FEBRUARY 2008
FATHER AMARO SAUMELL
FATHER CEDRIC PISEGNA, C.P.
FATHER KEVIN BATES, SM
CATHOLICVIEW STAFF
FATHER AMARO SAUMELL
"I make up my
own rules for a Catholic Life. Is this right?" - Declan
Father Amaro:
Although I am a practicing
Catholic, I make my own rules up for living a Catholic life regarding Holy Communion i.e.,
ignoring confession, fasting, missing Holy Days, and some Sundays if we feel like it.
Thing is, as I see it all the rules are made by the Pope and his teachings are not
of Christ. What do you think? - Declan
Dear Declan,
The day before I wrote this, we celebrated one
of the most profound realities in our faith. That was the establishment of the “Chair
of Peter” by the one we dare to call our Lord. Why do I say “dare?” Well,
if Jesus establishes certain offices in the church, then they are ordered to His will. The
teachings of the church are not merely of the “Church,” but rather those of the
Holy Spirit Who was breathed on the Apostles at
Jesus’ Ascension.
One of the points of calling the Most Blessed
Sacrament of the Altar “Holy Communion” is that we are not acting independently
of each other. Like all people in the Scriptures, we journey together. Things that
separate us are signs of sin, and ultimately signs of Hell.
The three ministries of Jesus are “priest,
prophet, and king,” which translate respectively by the Holy Spirit into the
vicarious authority of Christ in the Church. So it is not merely the
“Church’s” authority you are disregarding. It is actually the Authority of
Jesus Christ who established that authority and placed it in the Church.
This reality is very hard for those who have
personal agendas and rely solely on their own limited knowledge and experience. They
actually limit themselves by that tiny experience of one life in the whole history of
salvation history, don’t you think?
And reflect on these words of St. Paul very
carefully...
"Therefore whoever eats the bread or
drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the
Lord.
A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup. For anyone who
eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is
why many among you are ill and infirm, and a considerable number are dying. If we
discerned ourselves, we would not be under judgment; but since we are judged by (the)
Lord, we are being disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world."
The wise person heeds these words very
seriously. God
bless, Fr. Amaro
"I took a case of water someone left under his
/her cart.
Is this a sin?" - Loretta
Father Amaro:
I found a case of water outside a store, which
someone had obviously forgotten under his or her cart and I took it. Is that a sin? I'm planning on going to confession
next week and I just want to make sure that I do have to confess it. - Loretta
Dear Loretta,
Well, let’s see what your options were...
Of course, you first took them back to the
store and explained what had happened in case the owner called to retrieve them, right?
And, you spent time looking around to see if
anyone was examining carts to make sure they got to their rightful owner?
After that, you went in and paid for the water
and left the credit for those who left them behind so that they could pick up what they
already paid for, right?
And, you checked the bottles to make sure that
they were in no way tampered with as a “practical joke” or worse for the safety
of your family, right?
If you are sensing a need to go to confession,
I think you know the answer already, don’t you ? God
bless, Fr. Amaro
"Is my marriage invalid?" - Shannon
Father Amaro:
If I was unfaithful to my boyfriend at 18 years.old,
having married him at 20, and am now 41 without ever
telling him of my unfaithfulness, does it make my marriage invalid due to the Tribunals
lack of knowledge, deceit ruling? Thank you for your
help. - Shannon
Dear Shannon,
All this happened before the vows,
and two years before the vows too. The problem
lies in how you represented yourself. If you did so as a
virgin on the day of your wedding, you might want to go to a counselor together to resolve
it. You didn’t say if you were actually engaged when the events took place either. Because your question is so vague in details, it would be
difficult to give a pat answer to your question. Again, it seems appropriate that you work
with a counselor on this. God bless, Fr.
Amaro
"Why must a Christian Baptized Protestant confess sins from the baptism
date to Catholic conversion?"- Troy
Father Amaro:
Why must a Christian Baptized in a Protestant
faith who decides to become a Catholic confess all sins from Baptism to the point of
conversion? If their only knowledge of
forgiveness was personal confession to God, why doesn't that suffice? And how does this
fit in with the practice that a person can live the life of say a "Hitler",
become Baptized at the age of 70, and walk right into Heaven without ever confessing or
performing Penance?
Dear Troy,
We recognize all valid baptism. But we all fall from that baptismal status at different times unless
we’ve perfected cooperation with grace. We become “children of God” at our baptism. A
child “has no past.” A child only has a future or promise, possibility, and
growth. After baptism, we often create a past and need to
be reconciled with our baptism. That is what the
Sacrament of Reconciliation is for.
As for judging the person who comes into the
fold late, listen to the words of the one we call Lord. After all, it’s His plan.
A reading from the
holy gospel according to Matthew:
Why are you jealous because I am generous?
Jesus told his disciples this
parable: "The reign of God is like the case of the owner of an estate who went
out at dawn to hire workmen for his vineyard. After reaching an agreement with them for
the usual daily wage, he sent them out to his vineyard. He came out about midmorning and
saw other men standing around the marketplace without work, so he said to them, 'You too
go along to my vineyard and I will pay you whatever is fair.' At that they went away. He
came out again around noon and mid-afternoon and did the same. Finally, going out in late
afternoon he found still others standing around. To these he said, 'Why have you been
standing here idle all day?' 'No one has hired us,' they told him. He said, 'You go to the
vineyard too.' When evening came the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the
workmen and give them their pay, but begin with the last group and end with the first.'
When those hired late in the afternoon came up they received a full day's pay, and when
the first group appeared they supposed they would get more; yet they received the same
daily wage. Thereupon they complained to the owner, 'This last group did only an hour's
work, but you have put them on the same basis as us who have worked a full day in the
scorching heat.' 'My friend,' he said to one in reply, 'I do you no injustice. You agreed
on the usual wage, did you not? Take your pay and go home. I intend to give this man who
was hired last the same pay as you. I am free to do as I please with my money, am I not?
Or are you envious because I am generous?' Thus the last shall be first and the first
shall be last."
The gospel of the Lord.
Meditate on this. Therein lies your
answer. God bless, Fr. Amaro
"Can a Homosexual man become a priest if he does
not support that life style?" - Mark
Father Amaro:
Can a homosexual man become a priest? He does
not support homosexual life style, believes homosexual activity is disordered and immoral,
and does not find that his homosexuality dominates his reasoning ability or even his
personality. He is able to be himself without people knowing that he is homosexual. His
homosexuality, he believes, is permanent. So, can he become a priest if he believes that
God is truly calling him to the priesthood? Thank you. - Mark
Dear Mark,
It’s VERY important that you speak about
this with a proper Spiritual Director. I have known priests with this burden who have been
very good priests. But I have also know n priests
with this burden who, after having placed themselves in a position of continually being
around other priests (men) have found it a living hell and continual struggle. I have seen many who have entered the seminary with the best of
intentions only to find themselves with different kinds of breakdowns, as they were really
not prepared for the consequences.
I don’t say this to frighten you, but
rather that you might be fully prepared. Journey
with a spiritual Director and be totally honest with the challenges that he or she
provides. Ever truth of your circumstance must be dealt
with. Jesus “is” the “truth,”
the way and the life. It is only through good examination
of truth that you will find His actual will for your life.
Take this VERY seriously. If He does call you
through the Church, you will be a better priest. God
bless, Fr. Amaro
FATHER
CEDRIC PISEGNA, C.P.
”Will “Free Will " get us in trouble when we are
in Heaven?” - Stan
Father Cedric:
I'm puzzled...with our "free will" we chose to disobey God in the Garden of
Eden.
Will our "free will" get us in
trouble when we are in Heaven? I ask this
because, like Paul, I don't always do the things my heart wants to do because of the
weakness of the flesh...what will be different in Heaven? - Stan
Stan:
Excellent question Stan. What will be
different? #1) There will be no more temptation to begin. Satan will have been thrown into the lake of fire and we will not be
tempted to stray again. That is a huge difference. Does that mean that we won’t have
free will? No. We will still have it. Our
life from earth (the person we are and have become) will continue. We will still be able
to choose, but now it will be an informed choice through the lessons we have learned on
earth. We will know what it was like to “die.” #2) We will have
learned from our time on earth (and for some in purgatory.) The whole purpose of our life
now is to be purified and fall in love with God. Hopefully, this life experience of
suffering and trials will teach us. We are being sanctified. We will know what we
don’t want and our pains will teach us what to stay away from. Because of the desolation, sufferings, fears and tragedies, (death itself) we will have
learned what to avoid and what can harm us. We will also appreciate well the good things
that heaven will contain. Perhaps the first sin, as well as being the sin of pride, was
the sin of not appreciating the gift of life and heaven. Our purification process will
bring us to a new, more intense love for God. This love will be one of not wanting to ever
offend him again. #3) We will be filled with the fullness of God. I have
had two near death experiences. I invite you to read my book “Death: The Final Surrender.” In these
experiences I was filled with God. In a sense, I lost a sense of self. Actually, I was a new self (new creation) in God. Because I was
filled with God, although I had a free will, my will was one with God. There was no way I
would have ever even conceived of sinning. In heaven, we have given God permission to
possess us. It will not be scary, but delightful. We will be filled with the delights of
heaven and God. That truth, coupled with the loss of evil and having been purified, will
combine to an eternity of bliss and joy. - Fr.
Cedric, C.P.
”Why couldn’t I get my babies baptized?”
- Bernadette
Dear Father,
I am troubled! I was born and raised a Catholic
and still consider myself a Catholic, but when I was young at age 16 I conceived a child,
married outside the church, tried to get my daughter baptized, but Father Cline of St
Augustine would not baptize her. I have three children, still married to the
same man (non-Catholic) for the past 34 years, but I am very troubled. I want
to go back to the church and it has been many years. I want to be able to
be the Catholic I was raised to be and to be able to take communion. I long
for this. I feel lost. Why would he not baptize my babies. Why? Now they
want to be Catholic and I don't know what to do. I have not been to mass in
many years. I am angry. I love the church, I love my religion, but I am
also troubled because for so long I long for my religion and I don't want to convert to
another. Please, Father, find me answers for my troubled
heart. I pray every night that the church would recognize me. I have said
penance many many nights, and I will never stop. I want to receive communion.
Please Father help me. – Bernadette
Dear Bernadette,
I know you are hurting. I consulted a canon
lawyer about your case. Below is his reply. I hope it makes sense for you. I hope you will
take the steps necessary to put your mind and heart at ease. May God comfort you. Fr.
Cedric, C.P.
This is from Fr. Arthur Carillo, C.P.
Dear Bernadette,
I am sorry that this situation has brought you so many years of anxiety and sorrow.
You express yourself in such a way that I must believe that you have faithfully and
persistently tried to make the best of a situation that falls short of our ideals and
hopes when we are young and setting out in life.
Thirty-four years ago would have been 1974,
more or less, and while there was still much openness in the Church (post-Vatican II),
some priests were still resisting the changes that would be required of their pastoral
ministry by the Church's promotion of ecumenical sensitivity and a recognition of the
rights of the Christian faithful.
Nevertheless, I can imagine, although I cannot be sure, why Fr. Cline might have refused
to baptize your child. For example, you would not have been "of age" so
soon after the birth of your child (though married civilly). Fr. Cline might have
wanted to have the grandparents of your child speak up in favor of the baptism of your
child. Or, Fr. Cline might have been using a "rule of thumb" that if the
Catholic parent of a child, married civilly only, did not express a desire to have the
marriage "validated" according to the Catholic Rite, that baptizing the
child with an uncertain potential to be raised in the Catholic faith would unfairly burden
the child with obligations it would not be supported in fulfilling. You did not
state whether your husband is a baptized Catholic or not.
I do not, however, want to speculate on the
past. What is more important is that you say that "I want to be able to be the
Catholic I was raised to be and to be able to take communion." You have every
right to be reconciled with the Church, and the Church is obligated to help you to find
peace of heart and soul, as well as to return to the reception of the sacraments.
It is never "too late" to be reconciled with God. The first step you have
already taken, you have found in your heart a strong desire to return to the sacraments
and to be fully acknowledged as a member of the Catholic faith.
As a member of the Church, you will belong to a community of faith, a parish, where you
will both receive from and contribute to the Christian life of the community.
Identify the parish you will belong to. Sample the kind of spirit that the parish
shows incoming members, or those inquiring about membership. If you live in a small
town, and there is only a single parish conveniently located to your residence, go there
and inquire about speaking with the pastor. Is there an RCIA program (Rite of
Christian Initiation of Adults) that will help you to re-enter the Church?
Of course, the principal "hurdle" to be met is that of your civil marriage.
I am quite aware that when a Catholic has lived in civil marriage for many years,
when children have been born to the family, and they have faithfully fulfilled their
responsibilities as parents, the Church should respect the hard work and proven love that
has gone into that marriage. The fact that it is missing the sacramental quality of
a Christian marriage does not make it a "bad marriage". Marriage is a
sacred institution established by God, for all people, no matter their religious beliefs.
You will need to bring the many details of the marriage (each spouse, religious
background, verification of the sacraments received, statements of free status at the time
of the marriage, and statements of an entirely free-will decision to marry by both
parties) to the person in the parish who prepares couples for marriage. Once these
formalities are taken care of, you and your husband can celebrate the sacrament of
marriage (if he is free from any prior marriages, and is willing to cooperate with you in
this step) and you can begin sharing in the sacraments of the Church.
I realize that this reads like a lot of regulations. I assure you, that if the only
pressing circumstance of your marriage 34 years ago was the pregnancy and birth of your
child, and you have been living in a hallowed and respectful marriage all of these years,
you should not find it difficult to come back to the practice of your faith.
Please print out this letter and take it with you to your parish, or to the parish
where you think you may want to be received back into full-communion with the Church.
I will pray for your successful completion of the desire you have to return to the
practice of your faith.
May God bless you and your family! Fr.
Arthur Carillo, C.P.
”Why if God is love was He so mad in the
Old Testament?” - Terry
Father Cedric:
Hello, I am confused. I didn't really have any
religious upbringing and I'm now reading the Bible at 50 years old. Why if God is love was
he so mad in the Old Testament (that's where I'm reading now). He was always killing whole
nations and wiping out people on almost every page. If he loves us why does he seem so
cruel?? I'm very confused!! - Terry
Terry, thanks for your question.
In order to understand the Old Testament, you
must understand how the Bible was written. These various books (the word Bible means
“books”) were written by various authors from various communities at different
times. These were all written to instruct their communities about different issues. For
example, say there was a war in the O.T. where God was angry and wanted them all wiped
out. What the author was doing was instructing his community that God was for the Jews and
that God’s will is that they don’t intermingle with pagan practices. Don’t
take it literally, look for the meaning.
Since all cannot be taken literally,
historically, you might be thinking, “What then can we believe?” Our documents
tell us that all that we need for salvation is in the Scriptures. You are now 50 and
searching in the Bible. God led me in my search when I was 18 and, like you, I came to the
Bible. I didn’t understand all that I was reading, but God spoke to me in the words
of the Jesus in the Gospels. (That is where I would recommend that you read.) Matthew 7:7
in particular, spoke to my heart: “Ask and you shall receive, seek and you will find,
knock and the door will be opened to you.” I began to pray, seek, and ask and I
received the Holy Spirit. That began a personal relationship with God for me. My life
changed because God’s love was poured out in me. This all happened because of the
power of God’s word.
Your thirst and hunger tells me God is at work
in you. 1) Continue to read the Bible: esp. the Gospels. I recommend a
bible magazine: The Word Among Us. (Go
to www.wau.org to
order) Read the daily Mass readings and commentary. I hope it will inspire you. 2)
Pray for a personal relationship with God each day. Simply pray each day. 3)
Surrender your life to Christ. I invite you to pray: “Jesus, I believe in you. I want
to have eternal life. I surrender my heart to you. Thank you that you died for me. I love
you Lord.” 4) Begin a process of joining a church. Wherever God
leads you, they will be glad to have you. Hopefully it will be with the Catholic Church. 5)
Continue to be fed: Watch good religious TV programs, read good inspiring books, develop
your spirit.
I believe you are on the brink of major growth
in God, Terry. My prayer for you is that you
receive a touch from God. If you want to email me, you can through my website: www.frcedric.org. God Bless you! Sincerely, Fr. Cedric, C.P.
FATHER KEVIN BATES, SM
"
How does one identify a mortal or venial sin?" Cathy
Father Kevin:
I have been a faithful Catechist for many years and help to prepare 2nd graders for First
Penance and First Holy Communion. While teaching about mortal and venial sin...and giving
examples to the children so they can identify between mortal and venial, I used the
following example. Example of a sin: I (pointing to myself) go to the bookstore and see
three books and one music CD and I decide to take them out of the store without paying. I
know it is wrong to take these items, because they are not mine and I did not pay for
them. I decide that I want them and will take them. Is this a mortal or venial sin? The
children answered "mortal" and I agree. To my mind all three conditions for a
mortal sin are met. Another catechist disagreed and argued the point in class with me. She
does not feel this is a mortal sin, but rather a venial sin. I spoke to the DRE and our
parish priest and they agree that the sin is mortal, but it is still bothering me. I want
to find it in writing somewhere. Is there a difference in stealing 3 books and a CD vs.
stealing a credit card vs. stealing a car? Does the monetary value of the stolen item
determine the sin OR is it the fact that something of value is taken that does not belong
to you, you know it is wrong and you decide to do it anyway? Please help me. I want to be
sure that I am teaching correctly. Souls are at risk! Thanks so much, Cathy
Hello Cathy:
Thanks for your question. In your
teaching of young people it is most important that they learn to be at home in God's
company, that they know that they are loved unconditionally, and that this love naturally
leads to a loving response from each one of us. Sometimes we fall short of this
loving response of course, and that is sin. For a sin to be "mortal" it is
the most serious of matters and it takes a really professional sinner to completely cut
him or herself off from this unconditional love of God. It is a radical denial of
God's love, and this is evidenced certainly by the sinful incident itself, by the
attitude, the purpose and the content of the incident, and also by the ongoing lifestyle
of the person. Mortal sin is just that. It is mortal, a total cutting us off from
God's love. It is really hard to do! I cannot imagine that the theft of a few
books and CD's would qualify at all.
We need to remember that God's love is utterly
capable of reaching into our wounded and sinful hearts, and nothing we come with is
beyond His reach. Jesus reminds us not to worry about things too much and to trust
rather in God's goodness. I doubt very much that "souls are at risk" as you put
it, unless they are at risk of being frightened into being good. Love works much
better. That was Jesus' idea anyway. All
good wishes. - Father Kevin
"If parents get an
annulment, are the children
legitimate?" - Katherine
Father Kevin:
When parents get an annulment, where does this leave children? Do we become bastards?
Thank you for your response. - Katherine
Hi Katherine:
Thanks for your question. No, the
children are not bastards as you put it. An annulment is a statement that something
essential was missing at the tme that the marriage was undertaken, and hence the marriage
can now be declared to have been null or invalid. It is a statement that the
marriage was not a valid sacrament. This has no impact at all on
the status of the children. According to the law, your parents were once
married and you were conceived and born within that legal marriage situation. While
the Church's annulment is a statement as to the sacramentality of the marriage, it is not
a statement about the legality of the marriage, and it is the legality of the marriage
that bears on the legitimacy or otherwise of the children.
Every good wish and blessing. -
Father Kevin
"How can we honor our
embryos should
they not survive?" - Joseph
Father Kevin:
My wife and I underwent IVF. We now
understand our error. We have more embryos from the procedure and every intention to
rescue each and every one. If one of our little ones does not survive the thawing
process because of our sin, how do we give proper rest to the embryo? It is a soul
and should be respected as such. Does there need to be a funeral, burial etc.?
Thank you. Joseph
Dear Joseph:
We create such moral burdens for ourselves, and
exploring the experience of IVF as you have done, it brings to light many dilemmas.
This is why the Church is cautious generally in its approach to IVF procedures.
The sanctity of life is something that is obviously very clear in your own
conscience and heart. Obviously your very understandable and legitimate hunger to
have children is a clear and noble dream. In choosing to use IVF, I would hesitate
in saying that you have committed a "sin", since you were genuinely trying
to bring new life into the world, and create or extend your family.
This is one of these delicate instances where
we need courageous people like yourselves to explore this experience, to stand humbly
before God and reflect on what you have learnt from the experience, and then
come back and share that with the rest of us. This is the way that our tradition
works. We reflect together on the meaning of our experiences and then listen
carefully for the teaching voice of the Church and for the deep truth hidden in our own
experiences and then somehow, and sometimes haltingly, we move forward together. We
are talking here of a process that can take more than one lifetime of course.
Your question admits no easy answer. What
I would suggest is that you bring all your concerns to the loving Father of all in prayer,
and listen carefully in silence in God's company. My guess is that you will hear some
wonderful and healing clues for the next part of your journey. Along with this you
will find a way to bring your little ones back to God in the gentlest and most respectful
way. I will keep you in my prayers as you move forward. All good wishes and blessings. - Father Kevin
CATHOLICVIEW STAFF
”I got abusive to some kids at the high school who flipped
me off. How do I get the kids and parents to
forgive me?”
- Pete
CatholicView Staff:
Some high school kids flipped me off and I snapped and beat them up. I confessed to God, (He has forgiven me), my
pastor and the church and stepped down from ministry.
I want to apologize to the kids, sortta tried once with one, but he
turned his back on me and left. They are
still flipping me off. I thought about
confessing this to their parents hoping it could lead to reconciliation& forgiveness.
The police, principal of the school, and others in my life (some clergy) say leave it
alone for now. Matthew 5:23 says go at once
to your brother and then also reads be reconciled to your adversary. How do I obey the Lord in this as it looks
like me wanting to apologize is not working out?
Thank you. Pete
Dear Pete:
There are times that we must wait and trust on
the Lord. This is one of those times. If you truly believe that the Lord has
forgiven you, and you have accepted that free gift of grace and love, then you must also
wait for the Lord to present an opportunity to reconcile with those you have hurt by your
actions. To continue your "going after your brothers" would be
considered an obsessive act that would only further the pain, and that is something you do
not want.
Some things cannot be reconciled quickly, as
patience is demanded by those who believe and wait on the Lord. Some things will be
reconciled on earth. Other things, hurts that are so deep, sin so painful, are
reconciled later when the Lord can do His work of mercy and love in His time. That's
the key of balancing Matthew 5:23: you have tried. You were told to go away.
The Lord knows your heart. He knows you
have tried. He will take over from here. Let Him take care of it in His time
and plan. God does not work according to our schedule. We must work on God's
schedule and sometimes that demands that we wait. Trust in Him. You have
preached that. Now live it. That's how you obey the Lord: wait with
patient endurance. All things will be reconciled in Christ according to the Father's
schedule. - CatholicView Staff
”I have been unhappily married for 29 years
through the court. How can I change my
situation
by myself ?” - Inez
CatholicView Staff:
I don't know what to do regarding my marriage
of 29yrs. I got married very young at
19 and got married through the court not in a Catholic Church. My husband doesn't want to give his heart to
Jesus and get married through the Church. I've
been living in sin for 29 years married, not very happily because he likes to do things
his way, and I can't receive the Holy Eucharist which hurts me deeply. I'm confused whether to stay with him and
continue to receive Christ spiritually only and continue to still live in sin or divorce
and then I can receive the Holy Eucharist and be closer to God!! I don't know what to do. What do you suggest? I feel I'm torn both
ways especially for my 2 daughters I have in this marriage.
Thank you kindly and may God continue to bless you! - Inez
Inez:
Your marriage of 29 years is something you
cannot end just haphazardly. There is a
process to get your marriage blessed in the Church without your husband having to
participate. If one party does not want to go
to the Church for the sanctifying of the marriage (convalidation), then it can be done
through a process called SANATIO IN RADICE.
The Church would recognize your marriage from its beginning without the
presence of your husband. Please take this
answer to your parish priest and he will know what to do next. The process is simple, requires an affirmation
from the marriage tribunal of your diocese (which means that there is a form to fill out
and then the marriage tribunal “signs off” on the petition), and then the Church
officially recognizes your marriage as a church marriage and you will be able to receive
the sacraments. – CatholicView Staff
”My boyfriend is Catholic and I am Atheist. Will I go
to hell as my boyfriend thinks?” - Alexis
CatholicView Staff:
I have a boyfriend whom is Roman Catholic, however I am just about the opposite. I am an
atheist meaning I don't believe in God. I am a realist, meaning I believe in reality and
all things completely proven by science. Often my boyfriend and I discuss religious topics
and share opposing sides and even though we both think we're right, we get each other
thinking about both sides.
I am not completely open to the whole God thing. I am in doubt, but often think about it
and pray just in case.
According to my boyfriend and the Roman Catholic religion, if you do not believe in god
you go to hell. According to you all, hell is a place where you burn for eternity. I am a
great person, do everything right minus a few things and have good morals, however
apparently because I don't believe in God I will go to hell and burn forever.
Although I don't completely believe in hell, it might be there for all I know. And if it
is why would a good person like me go to hell even though I've done everything right here
on earth? If I had my choice I would believe in god, but for some reason even though I've
been taught to, I can't, and its not my fault and I try to badly. It just won't happen and
I can't. My boyfriend couldn't answer my question or wasn't able to discuss it with me so
I'm hoping that someone with a lot of knowledge on this subject would be able to give me
some feedback. Thanks! - Alexis
Dear Alexis:
Your question shows your doubts about your
atheist position. The fact is: there is a God. That
is a fact, not a belief. Whether you wish to
accept that fact is up to you. The laws of
science and nature definitely point to the Ultimate Lawgiver and Planner whom we call God. Since there are questions in your heart about your
position, I would suggest that you keep searching for the Creator of all, the Prime Mover,
who is around you and in you. In time, you
will see that your boyfriend is correct in saying that there is a God and you will grow in
understanding your place in the universe. –
CatholicView Staff
”My husband did not tell me beforehand that he is involved
in Santeria. Am I wrong to want a
divorce?” - Crystal
CatholicView Staff:
I married someone who claimed to be Catholic but was involved in Santeria and keep it from
me until after being married. Because of this I'm asking for a divorce & an annulment
because I do not want to go against being a Catholic. did I do sin? – Crystal
Dear Crystal:
If you believe that your marriage cannot be
reconciled in any way because of your husband’s belief in Santeria, then you are able
to begin the process of annulment because your husband deceived you and kept secret
something that affected your relationship with him. You
do not sin in seeking a divorce and church annulment in this particular situation. - CatholicView
Staff
”How do you know if your present path is God's plan?”
- Julian
CatholicView Staff:
How do you know if your present path is God's plan, or just your will in an earthly
endeavor? – Julian
Dear Julian:
If you have a belief in God, love Him with all
your heart, you will know what is right for you. You
will not want to offend God. Pray and
ask Him to guide you on the right path. Talk
to your priest if you are unsure and discuss in depth what your doubts are. Remember, the Holy Spirit resides in each of us
who believe in God and will warn of all danger to the soul.
– CatholicView Staff
Since drug addiction is a disease, Is
it also a sin?”
- Gardner
CatholicView Staff:
Since drug addiction is a disease, is it also
a sin?
Dear Gardner:
Anything that
takes us away for the reality of God and alters our judgment and thought processes is a
mortal sin. The sin gets even more complicated through continued use,
addiction , and not seeking drug help. St. Paul in 1Corinthians 6: 12 says “You
say, ‘I am allowed to do anything’—but not everything is good for you. And
even though ‘I am allowed to do anything’ I must not become a slave to
anything.” – CatholicView
Staff
"My best friend died when I was 15 years old.
When I see her in heaven what age will we both be?
- Ciaran
CatholicView Staff:
When I was 15 my best friend died,
for years I grieved for her and I still do, a lot. I believe in heaven and hope to get
there some day and be reunited with her, but I am afraid. When I go to heaven what age
will I appear as, will I be old, will she be old. I can’t imagine what she would look
like old and I can’t even imagine us having some of the same fun we used to have
together as teenagers. As much as I want to reach heaven I fear. So my question is what
age would I appear in heaven? I understand you probably won’t be able to answer this
but I would just like to ask a member of the church. Thank you, Ciaran.
Dear Ciaran:
I am so sorry you lost your dear and special
friend. Someday when you go to heaven, you
will both see
and recognize each other. You will
joyfully be reunited, along with all
friends and relatives that you have lost in this life.
The bible does not address the issue of how we
will look or what age we will be. Remember
we will not have the same earthly bodies we have now.
We will have spiritual bodies, in a state of perfection with no pain and no
sadness. This the Lord has promised.
Hopefully your pain has softened and you are able to move ahead with your
life. Your dear friend would want this for you.
– CatholicView Staff
”If God is all knowing, all loving, and all forgiving,
how could there be a Hell?” - Marty
CatholicView Staff:
If God is all knowing, all loving, and all forgiving, how could there be a Hell? He obviously knew (all knowing) the sins one
would commit, he forgives us of them (all forgiving), we are his children that he cares
for supremely, he would never want us to burn in a fiery pit (all loving). - Marty
Dear Marty:
Not everyone wants to have a relationship with
God. Nor does everyone want to be with Jesus. God is all loving but He cannot force anyone to
love Him in return. True love cannot be
forced without a FREE choice. Hell exists
because there has to be a choice. There are
people who chose hell. That is their
prerogative. God cannot make someone
love Him in return. –
CatholicView Staff
”What does the Church teach about gun control?” – Van
CatholicView Staff:
What did the Church teach about gun control? – Van
Van:
The Church doesn’t have a teaching about
“gun control” as we know it in the United States of America. But the Church does teach what Jesus taught: [Luke 6:29] “If someone strikes you on
one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from
taking your tunic.” (see also
Matthew 5:39). These verses tell us that
resorting to violence is not what God wants of His believers. Something to think about in regards to some
peoples’ motivation to have destructive weapons in their possession. On the other hand, self-defense is a legitimate
argument for having weapons on hand for the defense of one’s family and loved ones. The answer to your question resides in the
motivation of the person who wants to have a gun in their possession. – CatholicView Staff
”I promised to name my baby ‘Mary’ but in a dream
someone said name her ‘Charlotte’. What
shall I do?” - Darine
CatholicView Staff::
I am pregnant with a baby girl. I made a
promise to name her Marian or Mia after Mary for she took good care of her when we thought
we're gonna lose her. I saw someone in
a dream asking me to name her Charlotte. She’s
a saint born in the same month of July my baby will be born in. I don't want to break my promise to Mother
Mary and I don't want to disappoint Saint Charlotte.
What should I do? - Darine
Darine:
Dreams are just dreams. There is no indication that “Saint
Charlotte” wanted to have that child named after her.
I would keep the promise made by you. Your
daughter is certainly blest by God! Congratulations!
– CatholicView Staff
”Our adult daughter is living with her best friend’s
husband. What can we do?” - Cherie
CatholicView Staff:
How do we handle our relationship with our adult daughter that is having an affair and
living with her best friend’s husband? The man is still in love with his wife but
living with our daughter and we are very saddened by all of this. - Cherie
Dear Cherie:
Sadly, adult children make their own decisions,
even destructive and self-centered decisions. But
you do have a voice and you still enjoy the moral authority as her parents. Speak up. Do
not be silent. Speak to your daughter. But ultimately, she is the one who makes the
decisions for her life. You are not
responsible for the decisions of your adult children.
But you can say something and pray for them.
– CatholicView Staff
”I found a Canadian “Catholic” website that is filled
with non-Christian material. Should I alert
the diocese
in Canada?” - Emiline
CatholicView Staff:
While surfing the web for "Catholic" sites I came across a "Catholic"
storefront ministry in Canada that also happened to maintain a website on which there are
various prayers, an electronic rosary, papal encyclical, Church documents, the Catechism
and more. These things I very much liked. But it also had videos against the Iraq war,
which were based on extremism, and I emailed the Webmaster to voice my opinion of it. Very
soon, in a series of email exchanges this "Catholic" Webmaster was cursing at
me, wishing violent thoughts, and uttering the most vile and lunatic anti-Semitic
rantings. My question is, should I alert the Roman Catholic diocese in that area of Canada
that this person is operating a "Catholic" "mission" and has these
feelings? Emiline
Dear Emiline:
We are so sorry that you experienced such
insulting behavior when writing to a “supposedly” Catholic Website in Canada. There is no excuse for anyone connected to
God’s work to respond with hostility and hateful feelings.
To use a Catholic venue to put across
personal and judgmental thoughts and political opinions is totally out of line. It presents a very poor picture of our Church and
most of all, goes against all the teachings of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Even though there are many opinions on the
validity of the Iraq War led by the Bush administration, there is no excuse for this kind
of blatant disregard for others as you describe. Reporting
this to the diocese that this “storefront ministry” is located might not be
satisfying in the long run. Even though you
alert the local diocese of what is going on in their “backyard,” the bishop
would be hard pressed to close down a web site. Free
speech and expression is a right in Canada. But
at least, the diocese would be alerted and can issue warnings to its parish churches. - CatholicView
Staff
”Can an active homosexual get into your version
of heaven? Yes or no?” - Devlin
CatholicView Staff:
Please no double talk, no "hate the sin, love the sinner" stuff. Can an
unapologetic, sexually active gay man, make it to Catholic heaven. I was born RC, but have
attended Anglo Catholic Episcopal for a while. I am back with RC, but must find the
answer. I read that one cannot sin accidentally, that intent must be present for it to be
a sin. It is not my intent to sin, but just a natural part of life. Can the two be
reconciled? Is gay sex outside of marriage more a sin than straight sex outside marriage?
I didn't used to think so, but the new Pope has said some things that make me wonder: Can
I get into your version of heaven? Yes or no?
Devlin:
Faithfulness is what God wants and that is what
the Church teaches. The Church is not the
Judge here. The Church cannot condemn anyone
to hell or reward someone with heaven, that’s God’s business. So, as to whether your place in heaven is assured
depends on your faith relationship with Jesus Christ.
Sex outside of marriage, whether “gay” or “straight”, is
sinful and not part of a Christian’s life. –
CatholicView Staff
”I am pregnant. Can I take
wine
at communion?” - Candi
CatholicView Staff:
Hello, I am pregnant and was wondering is it okay to drink the wine at communion time.
Thank you for your time.
Dear Candi:
Congratulations on the upcoming birth of your
new baby!
I would advise you to ask your doctor whether
you can take a nominal sip of the wine at communion.
I see no fault with just a small taste of communion but it is best to
consult your doctor about this. –
CatholicView Staff
”Some theologians say under certain circumstances
homosexual acts are not sinful. Who do I
believe?”
- George
CatholicView Staff:
The Church says homosexual acts are sinful. Yet I have read a theologian state that under
certain circumstances it is not sinful. Who do I believe? - George
Dear George:
All sexual acts outside of marriage (defined as
a life-long commitment sanctified by the Church in the sacrament of marriage, between a
man and a woman only) are sinful and not part of a Christian life. There are no loopholes in this teaching. – CatholicView
Staff
” Is it okay for a
non-Catholic to ask a priest for
anonymous Christian advice during confession?”
- Tiffany
CatholicView Staff:
I am a Christian, non-Catholic. Is it okay for me to ask a priest for anonymous Christian
advice during confession even though I'm not Catholic? - Tiffany
Tiffany:
You can ask a priest for advice at any time. Just make an appointment with your local Catholic
priest. Confession is part of the Sacrament
of Penance and is usually reserved for practicing Catholics. You seek spiritual direction that a priest can
give. So, ask some of your Catholic friends
for a recommendation of a priest that they know that will be able to be helpful to you. – CatholicView Staff
”Is it a sin to choose not to treat a terminal illness?”
- Rose
CatholicView Staff:
Is it a sin to choose not to treat a terminal illness?
- Rose
Dear Rose:
Because you have not listed what the illness is
or what treatments you are referring to, it
is hard to make a judgment in this case.
God gave us a physical body and expects us to
support and take care of it. We are obligated
to take certain medicines and treatments meant to sustain life. A feeding tube, for instance, is not
considered “extraordinary means” of preserving life and must be maintained. Recently, the Vatican said in two documents that
Catholic institutions should not pull the feeding tube from a patient. Leave the tube in,
it advises, as long as it isn't painful or "excessively burdensome" for the
patient. The church sees this as a way to
preserve the sanctity of life. It further states that it is ordinary care to leave the
tube as it is, delivering hydration and nutrition.
However, if the method of treating a terminal illness involves
extraordinary means then a person can say no to this.
This prolongs the physical agony of that person and will not afford a
positive ending.
Please talk to your parish priest to determine
the differences between following doctor’s orders and understanding the means of
extraordinary life support. God bless you
always. - CatholicView Staff
”Was there an apparent rift in the relationship between
Peter and Paul in the bible?" - Krystel
CatholicView Staff:
I am reading Saints
& Sinners, a History of The Popes, written by Eamon Duffy (a Catholic). A few huge
glaring things have come to my attention, one of them being an apparent rift in the
relationship in between Peter and Paul. Obviously, this has a huge enormous impact. I
don't know what to think, what to feel, or what to believe. I am sure the Church has
addressed this issue before. What does it say? - Krystel
Dear Krystel:
Thank you for your interesting question.
I do not know precisely what you are asking.
Peter and Paul had a disagreement SIMPLY on the issue of practice. Peter did not eat with the Gentiles (who
were uncircumcised) because he didn't want to scandalize the Jewish members of the
congregation. Paul corrected Peter on this
action and Peter took Paul's admonition to heart and changed his behavior. This had
nothing to do with doctrine, only action. Peter
and Paul did not have a rift. All throughout the Acts of the Apostles, Paul ALWAYS
deferred to Peter and even presented his argument that the Gentiles did not need to be
circumcised according to Jewish Law and custom to Peter and the Apostles in
Jerusalem (Acts 15) for resolution. So, I
don't understand your question. The
disagreement between Peter and Paul did not have a huge impact as you say. It just clarified that there was no
separation in Christ between Jew and Gentile.
Please read the following chapter of Galatians. CatholicView
believes this will clear your uncertainty concerning the matter between
Peter and Paul. For your edification, in Galatians Chapter 2 Paul
tell us the following:
Paul Confronts Peter
“Then fourteen years later I went back
to Jerusalem again, this time with Barnabas; and Titus came along, too. I
went there because God revealed to me that I should go.
While I was there I met privately with those considered to be leaders of the
church and shared with them the message I had been preaching to the Gentiles. I wanted to make sure that we were in agreement,
for fear that all my efforts had been wasted and I was running the race for nothing. And
they supported me and did not even demand that my companion Titus be circumcised, though
he was a Gentile.
Even that question came up only because of
some so-called Christians there—false ones, really who were secretly brought in. They
sneaked in to spy on us and take away the freedom we have in Christ Jesus. They wanted to
enslave us and force us to follow their Jewish regulations. But we refused to give
in to them for a single moment. We wanted to preserve the truth of the gospel message for
you. And the leaders of the church had
nothing to add to what I was preaching. (By the way, their reputation as great leaders
made no difference to me, for God has no favorites.)
Instead, they saw that God had given me the responsibility of
preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as he had given Peter the responsibility of
preaching to the Jews. For the same God who worked through Peter as the
apostle to the Jews also worked through me as the apostle to the Gentiles.
In fact, James, Peter, and John, who were
known as pillars of the church, recognized the gift God had given me, and they accepted
Barnabas and me as their co-workers. They encouraged us to keep preaching to the Gentiles,
while they continued their work with the Jews. Their
only suggestion was that we keep on helping the poor, which I have always been eager to
do.
But when Peter came to Antioch, I had to
oppose him to his face, for what he did was very wrong. When
he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile Christians, who were not circumcised. But
afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn't eat with the Gentiles anymore.
He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of
circumcision. As a result,
other Jewish Christians followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray
by their hypocrisy.
When I saw that they were not following the
truth of the gospel message, I said to Peter in front of all the others, “Since you,
a Jew by birth, have discarded the Jewish laws and are living like a Gentile, why are you
now trying to make these Gentiles follow the Jewish traditions?
“You and I are Jews by birth, not
‘sinners’ like the Gentiles. Yet we know that a person is made right with
God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ
Jesus, so that we might be made right with God because of our faith in Christ, not because
we have obeyed the law. For no one will ever be made right with God by obeying the
law.”
But suppose we seek to be made right with
God through faith in Christ and then we are found guilty because we have abandoned the
law. Would that mean Christ has led us into
sin? Absolutely not! Rather,
I am a sinner if I rebuild the old system of law I already tore down. For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me.
So I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I
might live for God. My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.
So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave
himself for me. I do not
treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if
keeping the law could make us right with God, then there was no need for Christ to
die.”- CatholicView Staff
”Does God answer the prayers of
a non-practicing Catholic?” - Marie
CatholicView Staff:
Does God answer the prayers of a non-practicing Catholic? - Marie
Marie:
God hears ALL prayers of ANY human being. And God answers all prayers according to His plan
and will. - CatholicView Staff
”My friend feels she is unworthy to call herself
Catholic. How can I help her?” - Deborah
CatholicView:
A good friend of mine is a divorced catholic. She no longer feels accepted/worthy to call
herself Catholic. I disagree, but what can I say to help her and bring her back to the
church? - Deborah
Dear Deborah:
Divorce in itself is not sinful. Divorce and remarriage is
considered sinful and adulterous. If your
friend is divorced but has not remarried, then I would say to your friend to please get
back to church and receive the sacraments. If
your friend is divorced and remarried, then I would suggest that this person speak to
someone at her parish about the annulment process so that your friend can have their
second marriage blessed in the church. Divorce
is not the problem. Divorce and
remarriage is. – CatholicView
Staff
”Is restitution required for sins committed in the past
prior to one's baptism?” - Michelle
CatholicView Staff:
Is restitution required for sins committed in the past, prior to one's baptism? I
converted to Catholicism last year. -
Michelle
Dear Michelle:
At the time of baptism, your sins were washed
away forever. You start with a clean slate. If you feel that you must make restitution for
something you did in the past that was hurtful to others and you, then please talk with
your parish priest or other spiritual director and see what can be done with what is
burdening your heart. – CatholicView Staff
” Can my boyfriend and I continue to receive Holy
Communion even though we are intimate? - Mazvita
CatholicView Staff:
I am unmarried but pregnant. Do my boyfriend and I continue to receive Holy Communion? We are both Catholic and working on marriage
but in our culture it will take some time. - Mazvita
Mazvita:
After confessing your sin of sexual relations
outside of marriage, you may receive communion. If
you are living together without marriage, then you CANNOT receive communion until you fix
your relationship either by living separately or marrying.
If you are NOT living together, and you do not continue to have sexual
relations with your boyfriend, and you have confessed your sin, then you are free to
receive communion. – CatholicView Staff
”Can I have my newborn baptized in the hospital after
birth and without Godparents?” - Lisa
CatholicView Staff:
I'm currently 6 months pregnant and starting to plan for my son's baptism. My husband and
I want to keep it simple, only us with the
baby. Is it possible to have a baptism in the hospital shortly after birth and without
Godparents? - Lisa
Lisa:
You have described a baptism that is done in
case of emergency, if the newly born child is near death.
Otherwise, baptism is considered a public sacrament, meaning that the people
of the Church are involved in accepting your child into the fold of believers. That is why the godparents, who represent all the
believers of the Church, are part of the ceremony at its most basic. Since your newly born child will probably be born
healthy and strong, baptism cannot be administered at the hospital without godparents. Baptism would happen in a Church setting in which
ALL members of the Church are invited to attend and rejoice in its new member! Now, you could have a simple baptism ceremony
attended only by you, the parents, and the godparents, and no one else. But there has to be at least one godparent
(sponsor is the official word) as witness of the baptism. – CatholicView
Staff
”Why is Mary Magdalene still known as a sinner even
though she repented. Why? - Suzanne
CatholicView Staff:
The Apostles were sinners in the beginning and
no so loyal to Jesus and Mary Magdalene who was a sinner.
After Christ forgave her, she was devoted to Christ. The Apostles became saints and Mary Magdalene is
still known as the sinner. How did that
happen? - Marie
Marie:
Saint Mary Magdalene is an officially
recognized saint. She has her own feast
day, July 22nd! She has parish
churches named after her. Now, if you are
saying why she is remembered for something that made her conversion and holiness special,
then you are correct in saying that she is remembered for several things, like Jesus
casting out the seven devils from her (Luke 8:2: “Mary surnamed the Magdalene from
whom seven demons had gone out.”), anointing and cleaning Jesus’ feet (Luke 7:
36-50), and being the first witness of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead (Mark 16:9:
“Having risen in the morning on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary
of Magdala from whom He had cast out seven devils.”)
The apostles too were remembered for their sins as well: Peter who denied Jesus three times, Thomas who
doubted that Jesus rose from the dead, Matthew, the tax collector. Everyone has sinned! Yet, remembering their sinful past makes us
rejoice in the loving forgiveness of God who forgives all sin that we can live with Him
forever. – CatholicView Staff
”Are priests required (by Canon Law) to say Mass
every day?” - Dana
CatholicView Staff:
Are priests required (by Canon Law) to say Mass every day? Do different dioceses and
religious orders have different requirements? I can certainly understand that it is a
privilege to be able to say Mass, but could a priest once in awhile experience the Mass
from the pew? - Dana
Dear Dana:
The Church does not require that a priest say
Mass every day. He may participate in any Mass as a member of the congregation. Usually, though, a parish priest says daily Mass
for his parish and for the intentions of his parishioners. – CatholicView
Staff
”After divorce are you allowed to date
without an annulment?” - Kathy
CatholicView Staff:
After divorce are you allowed to date without an annulment? – Kathy
Dear Kathy:
Thank you for your question. You can go out with anyone you want. The problem occurs when you fall in love with
someone and start to plan for cementing that relationship with marriage. The Church follows Jesus’ gospel teaching
that divorce and remarriage is adulterous.
– CatholicView Staff
”Is there any way to make my son’s marriage in a
Methodist Church right in the eyes of the Church?
- Helen
CatholicView:
After a priest told my 24 year old son he would commit a mortal sin if he married outside
of the Catholic Church and could never receive communion, he became very angry that he
would be labeled with murderers and rapists and commit a mortal sin. He married in the
Methodist church and in his eyes, got married in a church, by a minister, and in the eyes
of God. He and his wife did not live together, but chose to marry, unlike most of their
friends. Is this true? He feels he did not turn his back on his faith and did many things
correctly including not living together before marriage, except for the choice of church,
which was his wife's church 75 miles from where he attended church. Is there any way to
make this right in the eyes of the leaders of the church? It saddens me that he may want
to go to church with me when he is home and CANNOT attend communion after being raised in
the church. Please help me try to help guide my son. - Helen
Dear Helen:
Your son made a decision to marry outside the
Catholic Church as a Catholic. Mortal Sin is
defined as a total break with God and Church both, at the same time. (see 1 John 15-16).
Your son decided to make a break with the Church by his decision to
marry outside of the Church. Having his
marriage blessed in the Church can rectify this. Mortal
Sin cannot be quantified, meaning that not all mortal sin is the same, for some mortal
sins (meaning TOTAL break with God and TOTAL break with the Church) do greater damage than
others. So, there is no comparison between
getting married outside the Church and someone murdering another human being. But the break with the Church is there. His break with God is not something we cannot
judge nor can we since it appears that he did not break with relationship with Jesus as
Lord and Savior. Your son can reconcile with
the Church by having his marriage “convalidated” (meaning solemnized through the
sacrament of marriage witnessed by priest or deacon).
He would then be able to receive the sacraments of the Church. – CatholicView Staff
”Is it true that at age 75 confession is no longer needed
to receive communion? - Pasquale
CatholicView Staff:
An elderly woman told me if a person is over the age 75 , confession with a Priest is no
longer required to receive the communion? - Pasquale
Dear Pasquale:
Who told you this? We are all sinners in need of reconciliation with
God and Church! Just because one reaches a
certain age doesn’t mean that the person is free from sin and responsibility for
their actions. Confession makes us
accountable to God and Church for our Christian life and behavior. As a priest, I know that I have heard confessions
from people over 90 years old! There is
no age limit for sin. - CatholicView
Staff
”My boyfriend has misconceptions about the Catholic faith.
Should I drop this relationship?” - Sophia
CatholicView Staff:
What is the best way to approach study/discussion about the Catholic faith to someone who
has many misconceptions (citing infant baptism, prayer to deceased, among others)? Despite
trying to distance myself from this person, I have found that we complement each other in
nearly every way but disagree on this issue? Is this a relationship that I should drop?
Thank you. Sophia
Sophia:
If your friend wants to learn more about your
Catholic faith, you both could attend a bible study program at your church.
Have you considered the consequences of a
marriage with these differences between you? What
about the possibility of children?
Would you concede to your husband’s wishes on religion or would he concede to yours? Would you be able to go to worship at mass? Would he share or would this be a problem?
Please go to talk to your parish priest. Generally, if someone does not want to
understand or accept your faith, you cannot force him or her. A relationship based on big differences in religion will not survive for
long. Think very carefully about this. – CatholicView Staff
”I have started reading a Buddhist text for inspiration.
Is this wrong?” - Kash
CatholicView Staff:
I am going through a difficult period and I have started to read the Dhammapada (a
Buddhist text)for some inspiration. My fiancé says this is wrong to do as I am Catholic.
Is it ok to read different religious texts for spiritual inspiration? - Kash
Dear Kash:
Thank you for your question.
Your friend is right in saying a Catholic
should not read or depend on gaining inspiration from other religious sources. There is an inherent danger in reading books that
may lead you in a wrong direction.
Why not go to your Catholic Book Store and
choose something there? The clerks would be
very happy to assist you. Also remember that
the most inspiring book will always be your BIBLE! Remember
to choose one that will be easy for you to read in modern English. God be with you.
–CatholicView Staff
”I committed adultery with a married man.
Must I leave my husband because of this sin?” - Andrea
CatholicView Staff:
I was married and committed adultery with a married man (we are both Catholics). We are
now married to each other and I am consumed with guilt and fearful of God's punishment.
Must I leave my husband to pay the price of my sins?- Andrea
Dear Andrea:
There are a couple of things that need to be
addressed that you do not include in your letter. When
you married your first husband, were you married in the Church? Did you receive an annulment before you married
your second husband?
These are vital issues that are important. You need to talk to a priest and get these things
sorted out. There is no need to leave your
present husband but you need to arrange an annulment from your first husband and get your
second marriage convalidated by a priest.
Please see your parish priest as soon as
possible. May the Lord help you in this
matter. – CatholicView Staff
”My boyfriend has misconceptions about the Catholic faith.
Should I drop this relationship?” - Sophia
CatholicView Staff:
What is the best way to approach study/discussion about the Catholic faith to someone who
has many misconceptions (citing infant baptism, prayer to deceased, among others)? Despite
trying to distance myself from this person, I have found that we complement each other in
nearly every way but disagree on this issue? Is this a relationship that I should drop?
Thank you. - Sophia
Sophia:
If your friend wants to learn more about your
Catholic faith, you both could attend a bible study program at your church or go and talk
with your parish priest.
Have you considered the consequences of a
marriage with these differences between you? What
about the possibility of children?
Would you concede to your husband’s wishes on religion or would he concede to yours? Would you be able to go to worship at mass? Would he share or would this be a problem?
Please go to talk to your parish priest. If someone does not want to understand or
accept your faith, you cannot force him or her.
A relationship based on big differences in religion will not survive
for long. Think very carefully about this. – CatholicView Staff
”I am a self-injurer. Do I need to take this to confession?
-Suzanne
CatholicView Staff:
I am a self-injurer. Do I need to take this to confession? - Suzanne
Dear Suzanne:
I am so sorry to hear that you are a
self-injurer. Unfortunately, CatholicView is
not qualified to give you advice except to say you must seek treatment. Our bodies are temples of Christ. You need help in
overcoming this self-abuse. Have you talked
to a doctor about this?
The bible states in 1 Corinthians 6:15 “Do
you not see and know that your bodies are members (bodily parts) of Christ (the Messiah)?
Am I therefore to take the parts of Christ and make [them] parts of a harlot? Never!
Never!”
There are things you need to sit down discuss
with a priest. You can also go to confession
but that time would be limited. Talking to a
priest at the rectory would be more beneficial.
He CAN help you with this serious burden. He has talked to many others who suffer this same
affliction. He may be able to give you
resources where you can find the help you vitally need.
Do not be afraid. You are very
loved even now. May the Lord give you the
courage to get the help you need. The bible states in 1 Corinthians 6:15 “Do you not
see and know that your bodies are members (bodily parts) of Christ (the Messiah)? Am I
therefore to take the parts of Christ and make [them] parts of a harlot? Never!
Never!” – CatholicView
Staff
”Is a confidential informant privileged information
that can't be revealed during confession?” - Lisa
CatholicView Staff:
I am in RCIA class and about to do my first confession. Is confidential informant
privileged information that can't be revealed? - Lisa
Dear Lisa:
I do not understand your question. I do
not understand what is sinful about being a "confidential informant" for law
enforcement or any other governmental agency. A priest can never reveal what he has
heard in an official confession during the celebration of the sacrament of Penance.
And if you believe that you have sinned in your role as a "confidential
informant," then you can safely discuss this with your confessor. For your
information, any thing discussed with a priest OUTSIDE of confession is subject to the
laws of states and countries. For example, in our state here, a priest is a
"mandated reporter" and must report to law enforcement the crimes outlined in
the law when revealed in a counseling situation or is brought to his attention by others.
Confession is the ONLY privileged
communication exception to the law and is generally protected by most
countries. – CatholicView Staff
”How does the Catholic Church decide the date for Easter?
CatholicView:
How does the Catholic Church decide the date for Easter?
- Micki
Micki:
On the lunar calendar that Jesus would have
used in His earthly ministry, the first Sunday after the full moon of the Spring Equinox
is the date for Easter. Why? Because the Passover and Jesus’ death and
resurrection happened when the spring equinox moon was full. – CatholicView Staff
”Can I name my daughter Delilah?” - Avion
CatholicView Staff:
I am 12 weeks pregnant, and if I'm carrying a girl my husband and I would like to name her
Delilah. My question is, is that a bad idea?
– Avion
Dear Avion:
Congratulations on the upcoming birth of your
child. You can name your child whatever you
wish. This is your prerogative and your call. Enjoy the moment.
– CatholicView Staff
”Why did Jesus say to Mary Magdalene “Do not touch me”
after His resurrection?” - Suzanne
CatholicView Staff:
On the cross Jesus told the good thief that "this day" he will be with Him in
paradise. After the resurrection, Jesus asked Mary Magdalene not to touch him as he hadn't
yet returned to the Father. Can you explain this? Thanks! - Suzanne
Dear
Suzanne:
When
Jesus explained to the "good thief" that he would be with Him in paradise that
day, Jesus was affirming the belief (spiritual fact) that we live on after our deaths
either in heaven or hell (see Luke 23:39-42). In the Gospel of John, Jesus said to
Mary of Magdala to "stop holding on to me." That is very different from
your words, "not to touch Him." The actual translation is "stop
holding on to me." (John 20:17) It is VERY important that you understand biblical
history, custom, language and way of life to get the meaning of the scriptures. It
was customary for someone then to show humble homage to a personage by kneeling and
grabbing their feet with care and love. An example of this is in Matthew 28:9 where
the gospel writer remarks matter of factly: "And behold, Jesus met them on their
way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage."
When Mary of Magdala saw the risen Lord Jesus in the garden, she did exactly the
same thing: she approached, bowed down, and embraced (grabbed) his feet.
Jesus in response wanted to say, "Please, Mary, stop holding me down so that I can
ascend to the Father. You must go back to my apostles and disciples and tell them I
have risen from the dead and returned to the Father." Simple explanation.
For biblical scholars, the Gospel of John implies that Jesus ascended to His Father almost
immediately after the resurrection. The Gospel of Luke (Luke 24:50) implies there
was some time before Jesus returned to heaven. There seems to be an
apparent contradiction, one Gospel implying immediate ascension and another gospel
implying ascension happened later. But that is merely the
gospel writer’s particular and unique writing style. What both gospel
writers wanted to say was that after Jesus rose from the dead, there were several
appearances of Jesus (not in "ghostly" form but in physical
form) to his apostles, disciples, and believers over a period of time before these
appearances stopped. When the appearances stopped, the leaders of the Church
understood that the Spirit of God would come upon them at Pentecost and inspire them to
lead the Church to complete salvation in Jesus Christ until the end of time.
Remember,
our customs and understanding of life are radically different from the
time that the gospels were written. No one can interpret scripture correctly
without understanding the language, time, custom, people, history and political scene
of the time the scripture was written. – CatholicView Staff
” If a Jew converts to Catholicism is it okay for them
to still observe the Jewish holidays?” -
Walker
CatholicView:
If a Jew converts to Catholicism is it okay for them to still observe the Jewish Sabbath
and Holidays and keep
Kashrut? - Walker
Good question Walker:
As long as the converted Jewish person believes
in the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior and obeys His teachings, there is nothing wrong with
celebrating the holidays of the person’s culture. - CatholicView Staff
”When and how will the Armageddon come?” - Katrin
CatholicView:
When and how will the Armageddon come? Does it have to do with the political prophecy that
Satan will be reborn as a human political figure? When will it happen? Thank you! -Katrin
Dear Katrin:
Jesus tells us “No man knows the hour
or the day when the end will come”
Please read Mathew 14:36-42 that tells us: “However, no one knows the day or hour when
these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. When the Son of Man
returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In
those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings
right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to
happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the
Son of Man comes.
Two men will be working together in the field;
one will be taken, the other left. Two women
will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left. “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord
is coming. Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was
coming, he would keep watch and not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son
of Man will come when least expected." – CatholicView Staff
”Do deacons have to identify themselves in confession?”
- Louie
CatholicView Staff:
I am a deacon in the Catholic Church and have been for 10 years. During my formation I remember hearing that
when we as deacons go to confession we are to identify ourselves as Deacons. I have been doing this, but just recently
one of my fellow deacons questioned me on this and I have started to question it. Can you give me an answer on this? Thank you. - Louie
Dear Louie:
All clergy must go to confession. Catholic Priests go to confession and must
identify themselves too. Why? As members
of the clergy, they have a greater responsibility to live a God-like life because of their
position in the Church. – CatholicView
Staff
”My husband hit me while I was pregnant and my mom
is very upset. What am I supposed to do?
“ - Stephenie
CatholicView:
My husband hit me while I was pregnant. Now
my mother hates him and wants him out of my life. I love him so much and I know he loves
me. What am I supposed to do?
Dear Stephenie:
CatholicView is so sorry that you had this
terrible happening in your marriage.
It is understandable why your mother does not
“like” your husband. No mother
wants her daughter abused, especially pregnant and unable to defend herself. To become violent at this vulnerable time is a
very serious issue. It could have started
premature labor and your precious child could have died.
I think you need to address this matter with
your parish priest right now. Tell him
everything so that he can advise you what to do. Please
don’t wait for something else to happen. Do
this immediately. – CatholicView
Staff
”How can I tell if I have a real "call" to help others"? - Kathy
CatholicView:
I am almost 60 and have been a very busy wife, mother and grandmother most of my life. Now
I am enjoying writing, crafts, etc. but CONSUMED with guilt. Inner feeling that I
"SHOULD" be working at an orphanage or becoming a Eucharistic minister or
something MORE. How do I tell the difference between a real "Call" and my own
tendency to "scrupulosity"? Thank
you.
Dear Kathy:
You are to be commended for all the things you
are doing in your life.
However, I believe that God wants and
encourages us all to do for others. Why not
go ahead and give something back to God for all the great things you have been blessed
with?
The rewards of giving are great. Maybe you could spend a few hours helping in your
church office, bringing communion to those who are sick and housebound, visiting the
elderly or an orphanage, any of these things will fulfill you in many ways.
May the Lord give you the courage to follow
this call, to go where the need is big, and watch the beautiful feeling of having given
something back. Peace be with you. –
CatholicView Staff
”Is it permissible for a Catholic to attend a religious ceremony
in other places of worship?” - Celina
CatholicView:
Is it permissible for a Catholic to merely attend a religious ceremony, such as a wedding,
Bar Mitzvah or funeral, in a Jewish temple? - Celina
Dear Celina:
Yes, of course you may attend a ceremony in
another place of worship. It is only when one
makes a practice of attending other places of worship on a regular basis or sharing in the
sacrament of communion that is not acceptable by the Church.
Attendance for wedding or other celebrations is
appropriate to do. However, you are still
obligated to attend mass at your own church on Sundays and Holy Days. Catholics should not partake in communion in other
churches, because we do not share a common faith in the Eucharist as the Real Presence of
Jesus Christ. – CatholicView Staff
“My unborn baby died. Will
she grow in heaven?”
- Diana
CatholicView:
I delivered my baby when
she was only 22 weeks and she died. Will she grow in heaven, and how can I
forgive god for taking her from me? - Diana
Dear Diana:
We are so sorry that you lost your precious
daughter and we offer our condolences for your loss.
There is no biblical reference to aging of our
spiritual (heavenly) bodies except to say as Christians we will live forever through the
salvation given by Jesus Christ. We will be in total perfection, without
pain or sadness. We also know that God
promises that we will understand the "whys" that we often ask in this life.
Right now your daughter is
enjoying perfect health and is being comforted by the angels and she is looking
forward to the day when you will be re-united. None
of us can know why these sad events happen. We
can only trust in the judgment and the love of God Who promises to make all things right
someday.
Please go to talk to your parish priest about
this. Listen to what he has to say. In prayer, ask the Lord to give you peace
and the courage to go forward. Hand over
your grief to the Lord and keep going, knowing that He walks with you through all
things. – CatholicView Staff
”I relinquished custody of my son years ago.
Is he still my son?” - Cheryl
CatholicView Staff:
I relinquished all custody (terminated parental rights) to a son 24 years ago. In the eyes
of God and the Church is the child still my son or is he totally disconnected from me.
There are no legal issues. I am in touch with him. I just have to know what the church and
God say. PLEASE PLEASE help me.
Dear Cheryl:
I am so sorry that the events of the past are
still painful to you. The good news is that
after all this time, 24 years, you have fostered a relationship with your son. Your son is an adult and if he understands the
reasons you gave up parental rights 24 years ago and he wants to maintain a closeness with
you, his mother, this is a blessing for you and for him. What a wonderful and
joyous ending to something precious to you.
Understand that God knows all things. Your son will always be your child.
God reads the heart of each of us, and He knows
what you are feeling. If you have asked for
forgiveness, you must accept it. God has
heard your prayers for your son and He is joyous that you have maintained contact and
shown love to your grown-up child. Be at
peace, knowing that even though you terminated parental rights all those years ago, your
blood rights cannot be eradicated. You have
tried to make amends to your son by letting him see your love. It is now time to move forward. Be at peace. – CatholicView
Staff
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