FATHER WILLIAM C. MENZEL
"I discovered a financial impropriety at my
workplace and Father Bill: I work for an organization which receives grants from the state. I discovered a financial impropriety by the director last year and reported it to the board of directors. They did nothing. Several months past and I continued to investigate. Finally, when the board knew that it might become a public matter, the members approached the director. The next day he paid back the $8,000. I was suspended from my position and treated very poorly as I was "blamed" for making this public (which I did not). I then resigned. My dilemma is this: if I pursue this legally, it will be a criminal investigation of the director (who happens to be a Presbyterian minister). He did pay restitution, albeit probably under duress. If the case goes public, it will ruin his life forever. He has a wife and two children. On the one hand, I feel cases like this should be prosecuted. On the other hand, he made restitution and maybe we should just all move on. He made a mistake but should it ruin his life? It would be a very public process as the agency is well known in the community. Thanks for your help and insight. - Frances
Dear Frances, Yours is indeed quite a dilemma. I admire your courage in reporting and pursuing the matter in the face of some puzzling opposition on the part of the board of directors. It’s almost as if they were complicit in the director’s financial impropriety. Actually, in truth, I think they were. They preferred to sweep the matter under the rug to avoid publicity and protect the organization. If the board of directors were Catholic bishops and this were a sexual abuse situation, there would be no doubt as to what the course of action should be. If you are sure of your facts and can substantiate them with documentation, I think you should report the matter to the appropriate law enforcement personnel. Who’s to say that this “financial impropriety” would not be repeated in the future? Not only should the director be held accountable, but so also should the board of directors. The integrity of this organization is in question, and those charged with maintaining that integrity have failed to do so. The one caution that I would suggest is that you be sure to turn all you know over to the law enforcement personnel, and do not go to the media. It is ultimately up to the legal system, not the media, to determine if a crime has been committed and covered up. Only if you were to determine that the legal system itself became part of the cover-up should you consider going to the media (so be sure to keep copies!). As a “whistleblower”, it may well happen that you will be sought out by the media once the case becomes public. To the extent possible, I think that you should maintain a very low profile. This is not about you. It is about what is right. There is a quote attributed to Edmund Burke (which he probably did not actually utter) that goes like this: All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. No matter who actually said that, it is a point worth pondering. Much tragedy would be averted and many wrongs would be addressed if good people would stand up to behavior that threatens the common good. If you haven’t already asked God’s guidance in this matter, I would suggest doing so. Then act as seems appropriate. - Father Bill
and mortal Sins?" - Alex Father Bill: Hello, my question is about the justification for the division between venial and mortal Sins. I have read the Catechism and searched every scripture passage that it references and I see no conclusive evidence that God determines that some sins are more difficult to be forgiven than others. Matthew 25:31-46 says that when Jesus returns those who did not feed their brothers when they were hungry or clothe them when naked will not enter the kingdom, but that just sounds like living a Christian life. Corinthians 6:9-20 says that drunkards and fornicators and the covetous won't enter the Kingdom, but it also says "But you are washed: but you are sanctified: but you are justified: in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Spirit of our God." Which means to me that all sins are forgiven through the Mercy of God, if we accept it. Every passage I have seen tends to favor the belief that God will forgiven all sins, and he views all of them the same. In fact, in Matthew 6:14 Jesus says "For if you will forgive men their offences, your heavenly Father will forgive you also your offenses." I see no evidence that mortal sins justify any special Penance like being denied Communion. I do not mean to pick any sort of fight, I am merely seeking answers. Thank you. Alex Dear Alex, Yours is an excellent question, and to get right to the heart of the matter, I think that you may misunderstand the Church’s distinction between mortal and venial sin. Perhaps many others share that misunderstanding. The “mortal/venial” distinction has nothing at all to do with what sins can be forgiven or how difficult it is to forgive them. You rightly point out that all sins are forgiven through the mercy of God, if we accept it. When we priests act as confessors in the Sacrament of Penance, we don’t mediate God’s forgiveness by making a distinction between mortal and venial sins. If a person comes to Christ for forgiveness in this sacrament and expresses true contrition for sins, whether they are mortal or venial, forgiveness would never be denied. Since the distinction between mortal and venial sins has nothing to do with the measure of difficulty with which sins can be forgiven, it must pertain to something else. Since you have studied the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), you will be familiar with what I am about to cite from the Glossary of the CCC; I feel it’s important to lift these definitions from the CCC for the sake of others who may not be familiar with them: MORTAL SIN: A grave infraction of the law of God that destroys the divine life in the soul of the sinner (sanctifying grace), constituting a turn away from God. For a sin to be mortal, three conditions must be present: grave matter, full knowledge of the evil of the act, and full consent of the will […]. VENIAL SIN: Sin which does not destroy the divine life in the soul, as does mortal sin, though it diminishes and wounds it […]. Venial sin is the failure to observe necessary moderation, in lesser matters of the moral law, or in grave matters acting without full knowledge or complete consent […]. Traditionally the Church has taught that those in the state of mortal sin may not receive Communion, since they have turned away from God. Once they repent and are forgiven, they may once again receive. (There are others who may not receive Communion, such as those who have broken certain Church rules. This has more to do with Church discipline and is not necessarily a judgment that such persons are in a state of mortal sin.) Simply put, the distinction between mortal and venial sin has to do with the gravity of the evil, not with how difficult it is to forgive the sin. Doesn’t it stand to reason that some sins are more serious than others? Lying under oath (which is really what “taking God’s name in vain” means) is far more serious than telling a policeman that you were only doing 40 miles per hour when he clocked you at 70. Committing murder is a lot worse than failing to vote. Of course all sin is evil; the “mortal/venial” distinction is simply a way of acknowledging that some sins are more evil than others. In conclusion, I also would like to point out that, while the Church’s traditional distinction between mortal and venial sin is not specifically referenced in the Bible, it certainly is not contrary to any biblical teaching. The fact that the Church teaches that some sins are worse than others will, in reality, help us better understand the real depth of God’s compassion and mercy. Even the worst of sins can be forgiven. - Father Bill
Father Bill: Thank you for taking my question, Father. I just turned 45 and have realized how I have lived my whole life based on envy. I have always compared myself to everyone; I have intentionally hurt others because they had something I didn't. I am so ashamed to look back and see that I have lived a lie and I don't want to live it anymore. Father, is there some book or resource you could recommend to help me push envy out of my life? I have been praying so hard but it seems I need something more. Please help me. I can't live this lie anymore and I want to renew my relationship with God. Thank you for any help/suggestions you can provide. I really appreciate it. - Lance
Dear Lance, Your honesty is truly refreshing. It takes a courageous person to say so bluntly what you have written here, and that’s a great start toward making a real change in your life. The first thing I would suggest is that if you’re Catholic, you go to confession. You are obviously contrite, so seeking God’s forgiveness for your envious ways would open you to the compassion and mercy of God. Leave this sin at the foot of the cross, and let Jesus bear the burden of shame. Whether you are Catholic or not, my next suggestion is that you find a good spiritual director. He or she can be a very helpful guide as you seek to let the past be past and become the person you really want to be. (I realize that spiritual directors aren’t exactly a dime-a-dozen, but if you ask around, you should be able to find one, especially if you live anywhere near a monastery; many monks are happy to serve as spiritual directors. Perhaps your confessor can help you in this search.) I did a quick Google search on “how to overcome envy”, and I found a wealth of good ideas. I would encourage you to do the same. Many of the principles for overcoming envy are very simple—but that means they are easier said than done. Still, they’re well worth learning. When people confess the sin of envy to me in the Sacrament of Penance, I usually respond with a couple of ideas for them to consider. One is that envy is a huge waste of emotional energy. It consumes that energy while accomplishing absolutely nothing positive. It often leads to other energy wasters like bitterness, anger and resentment. Sometimes for a penance I will ask the penitent to spend just three minutes prayerfully counting his blessings, gifts and talents, since gratitude for what one has is a very important antidote to envy. When attitudes and behaviors are deeply ingrained in us, it usually takes deliberate effort to change them. It is unrealistic to think that this kind of change can happen all at once. It is very important, then, to be patient with the process. When you feel an “envy attack” coming on, say a quick prayer for God’s help, then think of something for which you are very grateful. The more you try to counteract the throes of envy by thinking of something positive, the more this new attitude and behavior will become a part of you. What you want to do is to form new habits to replace old ones. This takes time. Since envy often feeds on our insecurities and doubts about our own value, remember, Lance, that you are one of God’s beloved children, more precious in his eyes than you can possibly imagine. Remember, too, than an attitude of gratitude is the foundation of faith and the greatest weapon against envy, so make a list of all those things in your life for which you are grateful; keep that list close to your heart, so you can call upon it when needed. You can make this change, Lance. In fact, you’ve already begun. May God bless you. - Father Bill
CatholicView Staff: I was in Rome last week and Pope John Paul was on display or for viewing. Was it really him? He was under glass as he was before being buried. I know he is going to be beatified May 1st Divine Mercy Sunday, and was wondering if they resumed his body. - Mary Ann
Mary Ann: Your question made me do some
research because when I was last in Rome, I do not remember seeing Pope John Paul's body
on display for public honors. I do remember that Pope John XXIII's body was on
display for public honors in Saint Peter's Basilica within Vatican City. So, after
calling a priest friend in Rome, he told me that Pope John Paul II's body is not on
display but will be moved from the grotto under Saint Peter's to a side chapel next
to Michelangelo's Pieta near the entrance to the basilica (see news story about this here: http://www.cathnews.com/article.aspx?aeid=25813
CatholicView Staff: En que momento de la historia se cambio el nombre de sumo
pontifice a su santidad?
Virmel:
The titles for the Bishop of Rome,
the Pope, are many, among them, SUPREME PONTIFF, and in addressing the Bishop of Rome, HIS
HOLINESS. The title, HIS HOLINESS, was used for all bishops of the Catholic and
Orthodox Churches until the 7th century AD. After that, it was used exclusively
for any bishop who was in charge over an apostolic church, meaning a church that was
directly founded by an apostle of Jesus Christ. The Bishop of Rome heads the church
founded by Saint Peter, therefore he heads an apostolic church and his addressed by his
title, His Holiness. For example, the Bishop of Constantinople (present
day Istanbul, Turkey), the presiding bishop of the Orthodox Churches, heads
the church founded by Saint Andrew, therefore he heads an apostolic church and
he is addressed by the title, His Holiness. There are other bishops who
head apostle-founded churches and they are called by the title, His Holiness.
These titles come from a time when there were kings and queens ruling over kingdoms with
absolute authority over their people and lands. These titles seem foreign now in our
modern times. But they are part of our 2,000 year history. For more
information, please look at this web link and see who else uses the title, His
Holiness.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/His_Holiness As for the title, SUPREME PONTIFF,
this title has been used since the 4th century AD. The title was first
attributed to the Roman emperors but was given to the Bishop of Rome as a sign of
respect. It means that the Bishop of Rome is the Pastor of the entire Church of
Rome which means that he is the pastor of all who call themselves Roman Catholic
(over 1 billion Roman Catholics). The word, Pontiff, means bridge builder and we see
the Bishop of Rome, the Pope and our universal pastor, as the bridge between all kinds of
people around the world who believe in Jesus Christ. In answer to your question, the titles SUPREME PONTIFF and HIS HOLINESS are still attributed to the Bishop of Rome since the fourth century AD. Only the Bishop of Rome holds the title of SUPREME PONTIFF, while all bishops who head apostolic churches (meaning a church founded by an apostle himself), called Patriarchs, are called by the title HIS HOLINESS. Thank you for your question. - CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: I've recently read an article about Mother Teresa and excerpts
from some of her heart-wrenching letters to her confessor in the second half of her
ministry and it has shaken my faith to the core. She sounds totally depressed, lonely and grief-stricken. She
says she felt abandoned by God. How could God, who is supposed to love and care for us,
leave someone in such a state for so long? And not just anyone, but someone who gave up
everything to serve him so completely as she did? I know Jesus has this feeling in the garden before his
crucifixion but it was for a day or two. She felt this way for 50 years! I read these letters and it makes me feel like I have no right to enjoy life at all. If Mother Teresa was unhappy while doing so much good, how do I have a right to be happy living a "normal" life? I want to enjoy the gifts God has blessed me with, but I feel guilty doing that when I see how much she suffered mentally and emotionally despite all she did. Does God WANT us to suffer like that for Him? Was she clinically depressed and should have sought medical treatment? Was God waiting for her to help herself? It just makes no sense to me. Please help me understand. Thank you. - Mark
Dear Mark: I can understand that you feel that Mother Teresa was a true
Christian Catholic who felt abandoned by the God she strongly believed in. This is a woman who gave her life to the Lord and
yet, she felt only His silence, although she continued to do His work. All Catholics have experienced some doubts about God's love for
them. And you are absolutely right that
Christ experienced a similar spiritual trial in the Garden of Gethsemane and on the Cross.
We all have felt that God had forsaken us at some point. But there is always that firm hope within us given
by the Holy Spirit, that keeps us moving along on our roads to Him. God tells us that this world is full of suffering
and pain. He asks us to believe in Him and if
we accept Him on faith. God does
not abandon us. His plans for us we often
cannot see. But He is there. Always. Don't let your faith weaken as time goes by and you feel God is not there. Be patient and keep your courage as there may be no swift answers. As earthly beings, we don't have all the answers and God does not promise this life will be perfect. There will be snags that come which will try to destroy the soul, problems that make us stagger in indecision. Christians who are weak in faith may lose hope as we see our lack of money to pay our bills, perhaps our children are in trouble, family members in ill health, and all the uncertainties that life throws our way. What we know is that our Lord asks us to wait on Him in trust, and if it is right for us, He will fulfill our needs. Rely on Him to give you courage, strength, and fortitude to overcome whatever it is that troubles your soul. Does this mean we pray God will fulfill our needs while we sit on our hands in despair? Absolutely not. Like Mother Teresa, we ask the Lord for His wisdom, we ask God to make known, through prayer and the Holy Spirit, the paths we must take to overturn our pitfalls. Psalms 25:5 says, "Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day." With His guidance and enlightenment we must keep moving forward for "The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him." -Lamentations 3:25. During this time we learn to be strong, letting God come through with a lesson that will strengthen us. And one glorious day, God will answer all our questions that plague us. Hope this sheds some light, Mark. - CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: I've struggled with alcohol and depression and have recovered. RCIA helped me. My wife can not and will not ever forgive me for my illness though. She is mean and hateful--and I probably deserve it. But after I give her the civil divorce she wants, how do I still maintain my faith in the Catholic Church? Meaning, can I still receive sacraments of penance and Eucharist? - David
David: Congratulations on your recovery from alcohol and depression! You are to be commended. As to your marriage, I am sorry that your wife
does not recognize and applaud you for your success in overcoming your addiction to
alcohol as well as depression. Please see
your priest and talk to him about your situation. My
question to you is would your wife attend marriage counseling with you? If you wife insists on this divorce, you will need
to seek an annulment from the church if you want to be free of the marriage after your
civil divorce. These are all things you need
to address with your parish priest in person.
No matter what the outcome of your marriage situation, know that God has seen everything and is happy that you have given up your excessive alcohol habit. Move forward in the Lord. - CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: Father, I am need of your holy advice. I am recently laid off and unable to find new employment or receive unemployment benefits, I feel I am worse off to stay alive. What should I do? - Zach
Dear Zach: I am so sorry to hear of the troubles you have
been experiencing with the loss of your job and not being able to collect unemployment
benefits. I can sympathize with what you are going through. But I want you to know that God does hear your
prayers and even now He has a plan for you. You
must not give up! You must continue to look
for employment with confidence, faith and
hope, knowing that Jesus is walking right along with you and when the time is right, you
will get that job. Hang on and keep praying
for He does hear every single prayer you pray. Please
keep a firm belief that you will get a job. God
will never leave nor will He forsake you. Consider Job who lost everything. He lost his wife, his children and everything he
held dear. Even though he despaired, he kept
believing that God would come through for him. And
God did by restoring all that Job lost. I will pray that the Lord will comfort you and
make His presence known in your life, that He will sustain you with His loving strength as
you go through this frightening time. Here is my prayer for you:
"Heavenly Father, Zach comes before You
with serious difficulties in his life. At this time he does not know which way to turn. He has lost his means of support and he has no
money coming in from unemployment benefits. His job loss feels like the end of the world for him. He needs Your help in finding work to support
his family. Please help him now, Lord, for he is willing and
able to work to take care of his beautiful family. Give him hope and patience, for he depends on Your kindness and mercy. Release your loving care to Zach for he is a
faithful Christian, Heavenly Father. Help
him to see and to trust in Your goodness, no matter what lies ahead. Please be with Zach as he faces these trials
and concerns. Calm him, dear Lord, letting
him the peace only You can give, letting him
know You have taken his burden into your loving hands and will make a way even though there seems to be no way, for we know You can do all things. Through your everlasting power, let your
faithful servant be victorious! I ask this in
the name of Your Son, Jesus Christ." I am giving you several links to articles that
were printed in CatholicView. I hope they will bring some comfort to you.
"THE MYSTERY OF
SUFFERING"
Zach, go in peace. Continue to pray with confidence. You are a child of the Most High God, believe it! May the Lord bless you. - CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: There's more to my background, but in short: I used to masturbate a lot, but after much prayer, and confession I've stopped. I don't know if it was just hormones, but I never directly confessed that I might have been addicted - is it just assumed to be a habitual sin? Or should I confess that I might have been addicted? - Steve
Steve: You have changed your life and you are free of sin. You have repented and have already made your
confession. Your sins are in the past. Please do not dwell on sins that no longer have a
place in your life. You have made a Christian
choice to avoid the things you know are wrong. The
bible tells us that after a sin is confessed to God they are forgiven and forgotten. Move forward for God knows your heart. Pray for strength to continue on the right path as
you are doing, knowing that the Lord is well pleased with you. Let the past die. God bless you. - CatholicView Staff
"A Catholic Priest friend I supported treated me very badly. CatholicView Staff: Father, I am having a difficult time forgiving someone who I
supported spiritually and financially and who hurt me very much. He started associating
with a person who claimed to be "possessed" and dropped all his friends. He sent
me very scathing and hurtful e-mails telling me that he was told by God that I was an evil
person. Did I mention he was a Catholic priest? This happened almost a year ago now and I still can't forgive
him even though I know I have to. He has since left the church and married. He was my
spiritual advisor as well. If I confess this, will God forgive me even though I haven't
totally forgiven myself? And will God
help me to come to terms with my sinfulness? God Bless you and thank you. - Clare
Clare: So many times we forget the strength of God's love for us. We often fail to remember that our heavenly Father
allowed His only Son to die for the very forgiveness you seek. The main thing in this forgiveness is the sorrow
you feel for your sin. This is what counts
the most in God's eyes. Repentance and
sadness that one has committed a sin that we know is wrong. You must forgive this person for the wrongdoings against you
and forgive yourself for your sin also. Make
sure you get forgiveness and move on. Do not
let Satan taunt you about the past. Your God
is bigger and waits on you to come to Him with all your sins and burdens and let Him give
you peace and rest. With this forgiveness, He
wants you to forgive yourself. As the bible
reads in Psalm 103:12 "He will remove our sins as far from us as the East is from the
West. This is a promise to all who believe in Him. Keep moving ahead in your faith. You are loved so be worthy of that love. - CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: I was born and raised a Catholic. We lost our daughter and her baby girl 5 yrs ago to a car accident. She was only 27 years old. We are always looking at books about the other side, people having true experiences with loved ones. I bought tickets to see John Edwards, is this a sin? I've been getting mixed answers from people. - Ron
Dear Ron: I am so sorry that you lost your daughter and grandchild. There is nothing to equal the pain and sadness
when a parent loses a child and grandchild. And
most of our visitors
know that John Edward is an internationally acclaimed psychic medium, and the author of
the New York Times bestselling book, "Crossing Over".
Many people,
especially in situations that are uncomfortable or painful would like to made contact with
a loved one who has left this earth. However,
going to psychics, using tarot cards, fortunetellers, witchcraft, Ouija boards, palm readers, etc. are tools of
evil. As Catholic Christians, it is
considered sinful to try to control our lives by using sorcery, witchcraft, or black magic
because it violates the first commandment “"I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt
not have any gods before me". Going
to a psychic is wrong and God forbids it.
Read Deuteronomy 18:47: “The nations you are
about to displace consult sorcerers and fortune-tellers, but the Lord your God forbids you
to do such things.” Then again, In Jeremiah 27:9,“Do not listen to your false
prophets, fortune-tellers, interpreters of dreams, mediums, and sorcerers.
We must avoid the things that are forbidden to us
as Christian Catholics and let the Lord, our God take care of all things concerning the
future as well as the past, for only He knows what lies ahead. To visit psychics, use
Tarot Cards or any other means or sources such as contacting the dead is sinful, and it is
not in obedience to Him.
I would to keep away
from such practices and depend on the promises of the Lord.
If your daughter has been faithful to God, she is happy now, free from all the
burdens of this uncertain world. And your
daughter waits with her child for you to someday come to be with them.
The past and the future belongs to our Lord. Do not attempt to "crossover" via John Edwards. Simply pray and ask God to give you and your family peace, trusting that our loving and merciful Father is taking care of your daughter and her child. Believe that they wait for you. You will be united someday when the Lord decrees it. Pray for strength, and pray for peace. Then move ahead in faith. - CatholicView Staff
"Is it wrong/a sin to make love without the act of
intercourse?" CatholicView Staff: I'm going to become Catholic with my wife, who is already Catholic. We practice natural family planning. Some days we want to do other things that do not involve intercourse. Is it wrong/a sin to make love without the act of intercourse? - Joshua
Joshua: Wikipedia
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_teachings_on_sexual_morality) states: "Catholic teachings on sexual morality
draw from natural law, Sacred Scriptural, and Sacred Tradition and are promulgated
authoritatively by the Magisterium. Sexual
morality evaluates the goodness of sexual behavior, and often provides general principles
by which one is able to evaluate the morality of specific actions.
The Catholic Church teaches that human life and human sexuality are both inseparable and sacred. Because Catholics believe God created human beings in His own image and likeness and that He found everything he created to be "very good, "the Catholic Church teaches that human body and sex must likewise be good. The Catechism teaches that "the flesh is the hinge of salvation. "The Church considers the expression of love between husband and wife to be an elevated form of human activity, joining as it does, husband and wife in complete mutual self-giving, and opening their relationship to new life. “The sexual activity, in which husband and wife are intimately and chastely united with one another, through which human life is transmitted, is, as the recent Council recalled, ‘noble and worthy.' It is in cases in which sexual expression is sought outside sacramental marriage, or in which the procreative function of sexual expression within marriage is deliberately frustrated, that the Catholic Church expresses grave moral concern."
There you have it. I hope this helps you. - CatholicView Staff
"Is it sinful or wrong as a Catholic to wear a particular
symbol?" CatholicView Staff: Is it sinful or wrong if as a Catholic you want to wear a particular symbol (perhaps on a necklace) because of it's symbolic meaning and not it's religious meaning? Depending of course on the symbols meaning to begin with. - Aaron
Aaron: You do not make clear what kind of symbol you want to wear. Symbols can denote many things good or bad. If the symbol you want to wear signifies or
presents something contrary to your Christian beliefs and faith, then you must not wear
it. Such an object sends a message that may
be misconstrued by others. If it is a
harmless symbol that has nothing to do with your faith as a Christian Catholic, then it is
permissible to wear it. If you are unsure, bring the item to your parish priest. - God bless you. - CatholicView Staff
"My parish priest led a jazz band in church. Isn't this entertainment CatholicView Staff: Could you please be gracious to me and comment on a recent happening at our parish church in Leeds UK. A few days ago in the middle of Lent the Parish Priest led a Jazz Band in an evening of Gospel music. At the end they played 'When the Saints go marching in' There was cheers and clapping from the audience and a layman stood up to congratulate the priest. I think this was entertainment and an unworthy use of God's House. What do you think? Please reply. Thank you. Paul Hellyer
Dear Paul: Since I was not there to hear the Gospel music, it is hard to
judge whether it was appropriate or not. If
all the songs were of a religious nature, I would say that God was pleased. Most of us are used to hearing music that is more
sedate with an occasional veering to songs with obvious feeling. I do think that God is happy to hear His people of
faith express their hope and joy of marching into His eternal kingdom. Unusual? Yes. I can understand also that some people may
consider this entertainment, but on the whole, I do hope those who listened realized that
God is there in all forms of Christian music.
I am reminded of an Old Testament verse, 2 Samuel, Chapter 6, Verses 13-15: "As soon as the bearers of the ark of the LORD had advanced six steps, [David] sacrificed an ox and fatling. Then, David, girt with a linen apron, came dancing before the LORD with abandon as he and all the Israelites were bringing up the ark of the LORD with shouts of joy and to the sound of the horn." This parish event was probably promoted as a gospel music festival and people knew what to expect, music and dancing before the Lord "with abandon." There is a time and place for everything and all things belong to the Lord. At that time, gospel music and all its expressions was, to me, appropriate in the "house of God" as a way to praise God and bring others into an emotional bond with the Lord through music and movement. I can understand also that some people may consider this entertainment, but on the whole, I do hope those who listened realized that God was there and hopefully came away with a special gladness of being one of God's own. - CatholicView
"If a grandchild is not baptized and not dying, can the
grandmother CatholicView Staff: I believe I read the following and want to know if I am correct. If a grandchild has not been baptized & not in danger of dying, is the grandmother permitted to do so? I heard that it is not permitted and my friend doesn't agree. - Nancy
Nancy: You are entirely correct. A grandparent cannot baptize the child without parental consent. One must pray for the child and entrust her to the mercy of God. Outside the case of danger of death, and without the permission of the parents, it is wrong for the grandmother to consider baptizing her grandchild. Thank you for your question. Hope this helps. - CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: I know premarital cohabitation with sexual activity is wrong,
but does the Church have a problem with me as a female sharing an apartment with a male
roommate, with or without separate bedrooms? In other words is platonic coed living
acceptable?
Ari: To live in an apartment without separate bedrooms is unacceptable. This is an occasion of sin and is strongly frowned upon. Avoid it if you want to stay pure. - CatholicView Staff
"My priest told me nothing short of murder was a mortal
sin.
CatholicView Staff: I know what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says is a
mortal sin, but when I asked my priest he said that he didn't think anything short of
murder was a mortal sin, I couldn't believe my ears, I don't think he is right, but it
seems like you get a different answer from everyone you ask, please help. - Sandi
Sandi: I am sorry that your priest did not explain fully. CatholicView recently ran an article on Mortal Sin
and you will find your answer here: Mortal
Sin Mortal sin utterly severs the sinner's relationship with God and Church. It can only be repaired by true repentance and the asking for forgiveness from God and Church (confession, the Sacrament of Penance). Mortal sin is committed not so much in regards of breaking a commandment or regulation, but by the motivation of the heart.
Its subject must be a
grave (or serious) matter. It must be committed
with full knowledge, both of the sin and of the gravity of the offense (though nobody is
deemed to be ignorant of the moral law, embedded into the consciences of every human
being);
It must be committed
with deliberate and complete consent, enough for it to have been a personal decision to
commit the sin.
According to the Vatican, the typical groups of people that
risk eternal damnation such as murderers, adulterers, thieves, over-indulgent people, and
everybody else that fall under the seven deadly sins (Envy, Pride, Gluttony, Greed, Lust,
Hate, and Sloth) can now be joined by the following:
Environmental Pollution, Genetic Manipulation, Excessive Wealth, Inflicting
Poverty, Drug trafficking and Consumption, Morally Debatable Experiments, and the
Violation of Human Rights. To read more: http://www.groundreport.com/World/Seven-Mortal-Sins-Added-By-The-Vatican/2857080 Mortal sin utterly severs the sinner's relationship with God and Church. It can only be repaired by true repentance and the asking for forgiveness from God and Church (confession, the Sacrament of Penance). Mortal sin is committed not so much in regards of breaking a commandment or regulation, but by the motivation of the heart. There are people who commit mortal and destructive sin because they want to do it. And they don't care about the consequences and the destructive power of mortal sin. These people will have much to answer to God in this life and in the life to come. - CatholicView Staff
"Did I sell my soul to the devil?" - Matthew
CatholicView Staff: I am scared that I have sold my soul to the devil for material goods. it this possible and if it is how do you get it back? Thank you. - Matthew
Matthew: You cannot “sell” your soul. If
you believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior, your soul belongs to Him. And so ,if you
live as He taught, Satan cannot have your soul and certainly, no other human being can
have access to something that belongs to God. God puts His seal of ownership on
you. You can only lose your soul by living in sin, using your “Free Will”
to embrace Satan by your actions. You would have to make the choice to continue
living in sin, turning your back on God and Jesus Christ without turning your life
around. If you believe and accept that your soul has already been
bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ, you have nothing to worry about. It
is not for sale as it has already been paid for by Jesus through your faithfulness in Him. Even if you have sinned, He waits for you to ask
for His forgiveness. If you turn your back on
Him completely then Satan gladly steps in. Selling one’s soul means that, as an adult,
you are living a lifestyle that is not Christian. You may lose eternity
by going your own way, losing faith and salvation in the process. Or some
non-Christians may choose to follow Satan in hopes of some earthly reward. The
Bible says we are all Satan's children until we are redeemed by Christ and being faithful
to Him. And so, Satan cannot touch you unless you let
him. He does not have that power and certainly neither does anyone else. Matthew, in the future stay away from evil and the tools of
Satan. Make things right with God and Church. You
have nothing to fear. God bless you. You did not sell your soul. This is what Satan is hoping for...your fear. Do not allow fear to keep you away from your faith. Move forward in the mighty name of Christ. You soul is safe. Go in peace to continue on God's path. - CatholicView Staff
"I married outside the Church that ended in divorce. What
do I need to CatholicView Staff: I was previously married outside the Church. The marriage ended in divorce. I am hopeful to remarry within the Church. What do I need to do? Do I need an annulment? - Roger
Roger: The Church needs to look at anything that appears to be a
marriage to see if it was valid before it can give a person permission to marry
someone else. Every
prior marriage that either party has had, whether civil or religious, whether in the
Catholic Church or not, must be examined to establish the freedom of the person to marry
within the Catholic Church.
CatholicView Staff: I have been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. I fell into a deep depression at a point when I
thought I was going to die and believed that I was going to hell. I have obsessively asked Jesus to forgive me for
my sins since then, but I feel like I am not truly forgiven, because I feel like I am
incapable of being sorry for what I have done.
I am in anguish all the time and am constantly afraid for my own soul. I want to love Jesus and be a good person. Does He understand my illness? Is there any way I will ever feel forgiven and do
I have to "feel" forgiven to be forgiven?
Dear Alexa: I am saddened that you have a bipolar disorder. Bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition that can
affect both how you feel and how you act and is a mood disorder thought to be caused by
chemical imbalances in the brain, causing extreme swings in mood—from manic highs to
depressive lows. You say you do not feel forgiven for the sins in your life. I want you to
stop and think. You love the Lord and want to
feel forgiven of whatever sin you have committed. But
you are forgetting that Your sins were paid for over 2,000 years ago when Jesus died for
all sinners. That includes me, you and
everybody else for we are all sinners. It is
only in faith and trust in the Lord that we can move forward toward God's perfect
closeness. It is because Jesus Christ paid
the price for us. Do you believe this? If you do, and have said you are sorry for your sins to God,
you must accept that He has forgiven you. If
you have repented, those sins were long erased and you have been freed from past sin. Is this permanent? Yes it is if you truly
repented. But
you must do your part and avoid sin in the future. Have
you prayed and asked Almighty God through the name of Jesus Christ to
give you not only forgiveness but the peace to see His grace? You are loved. It
is only when you walk away from God that you have to worry about the state of your soul. Remember God can see into your heart. He knows you are troubled. If this were not true, you would not have written
about those sins. You have already been forgiven.
Thankfully accept His forgiveness, knowing always that you are special to Him. Try to avoid sin in the future. If you fail, God gives us all second chances. -
"Must I read the full license agreement on my software
CatholicView Staff: When installing software, it is often a requirement to check a box that says I have read the license agreement. Is it OK to check this box even though I haven't read it if I have a general understanding of what the license agreement probably states? - Michael
Michael:
This matter is entirely up to you. Of course, if later you are dissatisfied with the
software and you did not read the fine print, you may find yourself in trouble. But, no, this is not a sin. -
CatholicView Staff
"Do we each need annulments before marrying
in the
Church?"
CatholicView Staff: My husband and I are thinking of joining the Catholic Faith. Do our previous marriages have to be annulled (both of our spouses committed infidelity)? Both of us had marriages performed in a Fundamentalist faith (Baptist and Church of Christ). Thank you and God Bless You!
Lynnette: You are welcomed to join the Catholic Church. But as you state, you were both married and divorced. You must talk to a parish priest and discuss the annulment process. Once this is accomplished, your marriage can be blessed by the Church and you can fully be a member of our Catholic family in good standing, and be able to share in all the sacraments of the Church. May God guide you as you move forward in your plans. - CatholicView Staff
"I am with a woman separated from her husband.
Is this considered adultery?" - Mike CatholicView Staff: I am a deeply faithful man and follow the Lord in all His ways. My question is if I were to be with a woman who is separated from her husband for a long time and will never be with him in this way, is it considered adultery in the eyes of the Lord? - Mike
Mike: Yes, it is adultery. Positively. The woman is still married in the eyes of the
Lord. She must obtain an annulment in order
to be free of her marriage. If she has an
annulment, she still must not indulge in a promiscuous or sexual affair for it is still adultery or
fornication. See your priest. You can explain fully what is happening and get guidance on this. I pray that all will be settled and if it is God's will, it will be made right. - CatholicView Staff
"Should I allow someone who drinks and curses at my
wedding?" CatholicView Staff: My fiancé and I will soon be married in our parish church. We have rented the parish hall where wine will be served with the reception dinner. My fiancé's brother insists upon inviting his brother-in-law who has a drinking problem, curses loudly, and makes terrible remarks about the faith of others and their nationality. I feel he shouldn't attend. My intended doesn't want to upset his brother. we are both worried the dinner will become a disaster if we invite him. How can we keep the peace and ensure our guests have a pleasant time? - Denise
Dear Denise: Have you tried speaking to your fiancé about your discomfort
concerning this problem? If the
brother-in-law causes such havoc this could ruin your memorable and blessed
day. Just a suggestion, perhaps you should not serve wine. Is this possible? At any rate, speak to your intended, who in turn, must speak to his brother. Don't let this person disrupt your sacred union. Congratulations on your wedding! May the Lord bless your marriage and give much happiness in the future! - CatholicView Staff
"Am I allowed to baptize my two granddaughters if my son
refuses to CatholicView Staff: One of my sons who was married in a Catholic Church, with all the promises that entails, refuses to have his two daughters baptized, in spite of my entreaties. Am I permitted to baptize them secretly, if the opportunity arises? - Christopher
Christopher: No, you are not permitted to secretly baptize your two grandchildren. If the children were in danger of dying and you were there and in charge of the children, then this would be permissible. In your case, it is not. If you can, speak to your son concerning this situation. You can only pray for the grandchildren and your son. - CatholicView Staff
"I am Catholic but also attend the Church of Spiritual
Living.
CatholicView Staff: I am a cradle Catholic who attends Mass regularly on Saturday evenings, but on Sundays I attend the Church of Spiritual Living, for lack of a better term, might be coined as a new age church. This church has some interesting courses that I want to start taking. Is there any danger to my Faith, as long as I continue with Mass attendance. I enjoy the positive energy in this church and the fellowship that I don't get in the Catholic Church... I am a single male in my fifties - there doesn't seem to be any Catholic Churches in the Columbus, Ohio area that has any classes or activities which feed me. The Church here seems to target families and couples, with nothing for aging singles to participate in. Thank you. - Dana
Dana: Attending and participating in the Church of Spiritual Living
is an influence the Catholic Church frowns upon. To
attend two different churches will eventually cause an erosion in your Catholic beliefs. To enter in and participate in another church,
particularly a new age church, will eventually tear down your faith in your own church as
well as destroy the ties of your church family. You
cannot serve totally in one while clinging to the other.
Why not speak with your parish priest about starting an
appropriate singles group which could meet every week or two and get to know each other? Or perhaps, your priest may be able to suggest a
Church that offers a social agenda for your age group. Nonetheless, think and pray carefully about your situation. May the Lord bless you. - CatholicView Staff
"Is it true that Catholics do not pray directly to Mary
but to God?" CatholicView Staff: Thank you for answering my questions on the Assumption of Mary. I have always understood that Catholics pray directly to Mother Mary and to the Saints of the Church. My Catholic friend tells me this is not true. The prayer is to God Himself, asking God for the blessings of Mother Mary and that the Saints virtues be bestowed upon them through God's blessings. My question is: What is the correct way for Catholic's to pray? Is it to God directly or do you pray directly to Mother Mary and to the Saints? God bless and thank you for your time. - Steven
Steven: As Catholic Christians we can always talk directly to God through prayer. Jesus taught us that whatever we have need of, we must bring it to the Father using the mighty name of Jesus Christ Who is our mediator. Any believing Christian can do this. Through faith we know that whatever we ask God for, He will see our needs and if those needs are what He wants for us, He will supply them. Sometimes He says 'No", much like a parent who will withhold a candy bar until later in the day after dinner. He may say yes and give it right away, or He may say not yet. But we know, through faith as believers, each prayer is heard. - CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: My wife is a practicing Catholic. My children are both baptized Catholic and it has
been our intention to send them to Catholic school. I
have been enjoying attending our church,
practicing lent and making efforts to learn about becoming Catholic myself. Furthermore I have been studying the Bible (and
other religious texts), praying, meditating daily on my own for many years. Yesterday, I met with our priest to talk about being baptized
and taking communion in the Catholic church. I had expected the road to be difficult (and believe it should
be) but am now surprised and discouraged by some of the answers given by our priest (who
seems very "by the book"). In
particular I expressed that I believe in the resurrection, that Christ is the son of God
and our Savior so I feel I'm in the right place spiritually. Where some differences exist is that I don't fully
subscribe to the teachings of the Catholic church on various political issues and don't
realistically expect that to change. Our
priest seemed to indicate that would be a barrier to entry into the church. Needless to say, I'm discouraged by this. I'm not vocal with my views but would have thought
the Church would respect my free will as I respect theirs.
I tend to think other members of the congregation don't fully agree with the
Church's views but just avoid it with the priests, which is too late for me since we've
already had this discussion. My question is: Is my priest absolutely right in saying that all members should fully subscribe to the Vatican's views on political matters as well as spiritual ones? If I can't do that, is there a place for me in the Catholic church or do I have to explore my relationship with God and Christ elsewhere? Thank you for your kind assistance. - Steve
Dear Steve: I am very confused by your question. You do not specify what political views are, in your estimation, taught by the teaching church. You also do not clarify what your pastor (priest-in-charge) claims to be the "political views" of the Church. Let me make this very clear: the church does not have political views. The church has faith and scriptural, moral, and historically handed down doctrinal teachings that inform how a Catholic may make a political decision, such as in voting or in making something happen through political involvement. How we, as Catholics, interpret our faith in our particular political sphere is as varied as there are persons. I personally hold secular political views that some would consider very Christ-like and acceptable -- and others who would consider my political views as outrageous and unacceptable in the church. The church always respects free will and a free conscience. To be a Catholic, I must accept some very basic things, such as Jesus is Lord and Savior, and that Jesus is Divine and human, and other doctrinal beliefs that have always been held by the church for the past two thousand years (and defined by ecumenical councils). But political opinions always change depending on the country and the needs of the people. The church does not make political pronouncements. The church only teaches the truth as passed down to us from Jesus Himself and the apostles. So, I respect your political views and I may agree with them or not. And you may not agree with my "politics." It is our faith in Jesus Christ that we share and that transforms us both into the people that God wants us to be. I am sorry that I cannot answer your question well because your question is not specific enough. Please, be at peace. Do what is right in the area of secular politics. Bringing our Christian faith into political discussions is an important part in helping people to make the right decisions for the good of all. Hope this helps. - CatholicView Priest Staff
CatholicView Staff: Is a statue of Buddha okay to keep or should I get rid of it? It's for decoration and in no way does it represent an idol to me. Thank you for being there. - Diane
Diane: Thank you for writing to CatholicView. The Statue of Buddha represents a religion which is not harmonious to what the Catholic Christian believes. I quote from catholic.com the following: Fr. Romano Guardini, in his
classic work The Lord, stated his belief " ...that Buddhist
teachings seriously threaten Christianity’s central doctrines.
Because it appears to be peaceful, non-judgmental, and inclusive,
its appeal undoubtedly will continue to grow. Buddhism’s refusal to
articulate dharma in logical ways and its comfortable
insistence on a relativistic approach to knowledge and truth makes
dialogue quite difficult. Because it offers a spirituality that is
ostensibly free of doctrine and authority, it will attract hungry
souls looking for fulfillment and meaning. "For this reason," the
Holy Father states, "it is not inappropriate to caution those
Christians who enthusiastically welcome certain ideas originating in
the religious traditions of the Far East." Christians have no need to have a Buddha in the house. Usually, people will say that they don't believe in Buddha and they don't see it as an idol, but people have it as a good luck charm....which in itself is considered a talisman, hence against Old Testament prohibitions concerning false gods. Trust in God. He will always fulfill your needs no matter how insecure you feel about the future. Diane, for the sake of those who do not know your intentions, I would discard the statue of Buddha. Even though you do not use it for religious purposes, it is something that does not represent your faith. Some may consider it an idol. May the Lord continue to guide and bless you. - CatholicView Staff
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