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__________________________________ Dear Hannah, My heart goes out to you and your husband. You have suffered some heavy losses, and yet your faith remains strong. You have both my sympathy and my admiration. Before I even get into more details with your questions, I would suggest that you check out the website of Elizabeth Ministry http://www.elizabethministry.com/. Here at this website, which is specifically for women (and men) who have suffered the loss of a child conceived but not born, you will find an understanding heart with a Christian perspective. I think that you will find a great deal of consolation from the good people at Elizabeth Ministry. One of the links specifically speaks about burying the remains of children who have died before birth. (There also are other websites you might find helpful. I mention Elizabeth Ministry simply because I am familiar with it.) I think that your priest's lack of response to your concern reflects two common traits. One, that he is unsure as to just what to do, as Christian churches don't really have much to say about the burial of unborn children, and two, that our culture hasn't done a good job of recognizing that miscarriages can be very traumatic for parents. In other words, I don't think that your priest is ignoring you. He just doesn't know what to do, and, reflective of our culture, he probably thinks you should “just get over it”. I tend to think that our cultural attitudes toward miscarriages are deeply rooted in the collective human psyche. Until the advent of modern medicine, miscarriages were likely so common that people just did “get over it”. Even now, according to the Elizabeth Ministry website, one out of four conceptions ends in miscarriage. (That seems high to me. I don't know from where they get that statistic, and I did not attempt to verify it.) In our age of modern medicine and generally conceiving “wanted” children, miscarriage now inflicts deeper pain on parents than it might once have done. Many of us priests, including yours, probably haven't tuned into this reality. It wasn't taught in seminaries in times past, and I don't know if it is even now. On the other hand, many Christian churches believe and teach that life begins at conception and that this life is precious from its very beginning in the womb until natural death. This belief certainly implies that the remains of a child who dies in the womb should be treated with appropriate reverence, and I think that many pastors are beginning to realize this. Along with this, I hope that we also are beginning to realize that we must help people cope when the joy and anticipation of pregnancy is turned into grief and loss by miscarriage. These are powerful experiences that test our faith. As to what you can do to honor the mortal remains of your beloved children, I would begin by saying that you yourselves have honored them well and have already consecrated the ground which holds them. It is your love and the presence of those tiny bodies that has made that ground holy. I'm not sure that your priest or the Church can really add to that, but I have no hesitation in suggesting that you ask another priest to put the final touches on what you already have done so well. If I lived near you, I would be honored to do just that. - Father Bill
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Dear Jeffrey, Yes, religion sure can be an awful thing, can't it? Historically there have been so many sins committed in the name of religion that it makes one wonder if atheism might be the better approach. It doesn't seem so far-fetched that, if we somehow could get rid of all religions, our world would be less rancorous and humanity would be much more harmonious. However, that's not going to happen, and even if it did, there is no guarantee that love and peace would reign. Atheism didn't work in the Communist system, nor did it in the Third Reich. If anything, evil and atrocities multiplied exponentially. Now I'm going to duplicate the paragraph I just wrote, with only a few alterations: Yes, politics sure can be an awful thing, can't it? Historically there have been so many sins committed in the name of political ideologies that it makes one wonder if anarchy might be the better approach. It doesn't seem so far-fetched that, if we somehow could get rid of all political ideologies, our world would be less rancorous and humanity would be much more harmonious. However, that's not going to happen, and even if it did, there is no guarantee that love and peace would reign. In fact, anarchism has never worked, and when it has occasionally existed, evil and atrocities multiplied exponentially. Do you get my point, Jeffrey? The problem is not with religion or politics. It's as Pogo in the eponymous comic strip of old used to say, “We have met the enemy, and he is us.” As humans, our milieu is a complex mixture of cultural and personal forces that swirl endlessly within and around us. Politics, religion, race, family, education, economics, ethics, geography, gender, climate, media, lifestyle, relationships and much more are all parts of that complex mixture. Sorting this out is no easy task, but it is easy to become discouraged when things get messy. Attempting in the name of religion to kill a young girl because she believes girls have a right to an education is a terrible atrocity. Murdering millions of human beings in the name of political ideologies is likewise unspeakably horrible. But to abandon our faith or our participation in the political process because things get messy is not a good answer. It may even be a bit arrogant, as it's a subtle way of saying “I'm above all this. I'm better than this.” We are in this world together, and great systems like religion and political ideologies have the potential to make our world better—but only if good people stand up and take ownership. Yes, the excesses, even when they are not horrible, can be at best annoying and at worst very troubling. For example, I don't know who told you that you are not a Catholic if you don't vote Republican, but whoever it was, was flat-out wrong. The same for whoever told you that it is a sin to be liberal. They were wrong, but that doesn't mean they were insincere. Now, I'm not one who says that religion and politics should never mix. In fact, I don't see how a good Catholic can make political decisions without consulting his/her Catholic conscience, formed by our adherence to the Scriptures and the teachings of the Church. However, it has been my experience that Catholics with well-formed Catholic consciences can have remarkably different political and religious views. I don't see any problem with that—except when those with well-formed Catholic consciences on one side try to kick out of the Church those with well-formed Catholic consciences who disagree with them. I would question your assertion that Christianity in America is not about Christ anymore. Sure, there may be some Christians for whom this is true. There will always be Christians who try to use the faith with ulterior motives, but they are far outnumbered by those who live the faith authentically. Like Christ, we too inhabit a rancorous world. There will be disagreement. There will be rancor and discord. Since good people do not always march in lockstep, I think that we have to be careful about questioning the motives of those with whom we disagree. Lots of locker rooms post the platitude, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” It doesn't mean they leave. Quite the opposite. It means they muster their talents to confront the challenge. But maybe St. Peter said it even better. Lots of Jesus' disciples were leaving because they didn't like what Jesus was teaching. Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69, New American Bible) Hang in there, Jeffrey. The world, messy as it sometimes is, needs you, and so does the Church … messy as it sometimes is. - Father Bill
__________________________________ Dear Kasey, That's a very interesting question, and it's one that I've asked myself a few times. In fact, I suspect that your question is one that many people ask at one time or another. Here in Wisconsin where I live, most of us are fans of the Green Bay Packers, and I know for a fact that some of the churches in Green Bay will pray for the Packers on game day. I suspect that on the campuses of many colleges with a religious affiliation many prayers are offered for their team. Is this o.k.? Is it appropriate? Does God mind? Does God even care? What does God do when supporters of both teams are offering similar prayers? I've always figured that God knows how to handle these matters, so it's best to leave it up to him. It may help to keep in mind that the line between what is “selfish” and what is “unselfish” is not always real clear. For example, is it selfish to pray to win? Is it selfish to pray that you'll pass a big exam? Actually, I think that a case could be made that all of our prayers—even the most altruistic ones—are really selfish, because we make our prayers for our own reasons. When we try to think of how God might respond to our prayers, we might consider how we as adults or parents might respond to the wishes of a child. If your pre-teen told you that she would really like to meet Justin Bieber, how do you think you would handle that? Chances are you're not going to make it happen, but neither are you likely to consider the wish out-of-line. If she said that she was going to pray for that, would you discourage her? Probably not. In fact, you probably would be happy that she wants to pray. I think that this is similar to how God treats our prayers. He loves us. He understands us. He wants to hear from us. He may not always do what we want, but that doesn't mean he doesn't care. A couple of other things come to mind. One is that it would be wrong to pray for something that is immoral. Another is to remember that old adage: Be careful what you pray for. You might get it! It also is a good idea to highlight that rather important phrase from the Lord's Prayer: Thy will be done. Perhaps “unselfishness” is not the best standard against which to measure the “value” of our prayers. I think that “meaningful” might be a better one. If a prayer is meaningful, if it makes sense in terms of our faith, our relationship with a loving God and the legitimate hopes and concerns of our lives, then by all means make your prayer. Finally, it strikes me that we could incorporate a good spiritual practice into our prayer lives. For every prayer that we pray for our own needs, wants or hopes, we could add a prayer for someone else or some cause that would help make this a better world. Pray often. Make your very life a prayer of praise to God. - Father Bill
Father
Amaro: Dear Susan, If you are speaking of the little brown felt scapular, it is for anyone with the devotion. Wear it with devotion though and not in superstitious manner. I'd highly recommend researching the devotion first from a good Carmelite website. It is a wonderful devotion! God bless. – Father Amaro
Dear Father Amaro: What book would be helpful to me for morning devotion? I am a member of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church and am unable to attend daily Mass. I would like to have a morning devotion at home before I start my daily business. I am also an alcoholic in A.A. and was informed I should ask a Priest for their book Alcoholics Anonymous. – Louis _______________________________ Dear Louis: Are you familiar with the Liturgy of the hours? It is the official "prayer' of the Church. It's a little tricky at first when you are using the book. However, since you are computer literate, you can actually read it... and yes, hear it, on this site: http://divineoffice.org/
I hope many will use this site. You can also buy the book through them. Happy praying! God bless. - Father Amaro
Father
Amaro: _______________________________ Dear James, You are most definitely on the right track. God creates life. Humans create "issues." To participate and support an gravely intrinsic evil by voting to support a candidate who is pro-choice has been defined by many bishops now as a danger to one's salvation. We must not do it! But here's a scenario for you. Suppose one candidate is pro-choice and the other is pro- death penalty. You've got to vote for someone, right? The person on death row knows the consequences of the crime before it is committed. In other words, that person participates in his own destiny. The unborn or the elderly in danger of euthanasia are helpless and have no choice in their destinies. In that case, we always look protect the most innocent or helpless first, for it gives us an opportunity to do something. Yes, the poor need help. We can do that any day with any of our resources. But even the poor can participate with their own destinies. Jesus said, "The poor you will have with you always." That is an important issue. But they are alive to have such an issue. We always place life first. Then we handle issues. You, my friend, have done a good job forming your conscience. May you be a shining example to others. As far as the "hypocrite" thing goes, we all share in hypocrisy to different degrees. And we know it. That's why we count on the graces of confession. Don't judge people. Teach them. understand that they are in all different places in their spirituality and emotional maturity. Pray for them. There is someone in this world that is more emotionally and spiritually mature than any of us. It is my hope that these people are praying for me too! God bless. - Father Amaro
Father Amaro: _________________________________ Dear Elizabeth, I have a brother that spent the first 14 years of his life in the Shriner's Hospital in Springfield Massachusetts. He was never supposed to walk. There were lots like him. Now, in his 50's, some of the genetic maladies are showing themselves again. Did God make him this way? The answer is, "Absolutely not!" The effects of original sin are responsible for our imperfections. But God's grace affects the soul at our participation with it. St. Paul spoke about the "thorn in my side" when he spoke of whatever life long challenge he had. And, don't fool yourself, we all have some kind of challenge. yours just happens to be one related to your sexuality. Some have problems with bearing false witness (gossip). Some have physical challenges. Some have codependent challenges. The list goes on and on. And sometimes, the challenge takes a lifetime as in St. Paul. Some times you will conquer it, but only with God's grace. If you become proud and 'think" that it's "your" accomplishment, be prepared to face it again. In fact, be prepared anyway. Don't worry about "dating" so much. But that doesn't mean you can't enjoy any person's company. Just make it clear that it's not a "date" and that you are not interested in a romantic relationship. You don't have to get into personal details. As a matter of fact, to make it clear, go Dutch. Enjoying friendship doesn't have to mean a "romantic' relationship. Just always be honest with your intentions. Hope this helps! God bless. - Father Amaro
Father Amaro: I am a widowed Catholic and want to marry a Catholic Widow. We are both in our mid 70's. If we marry with a civil wedding, she loses her pension. Can we get married in the eyes of the Catholic Church only? Anywhere in the world would be fine. We are U.S. citizens but would be willing to travel. Can you give us options please? - Gerald _____________________________ Dear Gerald: There are lots of places we can go with this conversation. In fact, I've heard it many times before. Sometimes, people have not the physical capabilities at your age, or the desire to live a marriage, but just want to be companions and share expenses and have someone around in case of emergencies. But a "sacrament" is always proclaimed, no matter what the consequences. And yes, that would be saying that this person is worth the sacrifice of even a pension. If you are healthy enough to be, and desire to be sexually active in this relationship, you may be being called to such a sacrifice. Remember, the Sacrament of Marriage is not the same as a "mating call." It is an act of priesthood flowing from your baptism. Priesthood always denotes sacrifice.
Since you have a
relationship with God and the sacraments instituted by
Jesus, you need prayer and discernment as to that to which
you are being called. You might just be being called to a
good friendship. That in itself reduces loneliness. I cannot
give you a direct answer. But I can tell you that a real
Sacrament cannot be impeded by deceit. Be honest with our
God and with yourselves. God bless. - Father Amaro
Father
Amaro: ______________________________ Dear Bob, Is the child conceived in a rape guilty of anything? Do you know how few children are conceived through rape or incest? So many people get lost in political rhetoric. Our present president signed a bill to allow a baby that survived abortion to be alienated to die. Our present president is forcing Catholic institutions to provide for things against moral conscience such as birth control and abortifacients. I already have seen the signs of the 'health care' program coming around and already being implemented as my former secretary was told that she can no longer have mammograms. Why? She was told point blank that if she did get breast cancer at her age, nothing would be done. Is this they way God wants us to deal with the elderly? Is this they moral answer to the care of human life? As I said to one other, God creates souls. humans create "issues." Put the "issues" aside and look to God's will. I think you already know what that would be. We never vote voluntarily for anything that is orally and intrinsically evil. and if we have little choice, we vote for the one who is less intrinsically evil. Who would lean to saving more innocent lives? We as Catholics are both conservative and liberal. We conserve all truth without compromise. We are liberal in mercy, understanding the human condition. We take responsibility for human issues. But we never...never contradict the One we call Lord. Either He is our Lord, or he isn't. God bless. - Father Amaro
Father
Amaro: _____________________________ Dear Patrick, Priests are human too. they get in good moods and bad moods and need salvation just as much as any other person. They sin too. I go to confession regularly. We all need prayer. Pray for that priest. But be just as honest with yourself. There is nothing wrong with friendship and companionship. But if that companionship leads to sin, avoid it. Do not rationalize. Jesus is the 'truth" the way and the life. To compromise any truth is to compromise Christ himself. There are many virtuous single men with very strong sexual desires who lead chaste lives. Sexual desire is not monopolized by homosexuals. Always remember that. And again, love... real love does no harm. It does nothing to compromise another. It does nothing to become subservient to another, nor does it allow another to be subservient. It does not misuse body parts in ways for which they were not designed. Be a real friend. God bless. - Father Amaro
My name is Phil.
Currently, I pastor a Reformed Baptist Church in Scranton,
PA. About a year ago I decided to do a series on
Catholicism for my congregation. I came upon various quotes
from Augustine and other early church fathers about the
importance Rome played in the authority of the church,
doctrine, and overall significance. This has led me to
conclude, without getting into all of the details that I am
sure you are familiar with, that history and tradition both
dictate the necessity of a successor of St. Peter. The
Reformed faith, and Protestant faith for that matter,
necessitates the claim for a gradual development of this
doctrine and not an actual tradition. This has led me to
reasonably conclude that I have been teaching in error for
the past 11 years. That said, I am motivated to convert.
Certainly this will cause problems within my church, even
though I have been able to affirm the members position in
line with various Catholic teachings over the past 8-weeks.
Many recognize a preexistence and a necessity Rome has
played, but seem unable to admit it without my pressing too
obviously. _________________________________ Pastor Phil: I am grateful to God for the faith that we have in Jesus as Lord and Savior. It is that faith that permeates everything that I do. That faith in Jesus Christ, his Lordship over my life is what gives me strength in times of weakness, what gives me meaning when in doubt and confusion, and gives me stability and confidence in trials. You have preached this Word of God all during your ministry within your own Christian tradition. Now, the Lord is calling you to a deeper walk in Christ in the Catholic Church. I want to emphasize that the Lord is calling you, and has opened your heart to the apostolic authority and traditions of the Catholic Church. He may not be calling members of your congregation to that deeper walk in Christ. This may sound strange to you since the Holy Spirit has touched you in a special way that others in your Christian denomination may not recognize. I say this because I want you to proceed in the wisdom of Christ and in humility. No one can presume that everyone in your congregation understands and accepts your call as their own call to spirituality in the Catholic Church. That's why you must continue in your journey to full communion with the Catholic Church on your own first. Do not presume that everyone wants to follow you. Jesus has his own calling for everyone in your congregation. Jesus deals not only communally with the Body of Christ, the Church, but He deals individually with each one according to their spiritual needs. The question you ask, "how might I enable my flock to recognize their needs," does not need an answer right now. The Lord Jesus wants you alone to make the journey first before you can lead anyone else to the Catholic Church. The Lord will take care of your "flock" as He always does. Now, it is your turn to take the leap of faith into the Catholic Church. The reason that I am a Catholic is because I absolutely need the reassurance that the teaching I am receiving about Jesus has apostolic authority and can be traced to Jesus Himself through the apostles, especially Peter as the rock and leader of the early Church. The first step is to find the local parish priest near you and talk to him about your experiences and your call to the Catholic Church. You will be required to participate in the Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults that will guide you into the life of the Catholic Church and the sacramental life that is so essential to the apostolic churches such as the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches. The second step will be the eventual meeting with the Bishop of Scanton, Pennsylvania, your local bishop and "apostle." In that meeting, you will be able to discuss how you will continue your pastoral ministry of preaching the Word of God. If any other members of your congregation want to follow, that will be their personal decision. But, as I have stated before, this call to the spiritual and theological life of the Catholic Church is yours alone right now. You must take the steps. Everything else will follow. I know that the Spirit of God will guide you and confirm your call in the Catholic Church, to develop your own walk with Christ in the Church. Do not pressure anyone in your congregation to follow you. That would not be the purpose of your calling. So, here is the link to your local diocese and bishop, Bishop Joseph Bambera. Please, look at his video and see what you think of his pastoral vision for the Church of Scranton: http://www.dioceseofscranton.org/ My prayers are with you and I am excited to call you brother! - CatholicView Priest Staff
CatholicView Priest Staff: _______________________________ Theora: Saint Lazar is a saint of the Serbian Orthodox Church and was leader of Serbia from 1373 A.D. until his death as a martyr against the Ottoman Turks in 1389 A.D. (the 14th century). His remains (relics) are housed in the Ravanica Monastery in Serbia. Many in Serbia invoke his intercession and have received miraculous cures from God's Healing Spirit. Here is the link to his history and life and how he was recognized as a saint by the Serbian Orthodox Church http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lazar_of_Serbia. I am wondering, though, since you are a Catholic, if you are not confusing Saint Lazar (Tsar Lazar of Serbia) with a Roman Catholic saint named Lazarus of Bethany, the man Jesus rose from the dead (the Gospel of John, Chapter 11), or Saint Lazarus of the story that Jesus told about the poor man who died and went to heaven while the rich man died and went to hell (Luke 16:19-31). That Saint Lazarus (of the Gospel of Luke 16:19-31) is the patron saint of those who have leprosy. Saint Lazar's martyrdom is celebrated by the Serbian Orthodox Church on June 28th. Saint Lazarus of Bethany is celebrated by all apostolic churches on July 29th. Saint Lazarus of the Gospel of Saint Luke is celebrated on June 21st. – CatholicView Priest Staff
CatholicView
Priest Staff: ________________________________ Al: The reading that you are referring to is from the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 23, Verse 44. The gospel writer, Luke, states this, in his own words: "It was now about noon (literally, the sixth hour) and darkness came over the whole land until three (literally, the ninth hour) in the afternoon because of an eclipse of the sun." Well, there you have it. It is scripture. I can't explain a three hour eclipse of the sun, but Luke describes it in his gospel. I don't know why you never heard that there was an eclipse since it is written right here in the bible. – CatholicView Priest Staff
CatholicView
Staff: ____________________________ Brian: It wasn't really Pope Gregory the Great that mandated the celebration of Christ's birth on December 25th. The celebration of Christ's birth wasn't even celebrated in the early church until the fourth century with the legalizing of Christianity by Emperor Constantine of Rome. After that, there was much discussion and argument about even celebrating Christ's birth. At the time, celebrating a "deity's" birthday was a pagan ritual. An early church theologian, Origen, stated that celebrating Christ's birthday would be akin to making Jesus just like any other pagan deity. But soon, Christians everywhere started celebrating Christ's birthday on January 6th, the Feast of the Epiphany. Later, through time, it was transferred to December 25th. Pope Gregory the Great was responsible for the solar calendar that we now use all over the world. He didn't mandate the celebration of Christ's birthday. He just named December 25th as Christ's birthday on his calendar. We don't know when Jesus was born. He was born in Bethlehem, Judea, probably around 5 B.C. after the Gregorian calendar was fixed by astronomers later. It looks like he was born during the spring time when the sheep were grazing outside. But I can't give you a date. No one knows but God alone. Here is a link that describes the history of Christmas and even gives some dates of his birth as surmised by early church fathers. http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/news/2000/dec08.html I like celebrating Jesus' birth on January 6th, the Feast of the Epiphany. It is the date that the Eastern Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches celebrate as Christ's birthday, his presentation to the world as Savior (hence the wise men, magi, who came to present gifts to Jesus), and His baptism by Saint John the Baptist in the River Jordan, all wrapped up in one celebration. - CatholicView Priest Staff
____________________________ JoAnna I am so sorry to hear that you are battling bi-polar disorder, a heavy burden. Keep your faith in the Lord Jesus and always remember, no matter what, Jesus loves you! God understands your situation and understands your struggle. Keep seeing your doctor and keep taking your medications. You will have control over this disorder in time and with support because you are stronger than you think. Since manic depression and bi-polar disorder can be considered an impediment to a valid sacramental marriage, it would be best to talk to your parish priest about your medical status. I know that you will make a great mother with the help and support of those around you and your future husband. But talk to your doctor about these issues. And talk to your parish priest. A marriage is valid in the church as long as both parties are truly committed for life to one another, even if the marriage "produces" no children. – CatholicView Priest Staff
CatholicView Priest Staff: Why did God give more powers to Satan for 100 years regarding Pope Leo 13's vision ? – John __________________________ John: According to sources around Pope Leo XIII, after saying a private Mass on October 13, 1884, Pope Leo fainted and fell to the ground. When he awoke, he had a mystical experience in which he heard two voices, one voice belonged to Jesus and the other to Satan. The mystical experience he had lasted only a few moments but effected him so deeply that he wrote a prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel that he added after each "Low (spoken, no music) Mass" and was said after Mass until 1968. The vision-mystical experience was this: Satan said, “I could destroy Your Church if I had the time, and more power over those who give themselves over to my service.” And then Pope Leo heard Christ to answer, “You have the power, you have the time: 100 years.” That was it. This vision so disturbed him that he continued to pray for the deliverance of the Church from Satan's power until his death in 1903. What was this vision all about? I don't know. Some have tried to understand its meaning. But this was a private experience and it had meaning to Pope Leo. I suspect that it had some relation to the story of Job in the Old Testament. In the Book of Job, Satan told God that Job loved God because He blessed Job with many good things. If God took away those things, Job would turn his back on God. God said to Satan that he had one year to test Job. But after many sufferings and bad things, Job's love and faith in God grew only stronger. After one year, Satan lost -- as usual -- and God blessed Job even more for his love and faith. The vision of Leo XIII is similar. The Church was tested greatly especially in World War I and World War II and the rise of atheistic communism. Yet the Church prevailed because of the Church's faith in Jesus. Satan lost again -- as usual. The vision of Leo XIII and the story of Job have something in common. We will all have trials and temptations that will test our love and faith in God. Yet if we remain faithful as Job was, we too will be blessed by God in ways that will fill our hearts with joy. The "100 years" time frame is not to be taken literally. It symbolizes a long time to Leo XIII. Once again, this was a private revelation to Leo XIII. The message was meant for him and his role as universal pastor of the Church. His response was prayer and faithfulness to God. And that should be our response in all things. Here is the prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel written by Pope Leo XIII to be said after Mass:
Saint Michael the Archangel, For further information and history about this prayer, please see this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer_to_Saint_Michael - CatholicView Priest Staff
CatholicView Staff: _____________________________ Genevieve: The Church requires you to obey legitimate civil authorities and laws so long as they do not conflict with the moral requirements of the Church. It is illegal for a priest to perform a marriage ceremony without a civil license and requires you to obey authorities as the Law requires a marriage certificate issued by the State. You must obey this law. Sadly, many retired persons do not want to get a civil license as their Social Security would be reduced. They do not want to live in sin but cannot afford the loss of income. Remember, this law is not contrary to the moral requirements of the Church, but you are required to obey it. Sadly, without getting that license, you would be putting income before God. But there is also another problem: Without that civil license, each party's relatives would be entitled to all monies, personal property and resources should one party die, making it unfair to the surviving party of that union. There is a Canon Law 1130 that allows for the Sacrament of Marriage without a civil one but it is for very grave situations only. (Canon 1130) Canon 1130 reads: For a grave and urgent reason, the local Ordinary may permit that a marriage be celebrated in secret." - CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: ________________________________ Shirley: There are dangers inherent in marrying a Muslim His religion is different and his background is different. Have you fully discussed both of your roles in this marriage? In what religion would you raise your children? Would your going to your Church be a stumbling block to your marriage once you were married to him? Would your boyfriend insist that you move to his country? Think very carefully before making any kind of commitment. Marriage is forever. Remember that. May God strengthen you and give you the wisdom to do the right thing. - CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: _______________________________ Lindsay: If a person is dating someone who has not yet received a Declaration of Nullity that person is still married to their spouse. The purpose of the annulment is to determine if a real marriage actually existed. But we read in Matthew 19:6 the following: "What God has joined together, let no man put asunder". During the process of getting a Declaration of Nullity, the Tribunal investigates to see whether a marriage, in fact, existed, to begin with. And so, unless this has been proven not to be the case, an annulment will not be issued and the "death do us part" will be taken literally. To get involved and find out the annulment will not be given, any kind of intimacy, such as dating, kissing would be considered wrong as that person would still be married to his wife in the eyes of the Church . Hold off on the dating and engagement until the annulment has been given. When the time is right, and your boyfriend has gotten an annulment, then you are free to be engaged. - CatholicView Staff
____________________________ Jenna: Do not concern yourself by God's calling of others. His calling for you may be different. A call for marriage is a blessed call as well. Do not compare yourself with others. Go forth with what God has placed on your heart. May the Lord bless you abundantly. - CatholicView Staff
_____________________________ Kacy: You will have to visit your parish priest and bring all legal documents concerning the marriage and what he has so far on the divorce. There will be questions whether he is Catholic and if your fiancé's marriage was physically consummated, and if children are involved. I do not think you will be able to marry in the Church at this time but we do not know the whole story. Please see your priest. May the Lord bless you. - CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: ____________________________________ Jeremy: You are a good brother to expend such generosity to your sibling. But sadly, if you keep giving money to your him, he will be dependant on you for life. He must learn to be an adult, forced to find a job, and pay child support. Apparently he feels you owe him because he is your brother and you have money. But, every time you rescue him, he repeats the same thing over and over. You have been a good brother and it is time for him to grow up and be a man. Make an appointment with your parish priest for starters. Be sure your brother goes with you. Ask the priest to recommend someone who can give your brother professional help. God bless you for the love shown to your brother. - CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: ______________________________ Ofeliay: God does forgive our sins if we ask for that forgiveness. For instance, if we sin and recognize that we are in the state of sin, we must ask God to forgive us, promising that we will not commit that wrongdoing again. If we do NOT ask God for forgiveness and keep sinning until we die, never receiving forgiveness, we cannot enter God's perfect heaven. We will lose our salvation and enter hell forever. - CatholicView Staff
__________________________________ Laura: Have you been married before? You must take into consideration that the man you want to marry has had four wives before and each marriage has failed, either through wrong choices or not being able to sustain a relationship. Are there children involved? And most importantly, did he get four annulments? What makes you think marriage number five will be lasting? I think you need to sit down with your priest and discuss this matter very, very carefully before you commit yourself to someone who has not been very stable in the past. Think carefully before you entrust yourself to this man. May God strengthen you to make the right decision. - CatholicView Staff
Catholic\View Staff: ________________________________ Matthew: God is well pleased that you recognized a sinful action. You were correct in not participating with those who were using a Ouija Board. A believing Christian must never use them and those who do show a total lack of trust in God by turning to the occult for answers. As Christians we must understand that the Ouija board comes from the sources of evil. When a person tries to receive answers to life through means not associated with our faith in Jesus Christ, we open ourselves to the intervention of evil. Keep moving forward in faith, knowing that the Lord will strengthen you to continue avoiding such actions. God bless you, Matthew. - CatholicView Staff
_____________________________ John: Most certainly you may marry in the Catholic Church. And your children can be baptized and confirmed within the Church as well. No concerns there. Congratulations on your upcoming marriage. God bless you. - CatholicView Staff
________________________________________ Olivia: Being a Catholic is more than a fascination with the Church. It has to be a knowledge within your heart that this is the right place to be for you. Your focus has to be solely on your decision and must feel right, so right that your thoughts do not wander back and forth in uncertainty. I am going to suggest that you make an appointment with your parish priest. Sit down and discuss why you do not feel at home within the Church. If it is not the right choice for you, you must decide where you would be more at home. Ask God to show you what you must do. Listen to the Holy Spirit that now lives within you. And ask God to sanction your decision and to give you clarity that you made the right choice. May the Lord be with you always. - CatholicView Staff CatholicView Staff: ______________________________________ Catalina: Thank you for your question. The Lord is proud of your strength to wait until marriage for intimacy. But, although your motives may seem pure for living together, God wants us to avoid the occasion of sin in our lives. But by living together, the proximity of day to day together could cause that occasion of sin. So yes, it would be wrong. Savor this time and wait until you are married to live together. May God bless you always for adhering to His Word. - CatholicView Staff
__________________________________ Joshua: The priesthood is a wonderful calling. May the Lord bless you for heeding His call. You will need to talk to your parish priest, the diocese's vocations director, or visit your archdiocese in order to find out whether you qualify for becoming a priest. Or write to a seminary about your concerns. Whatever caused the self injury during the past must be discussed in full as well. If you're accepted, you should expect to spend at least 6-8 years in the seminary, depending on how much college experience you have. If the Lord is calling you to do His work, a way will surely be made for you. May God bless you. - CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: ____________________________________ Dear Nick: Congratulations on your upcoming baptism! How blessed you are! And the Lord is well pleased with you. I am sorry to hear that you have a depressive illness. Hopefully you are under the care of a doctor. If this is the case, you must follow his instructions. In becoming baptized, you will be renewed. God has promised to send His Holy Spirit during that time and the uplifting and joy that accompanies this is phenomenal. All sin will be erased and you will be able to receive the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. God does have a plan for you. Read Jeremiah 29:11 that tells you, "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord ,“plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Rest easy on God's precious promises. Nick, you are loved and the angels of the Lord are rejoicing in heaven. Know that God will strengthen you. Be at peace, for the gift of eternal life is at hand. Remember you are never alone for our Savior will be with you always! - CatholicView Staff
For Past "Ask A Priest" Q/A CLICK HERE
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