MAY 2008
FATHER CEDRIC PISEGNA, C.P.
FATHER AMARO SAUMELL
CATHOLICVIEW STAFF
FATHER CEDRIC PISEGNA, C.P.
”Do I still merit salvation if my actions do not
reflect it?”
- David
Father Cedric:
As a believer, I wish to understand the Catholic perspective of how to reconcile the
doctrines of salvation by grace vs. salvation by good works. If I believe in Jesus as Savior but my actions do
not reflect it, do I still merit salvation? Thank you.
David:
Just how we are saved
is a notion that has been debated through the ages. I
think it was the major cause of division at the time of reformation. (1500’s) Now, however, much headway has been made in the
area of ecumenism. We Catholics see things
more closely with other denominations than you might think.
Years ago I wrote a
book called Live Passionately! I addressed this issue and here is an
excerpt from my book: “An interesting event happened in our Church that caught
my eye. It was in the newspapers and perhaps
you saw it. Catholics and Lutherans finally
reached agreement about salvation. A
disagreement over how to achieve salvation was the core issue that led Martin Luther to
split the Western Christian Church with the reformation.
Simply put, Protestants have believed that salvation comes through faith
alone, while Catholics have taught that it is a combination of faith and good works that
saves.
Listen to this recent statement from the
“Joint Declaration on Justification (salvation) by Faith” “Together we
confess: By grace alone, in faith in Christ’s saving work and not because
of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who
renews our hearts while equipping and calling us to good works.” It is not by faith and good works
that saves. Our Church teaches that we are
saved by faith in Jesus and that this faith spurs us on to do good works. We are not saved by our works or by our own
goodness. The point here is that salvation
comes from the free unconditional love of God and is not dependent on our goodness.”
In answer to your second question,
no one can “merit” salvation. We
all deserve to die. However, through
Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross, we can receive salvation. Our deeds will never measure up, but we must
strive for holiness. Our growth and good works are the flipside of faith. Faith without actions is dead. Faith with action
is effective. I pray that you will keep
striving to grow in good works and holiness. All
the while may your faith in Jesus and salvation grow stronger. Fr. Cedric
”Can you give me information on “Houses Of
Prayer”
according to Catholic tradition? – J.R.
Father Cedric:
I am a high school teacher and was recently asked a question about "Houses of
Prayer" according to the Catholic tradition by a student. I was trying to help them
find the answer to their question and have no idea. Could you help? The question reads
exactly as follows: Name all the Houses of Prayer (according to the Catholic
tradition—includes all Orthodox faiths). Include the times for these Houses of
Prayer, too. Thank you. – J.R.
J.R.:
I’m not quite
sure exactly what you are referring to here. You may be after a major basilica such as the
four churches in Rome, Italy. Most likely you are referring to the local churches near
you. Jesus called the Jewish temple built by King Herod “a house of prayer for all
people.” (Mt. 21:13) The prophet Isaiah also refers to
in his writings. (Is. 56:7) The Catholic church has “church
buildings” that are houses of prayer, although we don’t explicitly refer to them
as such. Any place where one gathers to pray could be called a house of prayer. In fact
the early Christians used to assemble in their homes to pray. Even now the family unit is
called the domestic church. So if I were to name all the houses of prayer, I would name
each Catholic Church building and designate them “houses of prayer.”
In terms of times, we
are obligated to assemble for Sunday Eucharist each week. We believe that this is a divine
command of the Lord himself. “Keep Holy the Sabbath.” For Christians, our
Sabbath is the Day of Resurrection, Sunday. We also have a Vigil Mass beginning on
Saturday afternoon. You can choose to go to any of the Masses from Saturday afternoon,
Sunday morning, through Sunday evening. The times vary depending on your local Catholic
Church. – Father Cedric
”Why do we say we offer God the Body and the Blood of
Jesus Christ?” - Jane
Father Cedric:
I don't understand why we say "I offer
you the body and blood, soul and divinity of your dearly beloved son..." How did we
come to be offering God his own Son? He already gave us Jesus in atonement for our sins,
and those of the whole world. Are we offering God Jesus back, so that together we can
continue to pay for the sins of the whole world? Confusing. Anyway, thank you for
discussing this with me and thinking about it with me. – Jane
Jane:
Thanks for allowing
me to share some thoughts on this matter. What
you are surfacing really has to do with Eucharist (another name for the Mass) itself. During Eucharist the one sacrifice of Jesus on the
Cross is “re-presented” and celebrated. At
Mass we dynamically remember what Jesus did for us so powerfully, that his sacrifice on
the cross is powerfully present and offered to God once again. We simply offer to God what he has given to us,
his Son. We recognize that we need
redemption and salvation. We believe that it
is only through the cross of Christ that we are saved and made holy. Rather than offering
God the blood of goats and bulls or lambs (as in the Old Testament) we offer to God the
spotless blood of the Lamb of God. Instead of
trying to offer to God our good works, which are tainted and not perfect, we offer to God
the perfect sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross. We
believe that the cross is efficacious and powerful. His blood cleanses our conscience from
dead works to serve the living God. His blood
forgives our sins. His body broken restores
us and reconciles us to God. So the offering
is twofold: We offer Jesus to God and we receive
the effects of this offering. (especially in communion) We have no greater sacrifice to
offer than what God has given us.
We do not offer Jesus
back so that together we can pay for our sins. Rather
we offer Jesus back because he alone saves us. This
is our way of celebrating and receiving what he has done for us. In our offering, we receive him once again and
allow him to cleanse and heal us through the Eucharist.
Our silver and gold and good works are not valuable before God. Only Jesus
is the precious sacrifice worthy of God. In
the Catholic tradition we give to God what he has given to us (Jesus) in order to be saved
and purified. I have written a book Eucharist: A Living Sacrifice that explains all this in
greater detail. I hope you will get it
through my website: www.frcedric.org God Bless you and you search for deeper
understanding. Fr. Cedric
FATHER AMARO SAUMELL
”Is it acceptable to study the
Kabbalah as a Catholic?” - Dawn
Father
Amaro:
Is it
acceptable to study the Kabbalah as a Catholic? Thank you for your help. - Dawn
Dear
Dawn:
There’s
nothing wrong with any type of religious studies to understand the cults for purposes of
understanding their error. Kabbalah of course is now another “pop cult” for
those who are caught up in following real theological minds like Madonna. (Sorry, I
could not help it.) During the
60's the pop cult was Hari Krishna. Every age seems to have its pop cults for the
adolescent minded who find it’s their thing to do the common trend. Many of these
cults are the same old things with different names. And, I suppose it’s good to be
familiar with their errors. But I’d ask you if you’ve put as much energy in
learning your own faith first with at last the same fervor. It’s good to
challenge yourself as to why you would even be drawn to something like this one particular
religion, especially in light of the morals or lack thereof that are displayed by those
who embrace it. A few years ago, the big thing was the Bahia Faith. What next? Actually, I
find it much more productive to move more deeply into the religion that brings us into the
depth of God’s love, one that doesn’t merely point to a selfish “self
realization,” but to act inwardly and outwardly to love neighbor and love God. I
guess I’m more interested in that which brings us to eternal life. God bless, Fr. Amaro
”Is praying to the Saints or Mary something God approves
of? Is it in the bible? - Mitch
Father
Amaro:
Where in the Bible does it say that praying to the Saints or Mary something that God
approves of? – Mitch
Dear
Mitch,
Hey
that’s a good one. That’s like, “Where in the bible does it say
“trinity” or where does it say one must accept Jesus as a “personal Lord
and Savior? The Church is older than the New Testament. It was the Apostolic Succession
that had to approve what into the New Testament, and not the other way around. The
Scriptures themselves attest to the fact that not everything is contained in them.
Again,
what did Jesus say? "I am the resurrection and the life: whoever believes in me,
though he should die, will come to life; and whoever is alive and believes in me will
never die. Do you believe this?"
So we
ask ourselves “Do we believe this?... never die? There is a contemporary error of
projecting today’s meaning on word of the past. It is a problem when languages
evolve. But the original meaning of the word “pray” never meant
“worship.” It meant to make a request. Shakespeare used it all the time; “I
pray thee this or that...” And if one believes that “and whoever is alive and
believes in me will never die... “ and one believes that the baptized are one body in
Christ, why can’t we request for each other. We often ask each other for prayers. If you
have relatives who have died, do you believe that they’re stuck in the ground or some
urn on a shelf? Or is that merely a witness to their trust in the resurrection? People get
very confused about such things because they really don’t know if they know their own
faith. Why do they say that someone is with God now if they really believe that their
loved one is rotting in the ground? I hear these things and say to myself, “Make up
MY mind...”..while shaking my head.
As
Jesus said, those who are alive in Him shall NEVER die. And if we are all one body in
Christ, all alive in Christ, what is so unusual about praying, asking, for prayers.
Don’s you ask your friends for prayers? You are actually “praying” for
their prayers. This practice pre-dates the compilation of the New Testament. Remember, the
Church approved the text of the New Testament. It wasn’t the New Testament that
compiled the Church.
If
we’re going to use scripture in the manner you are suggesting, it can be very
confusing. In the first three Gospels, Jesus is on a continual journey to Jerusalem. In
John’s Gospel, Jesus is back and forth to Jerusalem on a regular basis. Jesus
dies at Passover on the first three Gospels. In John’s Gospel, Jesus dies on a
different day all together, the day that the Passover Lamb is slaughtered. Which is it?
And, if John quotes Jesus four times in a row to say “unless you eat my body and
drink my blood...” and so many just want to make the Blessed Sacrament a
“token” or something that menial, what does that say?
No,
it’s is the Holy Spirit working through the Apostolate that Jesus established
“till the ends of the earth” and gave authority over the discipleship that we
look to when discerning the use of the scriptures. That’s the way Jesus, even as
reflected in the Scriptures, established authority. “Whatever you hold bound on
earth, shall be bound in heaven...” this is reflected in the Scriptures, but actually
predates them. Don’t get it backwards.
Those
who are alive in Christ are very alive and are all one as “the Father and I are
one...” We can call on any one of them for the charitable act of prayer. God bless, Fr. Amaro
”I want to become a priest but why do I feel rejected?” - Tim
Father
Amaro:
I am in a process of discernment at 49 years young. I say "young" because I've
been made to feel 490 years old by most Vocation Directors. God help! Abraham!
In any event, the real reason I experience rejection is because God has given me some very
powerful evangelical gifts which apparently are intimidating; not to mention I'm FAITHFUL
(i.e. NOT Liberal nor conservative). God's people have always loved me! That is a
wonderful consolation all through the years of my ministry. Unfortunately, where I live we
have real cover-up amongst our clergy regarding homosexuality and they know that I
"know too much" and so I've been blacklisted from being of service.
Interestingly, I've been contacted recently to think about radio which would be ever so
timely to sound the great trumpet call about how our Church has been hijacked by these
men; and let's not forget the feminist DREs, everywhere! Enough. The real issue here is
whether I'm going to get a fair shake regarding priesthood because of my straight-forward
masculine style or whether I'm going to be accused of "lacking charity" because
I tell the truth and simply must do so as a Religious Educator. I have a hunch you
probably understand my problem here. I sense that God may truly be calling me but He is
not calling me to be a wimp. So far most of the vocation directors of the mainline Orders
are right with them. Comments? Thank you Father! PS: Why are there not more Father
Corapis? - Tim
Dear
Tim,
I sense from
the words you write, a great deal of conviction. But I don’t sense a
great deal of humility, compassion, forgiveness, or understanding that all men “sin
and are deprived of the glory of God.” Did you think all priests were perfect? I went
to the same seminary as Fr. Corapi. I remember him well. He was a couple of years ahead.
Don’t go by what you might perceive by his “persona” on T.V.. I can assure
you that he is a very humble man. I never witnessed him pointing the finger at any
individual. He speaks of sin, not of who or what he knows about individuals. I can
guarantee that he spend more time in prayer for strength for sinners than any time looking
to show how important he is by what he knows. He is a great example of a priest... who
does not testify through speculation of what he “thinks” he knows about someone.
Only
God knows the truth. And the only truth that we know is Jesus. All else is speculation. We
have all been misjudged and know that we must never use what we “think” we know
as a criteria. We conserve all truth and are liberal with compassion, humility,
forgiveness, and love. A “calling” is merely presenting oneself and letting the
Holy Spirit define through the authority of the Successors to the Apostles whether one has
a vocation to the priesthood. We are one, holy, Catholic, and APOSTOLIC church. Calling
does not come by way of “feeling” inspired. Calling comes from saying “Here
I am Lord” and trusting that, if there is a calling, it will be confirmed through the
authority that Jesus established.
Tim,
quite honestly, I know that letters can’t really define the person, so I am not going
to try to discern your vocation. But I can say that if your letter represents you truly, I
really doubt if there is a true vocation. I am not witnessing the fruits of the Holy
Spirit here. I don’t always recommend books from Tan Publishing Company because many
aren’t mature enough spiritually to read and discern mystical writing. But I highly
encourage you to obtain a copy of Humility Of Heart, By: Rev. Cajetan da Bergamo. Just
read it a paragraph at a time and meditate on it. If you can grasp just a mere fraction of
it and put it into practice in the way you view and describe others, you may have
something worthy to present to your vocation director for discernment. If you find
yourself angered by the mere suggestion of this reading, I think you can know that you
don’t have a vocation. Humility and obedience are a must in any true vocation. God bless, Fr. Amaro
“Is it wrong to “speak out” in support of gay marriage? - Machelle
Father:
Ever
since I was very young, before I was even taught that homosexuality was a sin, I openly
supported homosexual marriage. 7 years later as a college freshman, I am a faithful young
woman with a renewed and grateful love of my faith, and I now know full well what the
bible says about homosexuality. I no longer take a stance in debates or openly show my
support for these unions and yet, I cannot find it in my heart to openly OPPOSE them
either. I have tried, I have tried to see such things from God's view, from the Bible's
teachings, but find it's all I can do to keep quiet while in a room debating the issue. Is
it all right for me to do this, to simply stay out of the worldwide debate and hold my
tongue, or is keeping silent as much of a sin as the act itself? Thank you for taking the
time to read my letter. - Machelle
Dear
Machelle,
What I
am hearing here is that you are placing your feelings of discomfort over and above
God’s design so others will “feel better” and be more comfortable with
distorting God’s creative design. And please, I hope you’re not one of those who
say “God created them that way.” Did God create you to sin? Is God responsible
for your inclinations to sin? Is sin “OK” because everyone does it? If someone
has had a problem with kleptomania ever since
they can remember, is this God’s doing? Do we say, “It’s OK because you
were born that way?
We were
born with a disposition to love. Real love does no harm. It harms no one physically,
emotionally, or spiritually... mot of all, in respect to their relationship to God. Yes,
homosexuality is normal. It is the norm that we all deal with some aspect of sinfulness.
It is normal that the world is in chaos.
Jesus
came to save us from the normal, for the normal is sinful. If we participate with the
normal, we have no place in God’s plan. Our natural state of the flesh is corrupt. We
don’t look to be natural. We look to a resurrected life above the natural... the
supernatural. That is what holiness is all about. We are compassionate with each
other’s struggles because we have ours too. But we never compromise God’s will
by approving or participating with the dysfunction of what is normal or natural in the
nature of Adam and Eve. We are born again into the nature of Christ. Really think about
this. Yes, have compassion on those with struggles. But participate with God’s
healing will. God bless, Fr. Amaro
CATHOLICVIEW STAFF
”What is your definition of
faith?” - Allison
CatholicView
Staff:
What is your definition of faith? Do you feel that it is something static or something
that can be questioned and grow and evolve over the course of a person's life? Allison
Dear Allison:
Thank you for your question.
Hebrews 11:1 states “Faith is the
substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.” My faith entitles me to a relationship with
God and Jesus Christ and it grows stronger each day with continuous prayer. It cannot be proven but all humanity carries it in
their hearts. It only has to be
accepted and believed. If you have it,
it is backed by the Holy Spirit Who lives within you; promised by Jesus just before He
ascended into heaven to return to His Father.
At the core of my faith is prayer that brings
me closer to God
There are times when things don’t work out
the way we expect or want them to, or when prayer does not seem to make things better, we
begin to doubt our faith as Peter did when Jesus asked him to walk on water. We, like Peter, question the validity of faith and
just like him, when he began to doubt his faith, he began to sink into the water. And so, I know my faith must flourish through the
good and the bad of this life, allowing me to grow stronger and stronger. It is faith that sustains even through bad times,
and it is the main source of strength and courage that is worth hanging onto.
Faith should never be static. It should be a vital living part of who you are. Allow your faith to grow and cultivate it through
prayer. Faith is knowing God is present
within us and faith is accepting that I am loved. It is through faith I am saved. – CatholicView
Staff
“How do I tell my parents I am
gay?” - Jesse
CatholicView
Staff:
I recently have come to terms that I am gay. I
tried for many years to tell myself that I wasn't, but I can no longer lie to myself. The
problem I face now is telling my family. They are very religious and believe that being
gay is a sin. I do not agree, because I didn't choose to be gay. I knew when I was in kindergarten and I am 25 now. Is there any way that I can make them accept me as far
as a religious standpoint? Jesse
Dear
Jesse:
This
will depend on what you plan to do about your sexuality.
Unfortunately there is no set formula to make others accept our
actions or way of life. The wonderful thing
is that your parents love you as you love them.
The
Church clearly states it is not a sin to be homosexual, but you must not act on this
orientation. If you do, then you are sinning. The Church sees any sex outside of marriage to be
sinful whether it is between heterosexuals or homosexuals.
And marriage is only between a man and a woman.
Pray and
ask the Lord to help you find a course of action concerning your parents. May the Lord guide you in making the right
decision. – CatholicView
Staff
”When we pray, who are we supposed to address?”
- Beverly
CatholicView Staff:
When we
pray, who are we supposed to address? I know Jesus is our mediator between God and us, but
then I feel like I'm leaving GOD out if I don't address Him. I could start off saying
"Lord", but there is the "Lord" God & the "Lord" Jesus
Christ. I'm all mixed up & don't want to offend or leave out the Holy Spirit either. I
know they are 3 in 1. HELP : )When we pray, who are we supposed to address? I know Jesus
is our mediator between God and us, but then I feel like I'm leaving GOD out if I don't
address Him. I could start off saying "Lord", but there is the "Lord"
God & the "Lord" Jesus Christ. I'm all mixed up & don't want to offend
or leave out the Holy Spirit either. I know they are 3 in 1. HELP. - Beverly
Beverly:
Thank
you for your question. We must pray as our
Savior taught us, using the Father’s name as Jesus taught us in Matthew 6:9. The Lord’s Prayer is a perfect example
of how we should pray.
Jesus
also told us that when we pray, we should ask everything through His name at the end,
saying “We ask this through Your Son,
Jesus, Christ”. Jesus is our
intercessor, our spiritual connector to God the Father.
It is through His sacrifice for us on the cross that we are able to approach
God’s throne to ask for His help. God
be with you always. - CatholicView Staff
”Which day was the Sabbath day of Jesus?” - Israel
CatholicView Staff:
Which day was the Sabbath day of Jesus: Saturday
or Sunday? If it was Saturday why did
Christianity changed it to Sunday? - Israel
Dear Israel:
In the Old Testament, the Jews observed the
Sabbath on Saturday. Jesus followed this
Jewish tradition during His life on earth.
Some Christians believe the early church began
meeting on Sundays soon after Christ rose from the dead, in honor of the Lord's
resurrection, which took place on a Sunday, or the first day of the week. And Paul speaks of this first day of
the week as Sunday in Acts20:7: “On
the first day of the week we came together to break bread ( communion). Paul spoke to the
people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until
midnight.”
Sunday was the day that Jesus Christ rose from
the dead and became for most of us the Sabbath. Also,
in the time after Jesus was crucified, believers chose Sunday as their holy Sabbath day
and as their day of rest because they were afraid to worship on the Jewish Sabbath as
Christians were likely to be killed for their belief.
They tried to find a safe place such as the catacombs, or they honored this
day in the secrecy of their homes.
Christians
believe that the Lord's command was not specifically on Saturday, but rather, one day
out of the seven weekdays to observe this day of rest. By changing the Sabbath to Sunday
(what many refer to as "the Lord's Day"), or the day the Lord was resurrected,
they feel it symbolically represents the acceptance of Christ as Messiah, and His
broadening blessing and redemption from the Jews to the entire world.
And so, over two thousand years later,
Catholics and many other Christian denominations celebrate the Sabbath on Sunday. –
CatholicView Staff
”What is the
Church's stance on a passage like Isaiah 53?”
- Dallas
CatholicView Staff:
I think
I've read myself into a corner, so to speak. A Jewish friend of mine has shown me several
places in the Old Testament trying to prove to me that Our Lord Jesus wasn't the Messiah.
What is the church's stance on passage like Isaiah 53? - Dallas
Dear
Dallas:
Most
Jewish people do not believe that Jesus is the Messiah and therefore have closed their
eyes to the Chapter of Isaiah 53,
a prophetic
message that was written 500 years before Jesus came to earth.
The
passage from Isaiah 53 is a Messianic Chapter foretelling the coming of Jesus but many
Jews do not want this interpreted this way. Many
claim it refers to Israel, rather than Jesus Christ.
As Christians we know this is in direct reference to the coming of our Lord. It is also true that Isaiah Chapter 53 is many
times not read or referred to at all in the synagogue because of its message. Isaiah 52 is read during Jewish
worship and Isaiah 54
is read in the Synagogue but Isaiah
53 is stricken altogether from their Tenach for the reason of its
foretelling of the Messiah in astounding detail.
For our readers who have not read Isaiah
Chapter 53:
"Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of
the LORD been revealed? 2He grew
up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or
majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him. 3
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.
Like one from whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. 4 Surely He took up our infirmities
and carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and
afflicted. 5 But he was
pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that
brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed. 6 We
all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to His own way; and the LORD has
laid on Him the iniquity of us all. 7
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; He was led like a lamb to
the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment He was taken away. And who can speak of His descendants? For He
was cut off from the land of the living; or the transgression of my people He was
stricken. 9 He was assigned
a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death, though He had done no violence,
nor was any deceit in His mouth. 10
Yet it was the LORD's will to crush Him and cause Him to suffer, and though the LORD
makes His life a guilt offering, He
will see His offspring and prolong His days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in His
hand. 11 After the
suffering of His soul, He will see the light of life [and be satisfied; by His
knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will give Him a portion
among the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He poured out His
life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors.
For He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Thank you for this great question you sent to
us. I believe it will benefit many
Christians. May the Lord bless you always. - CatholicView
Staff
”Please can you tell me where Cain's wife came from? Alistair
CatholicView Staff:
Please can you tell me where Cain's wife came from?”
Alistair
Dear
Alistair:
We have
no proof of how Cain found his wife. We only
have speculation. There are varied answers on
where Cain’s wife possibly came from and how they came to
be
married. Although their names are not
recorded in Scripture, Adam and Eve probably had other children, including
daughters—Cain may have married a sister but we cannot be sure of this. Many believe this was necessary (for a
time) to propagate the human race. St.
Augustine explained this in The City of God, Book XV. When the necessity for sibling marriage
ended so, too, did God’s allowance of it.
Someday,
all will be made known to us. –
CatholicView Staff
”If people have never heard of God or
Jesus, will
they go to hell?” - Angie
CatholicView Staff:
Do people (like remote tribes etc.) go to Hell even if they've never even heard of any
other religion other than their own? - Angie
Dear
Angie:
God will
be the final judge of those who have never heard of God or Jesus Christ.
It is my
belief that God’s goodness is written on the heart of all humanity. And because of this, we actually know what is
right and what is wrong, whether we know God or not.
Using this inborn trait, even those persons who do not know Jesus Christ as
their Savior will try to do good if they listen with their hearts. Those who turn away, however, knowing good from
evil, will have to pay for their sins. Those
who do not know God because they have never been exposed to Him, but try to do their best
with what they have such as helping others, living uprightly in spite of lack of knowledge
will be rewarded someday.
God is a
God of love and He can read the heart of every living person. He knows everything about each of us. Those who know who God is and those who know who
the Savior is, but turn away from the truth they know, will have to answer to God at the
final judgment. - CatholicView Staff
”My co-worker says Catholics aren’t bound to any beliefs.
Is this true?” - Denise
CatholicView Staff:
A co-worker claims to be Catholic but his knowledge of the Bible, commitments and beliefs
seem like the delusions of a madman. He
claims Catholics aren't bound to any beliefs, they do what they want. This isn't true is
it? He seems delusional or terribly ill
informed. – Denise
Denise:
Unfortunately,
this co-worker is speaking from lack of knowledge.
As Christians we are all bound to what God and our Savior Jesus Christ
taught us. Each of us, as believers, must
follow the authority of our Lord. If we
decide to “do what we want” and ignore what God has set out for us to do, we
risk losing our souls. If we are Christians,
we follow Christian precepts taught by Jesus Christ, not our own. Bottom line.
Please
pray for your co-worker that he may read the bible with faith. – CatholicView Staff
”Is belonging to a Masonic Lodge against Church
teaching?”
- Linda
CatholicView Staff:
My husband is Catholic and belongs to a Masonic Lodge. I think this is against the Church.
What is the true teaching of the Catholic Church? - Linda
Linda:
Thank
you for your question. You are correct in
this. I am sending you a link to a Catholic
article posted in The Boston Pilot explaining why Catholics should not belong to a
Masonic Lodge:
http://www.thebostonpilot.com/articlearchives.asp?ID=5150
This
article says in part: “The
question repeatedly arises, and the answer is still no, a Vatican official reminded
participants at a recent conference on Freemasonry.
The
worldwide fraternal group certainly accomplishes impressive charitable works, as its 22
Shriners Hospitals for Children attest.
But
Freemasonry’s core philosophy is incompatible with the Catholic faith, noted Bishop
Gianfranco Girotti at a forum on the issue at Rome’s St. Bonaventure Pontifical
Theological Faculty, Zenit news reported.” – CatholicView Staff
”Why can’t I take communion in the Catholic Church
if I am not Catholic?” - Paul
CatholicView Staff:
Why, if I really believe in God, even though my wife thinks I don't, can't I receive the
Holy Eucharist? I can receive it in my church, when they have it, so would I be committing
a sin if I took it in the Catholic Church? - Paul
Dear
Paul:
Often non-Catholics are surprised and even
annoyed when they learn that they cannot partake in the Eucharistic celebration during
mass. They feel excluded by the Church and offended.
The Catholic Church believes that Holy
Communion is only for those who profess the Catholic faith and follow the tenets of
Catholicism. Catholics believe that the bread
and wine changes into the actual body and blood of Christ.
Some non-Catholics believe it is symbolic.
The Eucharist is only for those who believe it
to be the body and blood of Jesus Christ in accord with the teachings of the Catholic
Church. Because the Eucharist is not a
symbol, but really the body and blood of Christ, it has power. This entails responsibility
for Catholics. This begins to get to the heart of why non-Catholics cannot participate. It is not to be mean or judgmental.
The following are two links that will explain
fully the reasons non-Catholics cannot take communion in the Catholic Church:
http://www.catholic.com/thisrock/2003/0302sbs.asp
or go to this link:
http://www.deoomnisgloria.com/archives/2004/02/why_cant_noncat.html
The non-Catholic can, however, go forward with
arms folded across the chest during the serving of communion and receive a blessing from
the priest or the Minister of the Eucharist. –
CatholicView Staff
”Can I ask Jesus to redirect my prayers?” - John
CatholicView Staff:
Hi, I sometimes pray for the souls of dead family members just in case they are in
purgatory. But what happens to the prayers if
they are in heaven? Can I ask Jesus to redirect them to whoever needs them?
Thank you. - John
Dear
John:
God
hears all prayers and knows what is in your heart. Leave
it to the Lord to sort all matters out. Our
God knows even the number of hairs are on our head. God
bless you. -
CatholicView Staff
”If a person is good but does not
believe in Jesus
or God, will God turn them away?” - Ryan
CatholicView Staff:
If a person who does not believe in Jesus/God but lives a happy successful life (marriage,
kids, being kind and honest everyday), does God give them a second chance or do they get
turned away? - Ryan
Dear
Ryan:
God is
the only Judge, and we are basically “ignorant” when it comes to God’s
Ways. We cannot even perceive what God has in
His Mind and Will for each of us. In
regards to people, as you say, that are good but do not believe or accept Jesus Christ as
Lord and Savior, I ask you to read Saint Paul’s letter to the Romans (Romans 2:12-16)
when he says of pagans (unbelievers) who are good: “Indeed,
when the Gentiles, who do not have the Law, do by nature things required by the Law,
they are a law for themselves even though they do not have the Law, since they show that
the requirements of the Law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing
witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.” Everyone will be saved by the Blood of Christ who
have the “law” written in their hearts and act upon it even though they may not
acknowledge and place their faith in the One who will save them. In the end, it is God who decides who is saved and
who is not. But Saint Paul’s words are
hopeful. Those who are “Christians”
in word and deed, even though they may not acknowledge Jesus Christ in outward faith, will
be saved. – CatholicView Staff
”I do not believe in transubstantiation. Can
I still
serve as Minister of the Eucharist?” -
Graham
CatholicView Staff:
I am a Catholic convert of 40 years, but I do not believe in
transubstantiation. Do you think it is wrong for me to continue to receive communion in
the mass, and to be a minister of the Eucharist? - Graham
Graham:
I am
concerned that you do not believe and accept the truth that the elements of bread and wine
are somehow and miraculously changed into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ after the
words of consecration during the Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass. In the Gospel of John (John 6:53-58), John states
quite clearly about the truth of the mystery of Holy Communion: “If you do not eat the flesh of the Son of
Man and drink His blood, you will not have life in you.
Anyone who does eat My flesh and drink My blood has eternal life.” What is it about this gospel verse that you do not
accept? If you cannot acclaim the infallible
truth that Jesus is actually present in the communion elements, then your ministry as a
Eucharistic minister must end since you do not believe in what you are doing. – CatholicView Staff
”Is it a sin not to respect a parent who was abusive
to me?” - Coleen
CatholicView Staff:
If a parent was abusive to a child is it a sin not to respect that parent today? - Coleen
Dear
Coleen:
The
commandment, “Honor your father and mother,” would be difficult to keep when
those parents have been abusive and destructive in your life. There is nothing we can do about the past except
to confront it and live in the present. You
are doing that now. Confronting the past,
trying to understand it, is painful but it frees you to live in the present and plan for a
beautiful tomorrow. And that is the
hope that our faith in Jesus Christ gives us: for
every “death,” there is a resurrection. For
every pain, there is healing. For every tear,
there will be joy. Sometimes the only way
anyone can be respectful to an abusive parent is to maintain distance for your sake and
theirs. Maybe, you can reconcile with
your parents. Maybe you can’t. But always be grateful for the gift of life that
you received from them despite their own inability to be the parents that you wanted and
needed them to be. - CatholicView
Staff
”If I have sex before marriage will God ever forgive
me?” - Jillian
CatholicView Staff:
I know sex before marriage is a sin, but my faith has taken a backseat to the rest of my
life as I get older. If I have sex
before marriage will God ever forgive me? And what can I do to receive forgiveness? - Jillian
Dear
Jillian:
God
always forgives if we go to Him and ask for forgiveness with a promise to
do our very best
not to repeat that sin again.
If you
know that sex before marriage is a sin and you go ahead and commit this act before
marriage, you have foreknowledge of wrongdoing. Going
into a sin knowing it is wrong and telling oneself that you are counting on forgiveness
after that sin is committed compounds that sin.
You see,
God sees and knows our every action before that action is done. Knowingly sinning means that you are walking away
from your spiritual core.
You say
your faith has taken a backseat to the rest of your life.
I can see you are concerned about the state of your soul and want to
recapture the faith you feel is slipping away. Please
find a quiet place and pray to your heavenly Father.
Prayer cements your faith, renews your relationship with God, and boosts
your spirituality. Ask God to sustain and
bring forth the faith that has lain docile in your life.
Listen with your heart during your quiet times with the Lord. Try confession and reconciliation to bring
cleansing and courage to your life. Then
watch your faith soar.
May the
Lord be with you. - CatholicView Staff
”Is masturbating
a venial sin or a mortal sin?” - Ray
CatholicView Staff:
Yes, I just wanted to know if Masturbating was a sin, venial sin, or mortal sin or just
not sin at all. - Ray
Dear
Ray:
Yes,
masturbating is always a sin for it is contrary to God’s ideal law concerning
how human beings should live as Christians. It
is considered a venial sin but must be confessed. There
is no excuse or deceiving one’s self in thinking that masturbation is acceptable
under certain circumstances or that it is not sinful because “everyone does it.” I would like to suggest to you that you visit A
CatholicView’s article on this subject: http://catholicvu.com/
On the opening page choose “Previous Articles” , once there scroll down to “Masturbation”
and click to see the article.
You may
also go directly to CatholicView’s article: http://catholicvu.com/newpage197htm.htm
God
bless, CatholicView Staff
”Would it be a mortal sin to leave my husband?” Debra
CatholicView
Staff:
I need to know if it is a mortal sin
to leave one’s husband who is abusing a substance, refusing to help support his
family, and is attempting to sabotage his wife's faith?
Dear
Debra:
You are
not committing a mortal sin. From the little
information you have sent, it seems that you should go to talk to your parish priest about
an annulment.
If your
husband is using drugs, not supporting your family, and is a hindrance to your religious
faith that is certainly grounds for seeking to dissolve your marriage. You do not say whether your husband is abusive to
his children or to you, and that would be an added concern to us.
It is
not a sin to protect oneself and your children. Do
not waste time. Please go to sit down
with your priest and discuss this issue in full immediately. May the Lord give you the courage to move
forward. - CatholicView Staff
”My grandfather committee suicide. Will he go to hell?”
- Heather
CatholicView Staff:
My grandfather committed suicide. He dedicated his whole life to others, and it was the
only wrong thing he has ever done. He lived a long and loving life. Can he still go to heaven? - Heather
Dear
Heather:
No human
can know who goes to heaven or who does not.
You
speak of all the wonderful things your grandfather has done for others in his lifetime. God sees and understands beyond human
understanding all these things. Take hope in
this. God is a God of goodness and love. It is up to Him to decide who goes to heaven or
who does not for God judges the heart. No
human being can do that. God knows every
single good thing that your grandfather did. Remember
we cannot know what your grandfather said to God during those final moments before actual
death took place or if he made peace with Him. We
must hope that you will see your grandfather someday in heaven.
Keep
your faith and your belief in Jesus Christ. Be
worthy to meet your grandfather there someday, God willing. Go in peace.
– CatholicView Staff
”If I find a
particle of food in my mouth just before
communion, have I broken my fast?” - Dennis
CatholicView Staff:
On occasion, I will feel a particle of food in my mouth during Mass, even though I have
stopped eating an hour or more before it starts. Does swallowing it break the fast? I
can't try to pull it out in church. - Dennis
Dennis:
Your
Eucharistic fast was not broken if a small particle of “something” was loosed
before you received communion. The fasting
rule concerns an actual meal or snack eaten before Holy Communion. This rule is not meant to be kept by those who
need to eat something because of a chronic illness. – CatholicView Staff
”My mother suffers from mild retardation and refuses
help. Any suggestions?” -Patty
Catholicview Staff:
My mother's childhood was pretty cruel. She suffers from mild retardation. She is
suffering from the memories. They are relentlessly haunting her. She lives alone with some
help but refuses fulltime care by her children. Everyone (5 children) is suffering
spiritually and all are admittedly in terror of being with her because she goes over it
and over it. It is mental and spiritual torture for us. Do you have any suggestions? Thank
you and God Bless You. - Patty
Dear
Patty:
I am
sorry to hear that your mother is struggling with so much going on in her mind. She is heavy with this emotional pain. You must understand that there is nothing you can
do immediately to help your mother overcome her “mild retardation” and her
obsessive thoughts. These are symptoms of
some brain medical issues. So, let’s
accept this: your mother is your mother. She gave you life despite her handicaps. Be grateful to God for her love that gave you
life. Even though you struggle with your own
feelings about your mother’s obsessive need to go over the past, you must also show
her respect and patience. Accept her as she
is now. Pray for her and for her healing. Take her to the doctor and see what can be done. And continue your visits knowing that you are
going to hear the same stories again and again. No
need to reprimand her for it. She will
continue to obsess whether you like it or not. Please,
do not isolate her because it “tortures” you.
She is the one being tortured by her mental disability. Your role is just to love. I know this is going to be difficult because it is
hard to hear a “broken record” again and again.
So, work with what you have and ask God to give you the strength and
inspiration you need to bring some happiness to your mother. By doing so, you will build up your own sense of
God’s love within yourself that will be shared by all in your life. - CatholicView Staff
”We cannot afford to marry at this time but are living
together. What does the bible say about
this?” - Sarah
CatholicView Staff:
I have spiritual beliefs and my mother's family is very religious. I would like to marry
my partner but financial reasons stop us at the moment. We live to believe that life is
too short and we want to commit each other and we act like a married couple with the same
respect as we would have if we were officially married. We are now living together and I
want to know if there is any section in the Bible or how God feels if we are living in sin
for this. We truly both respect living as partners. I believe in God, and I believe in
love he shares. Some would say it is not for us to judge and no one really gives me an
answer. Could you? Thank you. - Sarah
Sarah:
Certainly
you must know that your soul is in jeopardy here. You
are living in sin and committing fornication. It
would be better to get married than to continue sinning.
St. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7:9 “But
if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to
burn with passion”. 1 Timothy 5:14, “So I counsel the young to marry, to have
children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander.”
You are right in saying life is short. What will happen to you if you die in sin? Acting like you are married is not being married
in God’s eyes. If you cannot marry, then
do not engage in sexual sin until you are able to do what the Lord teaches. Sex is for marriage and procreation. You cannot change God’s decrees. Please consider how our Father in heaven views our
actions. – CatholicView Staff
”Can two catholic
cousins marry each other?” - Pablo
CatholicView
Staff:
Can 2 catholic cousins marry each other? If so, can they get married in a Catholic Church?
- Pablo
Pablo:
First
cousins cannot marry in the Church without a dispensation from the bishop of the
diocese. Any family relationships that
is closer than that (brother/sister, parent/child) is considered an impediment for a valid
sacramental marriage. Also considered an
impediment to a valid marriage is a marriage between godparent and godchild. – CatholicView
Staff
”Is it a mortal sin to shop or eat out on Sundays?” -
Cece
CatholicView Staff:
Is it a mortal sin to shop or eat out on Sundays? - Cece
Dear
Cece:
There is
no mortal sin committed if you want to shop or dine out on Sundays. The Church does ask that you refrain from work
(career-wise) and meditate on God and reserve that day for spiritual activities and
attendance at Mass with the whole Christian community. – CatholicView Staff
”Do I need to stop my faith and marriage because
I made mistakes?” - William
CatholicView Staff:
I am a Catholic and married in the Church. In my foolish and younger days before being in
the Church I was divorced 3 times when I went to sea. I am since the prodigal son and love
my wife who thinks I am a widow which I was when we met.
This is the only marriage the Church knows of. I have since been forgiven for my sins of
youth...do I need to stop my faith and marriage because I made mistakes? Please help me, I am in the middle of my
RCIA and will be confirmed in late summer. Please,
I don’t know if I can take the Eucharist on Sundays or not. I feel I have been resolved of my guilt. I am waiting for an answer if you can help me. Thanks. - William
Dear
William:
I am
sorry that I do not know what you are asking but I will try to give you an answer. You have said that you were divorced three times,
so I presume that you were only married civilly (and not in the church) those three times. I also presume that one of your past wives has
since died. Your present marriage happened in
the church. That present marriage is the
only valid marriage you have. Since you have
gone to confession and have confessed all the “sins of your youth” as you say,
then you have nothing to concern yourself in regards to your relationship with the church. You are free to receive communion and the
sacrament of confirmation as you complete the Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults. One thing that concerns me is that you have not
been totally honest with your wife concerning your past.
That may be something you need to do with your wife. Your “secrets” may actually be an
impediment to a valid sacramental marriage (and therefore a reason for an annulment in the
future) since you knowingly kept an important and necessary part of your life from your
wife. Think about this. I hope you can sit down with your wife and truly
be reconciled with your past by explaining what happened in your youth. I hope she doesn’t find out about your past
through some other means. If so, you could
have a major problem on your hands. - CatholicView Staff
” If you are clinically brain dead, where is your
soul?” - Sandy
CatholicView Staff:
If you are clinically brain dead, where is your soul? - Sandy
Sandy:
Your
soul is what gives the body life. The soul is
the energy and life force that is you. If
your brain is “clinically dead,” your soul is still in the body giving life,
even if that body is on outside medical life support systems. – Catholicview
Staff
”Does a person need to accept Jesus to receive the
Holy Spirit?” - Ashley
CatholicView Staff:
Do you need to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior to receive the Holy Spirit? -
Ashley
Dear
Ashley:
As a
Catholic, I presume that you have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life. That is the prerequisite for receiving the
charisms of the Holy Spirit. If you do not
have Jesus as the center of your life, the Holy Spirit doesn’t have much to work
with. – CatholicView Staff
”I did not get an annulment from my
first marriage.
Will the Church baptize my children?” - Margaret
CatholicView Staff:
I am Catholic and got married in a Catholic Church to a Greek man. We divorced. I
remarried in an Armenian Church to an Armenian man. We now have three children (ages 6 and
under), all who have NOT been baptized. We would like raise our children Catholic. Will
the Catholic Church baptize our children even though we did not get married in a Catholic
Church and the fact that I have not applied for an annulment from my first marriage? -
Margaret
Dear
Margaret:
The
marriage that you have with your Armenian husband is considered a valid sacramental
marriage in the Armenian Church. You do not
state if the Armenian church you got married in was (1) The Armenian Catholic Church, (2)
The Armenian Orthodox Church, (3) The Armenian Apostolic Church. All three churches have different canons regarding
the sacramental validity of your marriage. Nonetheless,
some kind of “annulment” process had to have happened before you were allowed to
marry in any Armenian church. So, in most
usual circumstances, your present marriage would be considered sacramentally valid in the
Roman and Armenian (both acknowledge the Bishop of Rome, the Pope, as universal pastor of
the Church) Catholic Churches (as versus the Orthodox and Apostolic rites). If you wish to bring up your children in the Roman
Catholic Church, you could have your children baptized if (1) you make a profession of
faith for the Catholic Church through the Rites of Christian Initiation (RCIA), and (2)
have a written permission from your Armenian Catholic/Orthodox/Apostolic husband for the
baptism to be performed in a Roman church. My
question is this: why not have your children
baptized in the Armenian Church? The
aforementioned Armenian churches are ALL apostolic churches (meaning that all three
churches have maintained apostolic succession) and have valid sacraments. – CatholicView Staff
”My husband is always angry at me and had an affair.
When is it time to come it quits?” – Marie-Josephine
CatholicView Staff:
I have been married for 27 years, my husband is always angry with me. He had an affair 10
years ago and had the 23 year old living with us. I told him that we would work it out and
I have tried. When is it time to call it quits, or should I? He won't go to counseling. He
is angry at the world and I don't know how to make him happy. He is a disabled veteran and
is only 48 years old. He blames me for his unhappiness. I am trying to find work so I can
help him out, but when I do he says you will never find work. He kicked my son out at age
19 with nothing because he did not have a job. He finally let him back into the house for
visits after 7 years of my son being homeless. I am trying to help my daughter get off of
drugs and I need to take her to the clinic daily he objects to that. She no longer lives
with us either. I hope I can get some insight as to what I should do. I pray daily and
have not heard what God wants me to do. Some days I can't take it any longer. I am
Catholic and he is not. He complains that I am not affectionate and yet when I try to be
he doesn't want to have any thing to do with me. He is taking medication for high blood
pressure and that interferes with his ability to enjoy intimacy and of course that is my
fault as well he gets angry when it does not work. What am I to do? I am tired of being
afraid I will anger him. I need some help. – Marie-Josephine
Dear
Marie – Josephine:
Something
is terribly wrong with your husband emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. He does need the intervention of a medical
professional to help him get back on track with his life.
Your marriage vows that you both shared say that you would be with each
other through good times and bad. You have
lived your marital vows with bravery and strength. But
there are times when you must set the boundaries to your husband’s abusive behavior
that stems from his deep depression. You must
stand up for yourself and your own sense of God-given dignity. Your marital vows do not give permission for your
husband to walk all over you. If he
doesn’t want to get help, then you must. You
need to find a professional counselor who will help you manage and steer your life through
this emotional minefield. And as a
mother, you need to do all you can for the healing and health of your children too. So, if he doesn’t like your support of your
daughter’s struggle over addiction, then “tough luck.” And if you want to see your son and he
doesn’t like it, “too bad.” You
must do what you need to do for everyone in your family, not just him alone. That’s why you need some help in the form of
formal counseling so that you can understand why you have made decisions that seem to hurt
you in the long run. And pray. Ask the Lord to walk with you as you take charge
of your life. – Marie-Josephine
”Does divorce permanently excommunicate
you
from the Church?” - Sarah
CatholicView Staff:
My parents were divorced when I was 7 years old. Ever since then, they never really talked
about the Faith or took me to Mass. I have had to basically grow in faith on my own
through the guidance of my religion classes at my Catholic high school. As you can
imagine, never really speaking to my parents about the Faith has made it difficult to talk
about certain issues. My mom goes to church with me maybe 2 times a year. I have often
wondered why she has no interest in receiving the Eucharist or Reconciliation. Does
divorce permanently excommunicate you from the Church? I know that she has difficulty with
some beliefs of the Church, but would there be any other reason that she doesn't receive
the Eucharist? - Sarah
Sarah:
Divorce
in itself does not stop anyone from receiving communion.
Divorce is not the issue. Divorce
and remarriage is the problem. If your mother
wishes to remarry, she will have to go through an annulment process for her to remain
sacramentally active in the church. But
divorce alone is not a reason for your mother not to be active sacramentally in the
church. I would encourage her to go to
confession and communion often (as there is nothing stopping her from what you tell me). I cannot speak for your mother. Maybe she does not want to be active in the church
because of what happened in her marriage, or because of the counsel she may have received,
but she alone can tell you if she wants to. When
the time is right, your mother will be reconciled to the church on her own terms. – CatholicView
Staff
”Is there a difference between being in a state of mortal sin
and being excommunicated?” - Sarah
CatholicView Staff:
Is there a difference between being in a state of mortal sin and being excommunicated?
Both states cut you off completely from God, so it seems that anytime you commit a mortal
sin you are excommunicated. - Sarah
Dear
Sarah:
Excommunication
is a legal, canonical term meaning that a person is cut off from the community of the
Church throughout the world. While sin
affects your spiritual relationship with God and the Church, sin is considered to be
“internal forum,” meaning it is really between you, God and your relationship
with the Church. So, even though mortal sin
does destroy our relationship with God, it can always be healed through His loving
forgiveness and the sacrament of Penance. Excommunication
is a formal, external canonical and legal sentence issued by a bishop or church tribunal
(court) for an act that could be criminal, or an act that is destructive to the unity of
the church and its teachings. I have provided
you with a link that explains the legal process of excommunication from the Church and its
biblical foundations. http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05678a.htm - CatholicView Staff
”I am a recovering alcoholic. If
I participate in
communion will I break my sobriety?” - Jenine
Catholicview Staff:
I am a recovering alcoholic, clean and sober 16 years.
I went to confession today. If
I participate in communion will I break my sobriety?
I have been avoiding mass because of this fear. I usually go to other denominations, because
they use grape juice instead of wine. Jenine
Dear Jenine:
Please do not distress yourself because you are
unable to receive the wine. God understands
this problem. Stay within your own Church and
receive the Body of Christ, knowing the Lord is smiling down on your faith in Him.
There is nothing wrong or sinful in only
receiving the bread. Surely you must
have noticed others who cannot have the wine during the sacrament of communion. Be at peace.
– CatholicView Staff
”How can an omnipotent, omniscient God not address
Allah, Buddha, or Vishnu?” - Jonathan
CatholicView Staff:
I ask because I am deeply confused. How can an omnipotent, omniscient God not, at
some point in the previous millenia, address Allah, or Buddha, or Vishnu, etc.? Those
religions themselves preclude our God, so I am just at a loss.
I appreciate your thoughtful response. Thank
you, Jonathan
Dear Jonathan:
God always intervenes in human history.
The bible is one big account of the intervention of God into human affairs!
But who sees and hears these interventions of God if someone is not listening
and seeing? God intervened at the beginning of creation, created humankind as FREE
WILL agents, yet Adam and Eve broke their relationship with God despite them knowing the
voice of God. Noah knew of the intervention of God, yet despite that, when the flood
was over, sin almost immediately entered human history again because human beings are FREE
WILL agents. I am reminded of the account of Jesus' story about the rich man who
died and wanted to return to warn his family about hell: (Luke 16:24-31): Then
Abraham said, "If they will not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they
be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead." We must be open to
God's intervention to understand what God wants us to do, but we are free to accept or
reject God's intervention.
That said; let me address maybe some
misconceptions. First, Allah is another name for the God of Abraham, Isaac, and
Jacob, the Arabic word for God. So, we do share the belief of one God with those who
follow Islam. As for Buddha, the Buddhists follow a path that brings them into
complete union with the universal life force of which the first Buddha, a human being,
accomplished by being fully realized in nirvana. These religions do NOT
preclude our God, but is a different cultural path to the one Creator. What
makes us different is that we as Christians believe that God is a personal
Being, creating all around us and in us. That Jesus Christ is our Lord and
Savior, and that He died and rose from the dead to bring all to salvation.
Jesus Christ will save all. In Colossians 1:15-20, Saint Paul writes a hymn to this
subject: "For in Him all fullness was pleased to dwell, and through Him to
reconcile all things for Him, making peace by the blood of His cross through Him, whether
those on earth or those in heaven." All things will be reconciled in
Jesus Christ. That is truth. There are many roads to the Creator but
only one mediator and one savior who is Jesus Christ. Even if those religions do not
acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord, they will be judged by Him according to the
dictates of their conscience (see Romans 2:12-16) in which Saint Paul writes:
"For when the Gentiles who do not have the law BY NATURE observe the prescriptions of
the law, they are a law for themselves even though they do not have the law. They
show that the demands of the law are written on their hearts, while their conscience also
bears witness." ALL will be judged by Jesus Christ whether you are
Christian or not.
I do not know if God intervened or even
tried to intervene in the makers of the great religions of the world. All I know
that there are as many paths to God as there are human beings. And we can hear and
see the Hand of God if only we are open to God Himself. So, do not judge the other
religions. All are geared to one day be reconciled in Jesus Christ when
everything will be united with Him at the end of time. You must be the best
Christian you can be in your actions, inner life, and in your destiny. – CatholicView
Staff
”I have embarrassing scars. Can I get tattoos to
cover them?” - Annie
CatholicView Staff:
I have embarrassing scars on my chest (breasts), shoulders, and back. Unfortunately they
aren't the kind of scars that can be treated with anything other than expensive cosmetic
surgery, but tattooing is an option. Since I'm not getting the tattoos to make myself look
more appealing, or as an act of rebellion (just to make myself feel better- I can't even
look at myself in the shower), would this be a sin? I can't live with them as they are
now, and I'm not doing it for anyone else, just myself. Thank you. - Anne
Dear Annie:
CatholicView is so sorry that you are suffering
with the scarring on your body.
There is no official teaching against having a
tattoo that I know of. If you are not talking
about radical, demonic or Satanist tattoos, just simple ones that are not morally
offensive or suggestive, and if this will give you peace of mind, there is no sin
involved. But anything intended to be sexually provocative, contrary to religion, or
excessive could very well be a mortal sin.
I would advise you to try other options that
are available before taking this final step. –
CatholicView Staff
”What are the teachings of homosexuality i.e. the
Catholic view? - Fahima
CatholicView Staff:
I am a 19 year old student from the United Kingdom. I stumbled across this website while
researching for a project and I have a question which poses difficult for me to answer
because I have no catholic knowledge. What are the teachings of homosexuality i.e. the
Catholic view? I would be forever
grateful if you could kindly answer my question. Thank you- Fahima
Dear
Fahima:
On the
question of homosexuality, the Church teaches that to be homosexual is not a sin but to
act on it sexually is a sin. In fact, any
sexual act outside of marriage is a sin for heterosexuals as well. The Church also teaches that marriage is solely
between a man and a woman, designed for procreation of family. - CatholicView
Staff
”Do I need to be rebaptized to become Catholic?”
- Graham
CatholicView Staff:
If I was baptized as a non-denominational Christian, do I need to be confirmed or baptized
as a Catholic to become a Catholic? - Graham
Dear Graham:
If a person has already been baptized in
another Christian denomination, either Protestant or Eastern Orthodox, they are called a
Candidate. They do not need to be re-baptized
but they must attend RCIA, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. RCIA is the Church's way of helping people
become members of the Roman Catholic Church.
The Church is concerned with the formation of a person into a total understanding and
belief in the Church community, so that he or she can comfortably pray and serve within
that community. It is a gradual process that culminates with the sacraments of initiation,
baptism for those not already baptized, Confirmation, and First Communion generally
happens at Easter time. – CatholicView Staff
”My daughter’s priest refused to ask a man to remove
his hat. Should she be upset?” - Linda
CatholicView Staff:
My 17 year old daughter serves at a different church. She politely asked a gentleman to
remove his hat. He did not. She asked the priest (her favorite and highly esteemed) if he
would talk to him. He said,"no". This upset her. She has served for several
years and loves him very much and feels betrayed. Should she come with us or stay and set
an example? Thanks! Linda
Linda:
I would agree with the priest. I am going
to tell you something that happened to me as pastor of a parish. One of the ushers
at my parish church went up to a young man who was wearing a hat in church one Sunday.
The usher told him in an emphatic way to take off his hat. He refused to do
so. After what seemed a long time arguing about this issue, the mother of the young
man came up to me and explained that since her son had cancer and had lost all his hair
from chemotherapy, her son felt ashamed and embarrassed by taking off his hat for anyone.
Her son was shaking and crying even though he was 14 years old. She was
crying and very upset saying such things as what kind of church do we have that is mean
and judgmental. I apologized for the usher’s actions and, later, I took the
usher aside privately and explained that there would be no more confrontations of this
type. We cannot judge anyone nor can we understand why some people leave their hats
on or off at any church service and they do not have to explain to anyone their reason for
wearing a hat in any church service or Mass. We have the custom here in the USA to
take off our hats as a sign of reverence and respect. In other countries and
cultures, keeping your hat on is a sign of reverence and respect. Each culture has
its own way of expressing the specialness of any event including religious events.
Jesus did not command us to take off our hats because He was only interested in our
salvation. He also commanded us to love one another. In Romans 12:9, Saint
Paul writes under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit these words: Let love be
sincere; hate what is evil and hold on to what is good. Love one another with mutual
affection; anticipate one another in showing honor. Also in Ephesians 4:2:
With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another
through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.
And that demands understanding when something is amiss in our estimation.
Jesus commands us in Luke 6:37: Stop judging and you will not be judged.
Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. (Please read this most important
chapter on Christian behavior in the whole chapter of Luke 6). I would say to your
daughter to continue her service at her parish church. Her service is very much
appreciated by her parish priest and the parish community there. But she must
understand that she is being called by the Lord not to judge or command others but to love
and accept people as Jesus did even when someone does something she interprets as being
disrespectful.
Sadly, that young man who did not take off his
hat when "commanded" by our usher that Sunday morning never came back to our
parish church. I think of him at times, regretful that he had such a terrible and
painful experience in my parish church. I pray that this young man is well and that
he did not lose faith in the God that made him and loves him no matter what. – CatholicView Staff
”Can parishioners complain to their bishop about a
decision of their parish priest?” - Molly
CatholicView Staff:
If members of a parish strongly disagree with a given decision of their parish priest, do
they have the option to complain directly to their bishop?
Can they do this, and has it been done?
Thank you. Molly
Molly
If you disagree with your pastor’s
decision concerning parish policy, and after you have talked to him about this decision
and your reasons for your disagreement, and if you feel that you have not received a fair
hearing, you can make an appointment with your local bishop to discuss this issue. You could also write a letter to the bishop (and
send a copy to the pastor – that’s only fair) and explain your situation. Parishioners have always appealed to their bishop
when they disagree with a pastor’s decision. But
understand that you may or may not receive a favorable answer from your bishop. - CatholicView Staff
”Can a priest report a serious crime heard in the
confessional?” - Carmine
CatholicView Staff:
If someone commits murder and goes to confession but refuses to turn himself over to the
police could the Priest turn him in?? Even if this means freeing an innocent man who was
sentenced to prison because he was wrongly found guilty of the crime the man confessing
actually committed? – Carmine
Dear Carmine:
The priest must always maintain absolute
secrecy about anything that a person confesses. For this reason, confessionals were
developed with screens to protect the anonymity of the penitent. This secrecy is called
"the sacramental seal," "the seal of the confessional," or "the
seal of confession."
Quoting Canon 983.1 of the Code of Canon Law,
the Catechism states, "...It is a crime for a confessor in any way to betray a
penitent by word or in any other manner or for any reason" (No. 2490). A priest,
therefore, cannot break the seal to save his own life, to protect his good name, to refute
a false accusation, to save the life of another, to aid the course of justice (like
reporting a crime), or to avert a public calamity. He cannot be compelled by law to
disclose a person's confession or be bound by any oath he takes, e.g. as a witness in a
court trial. A priest cannot reveal the contents of a confession either directly, by
repeating the substance of what has been said, or indirectly, by some sign, suggestion, or
action. A Decree from the Holy Office (Nov. 18, 1682) mandated that confessors are
forbidden, even where there would be no revelation direct or indirect, to make any use of
the knowledge obtained in the confession that would "displease" the penitent or
reveal his identity.
Each priest realizes that he is the ordained
mediator of a very sacred and precious sacrament. He knows that in the confessional, the
penitent speaks not so much to him, but through him to the Lord. Therefore, humbled by his
position, the priest knows that whatever is said in confession must remain secret at all
costs. Please go to this link where this
information, written by Rev. William Saunders, was taken.
http://catholiceducation.org/articles/religion/re0059.html – CatholicView Staff
”If one carries a certain prayer on their person and dies,
will they be taken up to heaven?” - Mary
CatholicView Staff:
I read somewhere and of course, I don't remember where, that if you carry a certain prayer
on your person that upon death you will be raised up to heaven and your family in
purgatory also. Have you ever heard of this?
Thank you so much and I pray for all the priests daily!
Dear Mary:
Thank you for your question. Sadly, no one can be saved by having a copy of a
prayer on his or her bodies. It is by
being obedient to Jesus Christ in all things that saves us.
As to your family, they must stand on their own faith, living the life set
forth for all Christians. There are no free
rides. When we stand in the final judgment
before our Lord, we will be judged, not by what was on our bodies but by the life we led
on earth. Jesus will ask all of us “Did
you love me? Did you keep my commandments? Did you tell others the good news of the kingdom
by my actions and by my deeds?”
Thank you for your prayers. May the Lord walk with you always. - CatholicView Staff
”Would it be wrong of me to have rhinoplasty simply
to ease my own suffering? - MS
CatholicView Staff:
Would it be wrong of me to have rhinoplasty simply to ease my own suffering? - MS
In the last 5 years or so I have wanted to get this surgery. I am healthy and grateful and
feel bad that I keep focusing on the exterior. I was dubbed "the witch" growing
up and can't imagine what stories children will have of me when I am old and gray, it
breaks my heart. I know that I would feel like I have done God wrong by getting the
surgery, there are so many people in the world in such terrible conditions.and there I am,
getting a nose job! But I also feel that it would help me have closure in my life. What do
I do? - MS
MS:
There is
no specific moral theological argument against plastic surgery for the sake of correcting
something like your nose. There is a problem
when plastic surgery becomes an obsession for people so much so that it takes their peace
of mind away from them. That’s when
plastic surgery becomes an occasion of sin. If
fixing your nose is a way to bring peace to your inner self, then that’s up to you. There is no sin involved in making a correction. – CatholicView Staff
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