of his sexual addiction, you may have grounds for
an annulment. Please go and discuss this with
your parish priest. – CatholicView
Staff _________________________________________________________ CatholicView Staff: Mary: Please
know right off that God is a forgiving God. You
have nothing more to fear about your abortion. You
are truly sorry and have suffered because of that decision twenty years ago. Realize
right now that Jesus Christ died over 2,000 years ago in order to secure forgiveness for
YOU. All you have to do is ask for it and it
is yours. He will erase that sin if you are
truly sorry and do not repeat it again. He
will strengthen you in your faith and give you hope for the future. You
really need to speak with a priest. Can you
find a church where you can be in a closed confessional?
I think you will find this easier. Do
not worry about the priest. He cannot speak
of what he hears there. Seek the Sacrament of
Reconciliation thereby making you a member in full union with the Church, entitling you to
all the sacraments. Keep
praying. Know that our loving God has already
forgiven you. Reach out and take that
forgiveness and move ahead. Be at Peace.
– CatholicView Staff _____________________________________________________ CatholicView Staff: Dear Springrain: The answer is YES, but there has to be some
Holy water to mix with the "regular" water! Hope
this helps! – CatholicView Staff _______________________________________________________ CatholicView Staff: Mike: It is true that Lutheran, Anglican and Episcopalian ordained ministers have been accepted into full communion with the Catholic Church and were later ordained as Catholic priests even though many of them were married and had their families. Each circumstance is carefully examined by the bishop of the diocese that this person wants to serve. It does not mean that the bishop would accept that person’s application for ordination to the priesthood. If the bishop so desires to accept this person’s candidacy for priesthood then the Vatican is asked for a dispensation for that person to be ordained with his marriage and family intact. Baptist ministers have also sought full communion with the Church but I do not know any personally who have sought to continue their ministerial call as ordained priests in the Roman Church. Lutheran, Anglican, and Episcopalian ministers are liturgically similar to the Church and have similar doctrinal views on justification and salvation as well as the sacrificial nature of the Mass (Divine Liturgy, Holy Eucharist). Baptists do not share these elements as such but a case could be made for the ordination of “converted” Baptist ministers to continue their ministerial call as ordained priests. – CatholicView Staff
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