NOV/DEC 2014
ASK A PRIEST
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS


FATHER KEVIN BATES, SM
FATHER LAZARUS CHAWDI
CATHOLICVIEW STAFF
PRIEST STAFF


FATHER KEVIN BATES, SM

"The Jehovah Witnesses believe that in 1917
Satan and followers came to the earth and we
are near the Second coming.  Do we believe
this?" - Richard


 

Father Kevin:

Does the Catholic Church believe as Jehovah's Witnesses do that 1917 was the year that Satan and his followers were cast down to earth and therefore we are nearing the second coming? – Richard

_______________________________

Hi Richard:

As Catholics we don’t know when the Second Coming will be or exactly what will be involved.  The prophecies in the New Testament are very colourful and dramatic, and give us some clues.  They may not represent the literal truth however.

Catholics are prepared to wait and allow God’s purposes to be worked out in God’s good time. Our real energy into living with love now, changing our hearts, healing our world where we can and being thankful for the gift of time and space we enjoy right now. Matters such as the second coming are not in our hands.  However, the care of our Mother the earth is somewhat in our hands.  Perhaps the second coming will come as a result of global warming.  God often works with natural events.

We wait and hope in God’s good promises to us all.  Blessings to you.  -  Father Kevin

 
"If G-d gives us everything we need, why do we need to
pray to Him?" - Dina

 

Father Kevin:

If G-d gives us everything we need, why do we need to pray to Him, i.e. to ask for health, sustenance, children, etc?  Thank you.  -   Dina Strauss

 ________________________________

Hi Dina,

Asking God for things is only a tiny part of Christian prayer.  The essential prayer of the Christian is one of praise and thanks.  If you listen to the prayers of the Mass for instance, there are some prayers that ask for God’s grace in various ways, but the main prayers of the Mass are prayers of thankfulness and praise.

Having said that, we are often in need, the need to grow, the need for forgiveness, the need to be healed, the need for good relationships and so on.  It makes sense that if we have a good intimate relationship with God, then we can talk about anything including asking God for what we need. It’s a sign that we trust God to look out for us and an expression of faith that God has our best interests at heart. We don’t always expect God to change things miraculously, but rather we want God to know that we believe that he is the one who sustains our whole existence and that we trust him.  Blessings to you.  -  Father Kevin



"Why was the 'Gospel of Mary' not published
by the Council of Nicea?" - Rayna


 

Father Kevin:

When the Council of Nicea was deciding what should go into the Bible, why was the 'gospel' of Mary Magdalene not published and what historically does the Catholic Church know about Mary?  - Rayna

______________________________

Dear Rayna:

I don’t know why the ‘gospel’ you mention was not published or acted by the Church. You’d need a scriptural and historical expert to answer this question really.

What we know about Mary is very little from the gospels.  She agreed to carry God’s Word, she gives birth to God’s Word and then nurtures and nourishes that Word in the person of Jesus.  Wherever she appears in the gospel she is fruitful, always drawing attention to her Son rather than herself. She is also there at the birth of the Church at Pentecost, a gentle, quiet, unobtrusive presence.

It is this presence that inspire the Marist Congregation to which I belong as we strive to re-create her presence in today’s world and Church.

We become extra conscious of her important role during this Advent and Christmas season and pray that we too will give birth to God’s Word according to our own gifts just as she did.  Every Blessing. - Father Kevin



FATHER LAZARUS CHAWDI

"I am 49 years old and want to marry.  Can
I marry late and not have children?" - Tadhg

Father Lazarus:

I am nearly 49 years old and thinking of marriage. Is it too late to marry considering the fact that if I had children my first born would be 10 yrs old on my 60th birthday. Can I marry late and not have children or is this wrong? – Tadhg

_____________________________

Dear Tadhg,

Peace be with you. God loves you.

According to the law there is minimum age that is prescribed but otherwise no one can stop you from marrying at any age. May the good Lord bless your marriage plans.

Children are the fruit of the love between husband and wife and one cannot keep it aside. If you receive the gift of child you must accept it as God’s gift. Besides at the marriage ceremony you also vow to accept children lovingly from this marriage.

For a moment, just imagine if your parents had delayed their marriage and planed not to have child, would you be there today?

C.C.C 1601 says “The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of sacrament.”    

YOUCAT 418 Says “ A child is a creature and a gift of God, which comes to earth through the love of parents. True love does not desire a couple to be self-contained. Love opens up in the child. A child that has been conceived and born is not something “made”, nor is he/she the sum of his/her paternal genes. He/she is a completely new and unique creature of God, equipped with his/her own soul. The child therefore does not belong to the partners and is not their property.”

God bless you. He cares for you.  Wish you Jesus. - Fr. Lazarus Chawdi

 
"Is it wrong for me to refuse the cup during Holy
Communion when given by an Extraordinary
Minister?" - Asa

Father Lazarus:

Is it wrong for me to refuse/not receive the cup during Holy Communion when administered by an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion?This is the case at most all Masses at this parish. – Asa

_____________________________

Dear Asa:

Peace be with you. God loves you.

What is the reason that you refuse it? Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion are appointed by church as ministers and when you refuse to receive from them: 1) You are refusing the Lord to come into your heart because of your preconceived idea about E.M.H.C. 2) In rejecting them you are rejecting the authority of the Church.

I have personally experienced the edifying lives these ministers lives and my faith has grown speaking to them.

By the very fact you are baptized you share in the office of “Prophet, Priest and King.”

C.C.C. 903 says “Lay people who possess the required qualities can be admitted permanently to the ministries of lector and acolyte. When the necessity of church warrants it and when ministers are lacking, lay persons, even if they are not lectors or acolytes, can also supply for certain of their offices, namely, to exercise the ministry of the word, to preside over liturgical prayers, to confer baptism and to distribute Holy
Communion in accord with the prescriptions of law.”

God bless you. He cares for you.  Wish you Jesus. - Fr. Lazarus Chawdi


"The man I am dating is struggling with his faith.
 How do I help him?"  - Annie
         


Father:

I have been dating the same man for 1 1/2 years now, and I'm very much in love with him, but recently, he told me that he was struggling with his faith and I offered to help and he said he doesn't believe.  He said he believes in philosophy and science and he just can't come to believe the Catholic teachings. How do I deal with something like this? How do I handle the situation myself?  And how do I help him? – Annie

 _________________________

Dear Annie,

Peace be with you. God loves you.

Kindly do not get offended with the following quote Psalm 14:1(Please read it from the Bible). I would like to share a story with you. The author is unknown.

A barber started a conversation with his customer who was a Catholic, “Surely God doesn’t exist” he said, “if he did there would be no pain and sufferings that I have seen. Would God allow all these things?”

The customer thought for a moment, but didn’t respond because he didn’t want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left. Just after he left the shop, he saw a man in the street with long, stringy, dirty hair and untrimmed beard. The customer turned back and entered barber’s shop again and said to the barber, “you know what? Barbers do not exist.”

“How can you say that?” asked the surprised barber. “I am here, and I am a barber and I just worked on you!” “No!” the customer exclaimed. “Barbers don’t exist because if they did, there would be no people with dirty long hair and untrimmed beards, like that man outside.”

“Ah, but barbers do exist! That’s what happens when people do not come to me.

“Exactly!” affirmed the customer. “That’s the point! God too does exist! That’s what happens when people do not go to Him and don’t look to Him for help. That’s why there is so much pain and suffering in the world.

To conclude I like this quote “Those who have faith, need no proof, but those who do not have faith even hundred proofs are not enough.” Let your love for God and your life in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit give him the grace to see God face to face.

God bless you. He cares for you.  Wish you Jesus.  - Fr. Lazarus Chawdi 



PRIEST STAFF

“My brother is in a hospice.  A man who said
he was a priest with a dispensation from Rome
to marry was administering to him.  Is this
acceptable?  - Madonna


Father Francisco:

Since 1963 I have been praying for my brother Donald to return back to the Church.  He went into a rest home two years ago and started to receive the sacraments by a lay person.  I asked him if a priest heard his confession and he said he told the priest He had not been to mass in seventy years and the priest answered, "I just heard your confession. I asked, "Did you receive absolution and he said he did not know.  My brother is in a hospice and a man called a minister was in the room with my brother.  My sisters came in and asked him if he was a priest and he said he was but got a dispensation from Rome to marry.  He could not say mass but can he give last rites of the Church?  I don't see how he could hear confession.  I know God is a merciful God and our brother wanted to go back to the Creator, our Father.  I want to make sure my brother is taken care of spiritually in his last stages of life.  Thank you Father. - Madonna

__________________________

Madonna:

I am sorry to hear that your brother, Donald, is in hospice and being taken care of medically as he comes to the end of his earthly life's mission.  I know that this has been a stressful and painful time for you and your family.  To your question, please know that your brother was taken care of "spiritually" in every way at the hospice.  The "minister" who says he was a priest but now is married in the Church (hence, the dispensation that he mentioned) is ALWAYS a priest even if he is not an "active priest" and has no license (faculties) to perform the public duties of a priest in his diocese.  The Church cannot "un-priest"anyone. 

When a priest is released from all his duties of the church and is returned to the "lay" state (as versus "clerical" state), the bishop of his diocese reminds him that the Church expects him to be available for confession and the sacrament of the anointing of the sick in case of "emergency," which means that the person is near death.  Your brother's situation at the hospice fulfills this expectation of the Church for this inactive priest (who seems to have been hired to serve the spiritual needs of all the residents of that particular hospice) to hear his confession and administer the sacrament of the anointing of the sick (last rites). For your information, the Council of Trent, the 23rd Session dated July 15, 1543, states that even though a priest has been dismissed (censured) from the clerical state, that this inactive priest is still a priest with the "power" to confer the sacraments, a power that cannot be taken away though bishops have the legal authority to limit the use of these spiritual powers in the public sphere.  

Please know that your brother was taken care of spiritually.  Please be at peace.  As a point for our readers, always ask your parish priest, an active priest with faculties (license to minister) from the diocesan bishop to sacramentaly serve the faithful, to come and pray with your loved ones when they are sick or near death.  – Father Francisco

 
“My retired husband wants to leave me and our
children permanently and live in another country. 
When should I get a legal separation?” - Michelle


Father Francisco:

My retired husband says that he will soon be leaving me and our children permanently to live his remaining years in another country and I'd like to know how long I should wait and pray for him to come back to our family before seeking out an attorney to legalize the separation - as he has been absent from our family now for the better part of a year. We are both practicing Catholics married in the Church so don't take divorce lightly but neither do I want to be stuck in a dead-end marriage. I would really appreciate some advice from a priest regarding the position of the Catholic Church in this situation.  - Michelle

_________________________

Michelle:

I am sorry to hear about your situation.  Your marital situation is confusing since your husband doesn't seem to give a reason for wanting to leave his wife and family for another country.  Your sacramental marriage is forever.  I don't understand why your husband wants to sever any ties with you and his children.  But I certainly understand that you don't want to be "stuck" in a dead-end marriage with no hope of reconciliation.  It seems that he just wants to leave everything behind and hide from all his responsibilities and his marital vows.  You don't have to wait any period of time to seek a legal separation.  Do what you need to do and keep moving forward. 

But as I have already stated, your sacramental marriage is forever unless you can prove that the marriage was invalid from the beginning  through an annulment process.  Until then, either of you would not be able to marry in the Church unless an annulment is secured from a Church tribunal.

Please talk to your Parish priest about your situation.  May God give you courage to remain strong during this sad situation.
 –
Father Francisco


“My brother teaches his son to rebuke those
who sin against him and forgive.  But he also
says avoid the person in the future.  Is this
following Christ’s teaching? - Patrick

                                                               
Father Cervantes:

My brother Stephen teaches his son to rebuke others who sin, and to forgive them, just as we are told in the Bible. He goes a step further though, and teaches that it is fine to have nothing else to do with the sinner after we forgive them. I believe this is simply a continuance of the rebuke, and is not in line with Christ's teachings.  If Jesus forgave us, then wanted nothing else to do with us, how would we ever reach the Blessed Kingdom?  - Patrick

 ____________________________

Patrick:

Your brother Stephen has certainly misinterpreted the message of Christ's forgiveness of all sinners, including himself.  The story of the prodigal son, found in Luke 15: 11-32, shows a father who was wronged by his son.  Yet he waited for his son to return and forgave him and rejoiced, even having a big party with the fattened calf.  The father of the son forgave him abundantly but he didn't ignore him or turned his back on his son (as you say, continued the rebuke). 

Interestingly enough, the other son wanted to ignore his brother and forget about him.  The gospel story painted this other "good" son's unforgiving attitude as an unacceptable way for Christians to behave.  You are correct in what you stated in your question.  Your brother Stephen must have had some major issues with forgiving others and found that they betrayed him in some way even after he forgave them.  You can rebuke all you want, but a Christian's heart is always open to accept and move forward. -
Father Cervantes
 


“When the apostles were sent out in pairs to
heal who went with who?”  -Michael

 

Father:

When the apostles were sent out in pairs to heal who was with who?  -Michael

___________________________ 

Michael:

In the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 6, Verse 7, states:  [Jesus] summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over unclean spirits.  The bible does not tell us how Jesus paired the apostles and other disciples as they went two by two to proclaim the Kingdom of God.  I do know through church history that Saint Jude Thaddeus and Saint Simon were an apostolic team and preached in Syria, Iraq, Iran, and Armenia.  They were both martyred together and their remains were transported to Beirut and then to Rome by the third century.  Otherwise, we do not know the other apostolic pairings. 

Saint Paul had many people who followed him, including the writer of the Gospel of Mark, John Mark himself (see Colossians 4:10 and mentioned by Paul in other New Testament letters). Also, this same John Mark (who later became the first bishop/patriarch of Alexandria, Egypt...founding the Coptic Church) accompanied Saint Peter as described in I Peter 5:13. The same John Mark, the writer of the Gospel of Mark, was the one who ran naked from the Garden of Olives when Jesus was arrested. Mark makes reference to himself in his gospel in Mark 14:51 when he wrote: Now a young man followed him wearing nothing but a linen cloth about his body.  They seized him but he left the cloth behind and ran off naked.  (John) Mark accompanied Peter in his apostolic journeys and also journeyed with Paul as well. 

But as to the other apostles, the bible does not tell us their apostolic pairings. – Father Francisco     
 


“If and man and a woman had mortal sins on
their souls before getting married in the Church, Is
that marriage valid? - Nola

Father:

If both people had many mortal sins on their souls and get married in the Catholic Church without either of them going to confession before the marriage, is that marriage valid in the Church's eyes? - Nola

___________________________

Nola:

The marriage is valid unless proven otherwise.  Being in a state of "mortal" sin does not invalidate a sacramental marriage.  For a sacramental marriage to be declared null and void by a church tribunal, there are other factors that must be considered, such as the maturity of the parties to enter a life-long marital bond as one example.  You do not describe what the "mortal" sins are and if these sins show a defect in the marital consent. 

Once again, a marriage is considered valid and sacramental unless proven otherwise by a church tribunal (annulment process). – Father Cervantes


I suffer with a mental illness and at one point
wanted to end my life.  I regret this now.  Will
God forgive me?” - Clara

 

Father Francisco:

I suffer with a mental illness and a while back I did not want to live any longer and wanted to end my life.  I began to pray for strength. But I also constantly think about hell and am now trying to find meaning in my life even though I have this mental illness.  I love God and I am so sorry for wanting to kill myself.  I now know that I was wrong.  Will God forgive me for thinking of killing myself?  - Clara

____________________

Clara:

You said that you struggle with mental illness, and I am so sorry that you have that burden to carry.  Everyone that I have met, including myself, have some burden, a cross, to carry to keep us humble and dependent on God's love and grace.  Saint Paul writes about his burden and weakness in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10:  Therefore, that I might not become too elated, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, an angel of Satan, to beat me, to keep me from being too elated.  Three times I begged the Lord about this, that this might leave me, but He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness."  God knows about your struggle with mental illness.  He knows your struggle intimately because He shares it with you.  He knows you try, He knows your victories and your defeats.  He knows that there are more VICTORIES than defeats. 

Hell is for those who, THROUGH THEIR OWN FREE WILL, decide to turn their backs completely on God.  You have not done that.  Hell is not for those who commit multiple numbers of sins.  Hell is for those who FREELY CHOSE not to accept the forgiveness of God the Father offered through our faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  God always forgives because He UNDERSTANDS YOU.  He KNOWS you.  He WALKS with you.  He LOVES you. 

You are not going to hell because you know Jesus Christ.  Be at peace and never give up.  You may not see it, and may not know it, but you have had more victories than defeats! 

Keep going.  Keep your eyes on Jesus.  As long as you do that, you are saved!
– Father Francisco


“Will Brittany Maynard spend eternity
in hell because she chose to end her
life?” - Erika
                                                                     

Father Cervantes:

Will Brittany Maynard spend eternity in hell? Or is it more likely that her soul is in purgatory, since she was a non believer? Will my prayers help her? - Erika

_________________________                      

Erika:

Brittany Maynard was a 29 year old woman, diagnosed with terminal and inoperable brain cancer.  She decided to end her life rather than deteriorate and allowing "nature" to takes its course in regards to her physical body dying on its own (for more information, please see this link: 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brittany_Maynard ). 

This action and decision is called
euthanasia which refers to the taking of one's life to relieve pain and suffering.  This is the cornerstone of the DEATH WITH DIGNITY movement that Brittany Maynard supported.  In my time as a priest attending to those who are terminally ill, I can appreciate the desire of those trapped in a terminal illness to end their lives so that they do not have to continue to suffer and literally deteriorate in front of themselves and their loved ones.  But the Church also teaches that no one can kill or murder or take life outside the context of self-defense.  A terminally ill person cannot willingly take their own life because of the fear of pain and suffering that lies ahead before their death.  So, what Brittany Maynard did in her particular situation, would be considered suicide by the Church. 

But NO ONE, not you, not me, not any believer in God, can sit in judgement on Brittany's actions.  We have not walked in her "shoes."  I am not God, and only God can judge.  So as to your first question if Brittany is in hell, that is NOT for me to say.  Nor is it for you. 

You do not know anything about her relationship with God.  We are not in any position to judge.  But we can say that euthanasia is not an acceptable decision for any Christian. 

We are admonished by Jesus Himself to carry our cross, not to discard it.  In the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 16, Verses 24 through 27, Jesus says this: 
"Whoever wishes to come after Me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me.  For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.  What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?  Or what can one give in exchange for his life?  For the Son of Man will come with his angels in His Father's glory, and then He will repay everyone according to his conduct." 

The Church calls all Christians to carry our cross, our burdens, as part of our following of Christ as Lord and Savior.  All suffering, all pain is considered a prayer as we unite our sufferings to the cross of Christ.   Saint Paul writes about this in Colossians 1:24: 
“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of His body which is the church." 

Our sufferings are a prayer for the salvation of the church (our loved ones and our brothers and sisters in Christ) for we share in the sufferings of Christ on the cross on Calvary!  That is part of what is expected of us as followers of Christ:  to bear our cross, our sufferings, as an offering of prayer for the salvation of those around me.   If one has a terminal illness, as Christians, we are expected to carry our cross to the end, in effect, allowing nature to takes its course.  Now, in regards to DO NOT RESUSCITATE orders and not accepting medical procedures (such as chemo-therapy) that have no hope of CURING a person of a terminal illness, that is acceptable and encouraged by the Church.  I can as a Catholic not accept a medical procedure and allow nature to take its course. 

But as a Catholic, I
cannot kill myself because I do not want to suffer anymore.  That is contrary to the Gospel and the discipline of the Church that has asked all of us to carry our cross to the end. -  Father Cervantes     

 


“Is cross dressing a mortal Sin? - RD

Father:

In and of itself is cross dressing a mortal sin?   If a mortal sin what is the occasion of the sin? -  RD

_____________________________ 

RD:

Cross dressing is defined as the wearing of clothes that are considered by a particular society as for opposite gender use.  It is so frustrating to answer such a question as you stated as if the wearing of clothes can somehow be sinful.  Clothes in itself are not sinful.  It is the motivation of the human heart that makes something sinful.  As the Lord Jesus said in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 15, Verses 18-19:  "But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile.  For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, unchastity, theft, false witness, blasphemy.  These are what defile a person...." 

This is once again affirmed in Mark 7:15 - "Nothing that enters one from outside can defile a person; but the things that come out from within are what defile."  I bring these gospel verses to your attention because the wearing of any kind of clothes is in itself not sinful.  Clothes are not the problem.  It is the motivation of the person that defines whether something like clothes is sinful for that person. 

A man who wears so-called women's clothes for any kind of sexual gratification becomes a serious even mortal sin because it is an impure act that is contrary to God's Will for us to be chaste in thought, word, and deed.  For a man to wear women's clothes because they are transgender (or in case of a transsexual person
in transition) and not for sexual gratification but because of their gender identification "disorder," then there is no sin because the motivation of the heart is not skewed to sexual sin, but is motivated by gender identification. 

There are some who wear opposite gender clothes because it is part of a costume for some event, or because of a stage drama, and there is no sin there.  So, actually the answer to your question resides in your heart and motivation.  Is the wearing of defined opposite gender clothes a matter of sexual gratification?  Then it is sinful. 

Is the wearing of women's clothes part of a gender identification issue free from un-chastity?  Then it is not sinful.  – Father Francisco


“My husband has lost faith in the Church and
wants to conduct his own mass.  How should
I handle this? - Stacey


Father:

I am deeply Catholic, my husband has lost faith in the church and he wants to start conducting his own mass.  He thinks the concept of "Ex Opere Operato" means the sacraments can be given by those other than priests because they are really done by the power of God and Christ, not the Church. – Stacey

 _____________________

Stacy:

Your husband is badly in error to have the opinion that the sacramental theology of "Ex Opere Operato"

(translated as from the work, worked) can ever apply to his situation.  He is not an ordained person with a specific ordained ministry to administer the sacraments as the Church wills the sacraments to be administered.  The theological term, "Ex Opere Operato," applies to the moral standing of the sacramental minister and not to any non-ordained person who wishes to administer the sacraments on their own.  The sacraments are valid even if the deacon, priest, deacon is in mortal sin.  And the sacraments are valid even if the recipient of the sacrament is not properly disposed to receive the sacrament.  In other words, the sacraments are valid if the ordained minister of the sacraments administer them according to the will of the Church.  Your husband is not an ordained minister and does not enjoy the "protection" of the validity of the sacraments that "Ex Opere Operato" implies.  – Father Francisco



“My husband and I are in the upper
seventies and we watch Sunday Mass
on TV.  Is this okay?  - Georgia

Father Cervantes:

My husband and I are in the upper seventies, he has fought colon cancer 3 years ago and I have my own less threatening health issues. Sometimes we don't technically qualify to being "ill" but will remain at home and watch Sunday mass on TV. Then when we do go to the parish receive Communion with no thought of having sinned. He does not wish to be left alone and so I think of the reading which says, "where ever 2 or three are gathered....." and think we are OK in doing this. Is that true in fact? I understand about judgment of conscience but still now wondering. Thank you and God bless. - Georgia

 _________________________

Georgia:

As a pastor of a large congregation, I know that there are some in our parish that cannot make it to Sunday Mass because of health issues and related issues to family members that they are care-givers.  You are in the care-giver category and even though your husband may be in control of his colon cancer, you may not want to leave your husband alone in his precarious health situation.  You could arrange to have communion brought to you by your parish priest, deacon, or Eucharistic minister to the sick.  You don't have to be on your death bed or "officially" ill to have holy communion brought to you.  By calling your parish and explaining your situation, you would never have to have a Sunday in which you did not receive our Lord Jesus in communion.  Please call your parish ministry to the sick and feel free to either stay home and receive communion, or to go to Sunday Mass at your parish church and receive communion with the body of believers.  Your husband is my prayers this day as are you.  Being a care-giver is always a demanding role but you do it because of your great love for your husband and family.  The Lord will repay you generously!   - Father Cervantes



“Can one get baptized, confirmed and
given Sacraments by a priest if that
person is believed to be dying?”
- Natalie

                                                                                                                                                                            

Father Cervantes:

Is it possible for one to get baptized and confirmed and given Sacraments by a priest if one thinks he or she is on the death bed? and what happens if one does not die during this period? are they considered a Catholic? Thank you for your response.  - Natalie

 __________________________

Natalie:

Yes, a priest has the faculty (license, permission) from the diocesan bishop to administer all the sacraments to a person who is dying.  And if by God's grace this particular person should live and overcome this deathly illness, they are considered Catholic and do not have to have these sacraments of baptism and confirmation administered again.

You may, however, wish to participate in the Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults so that you can fully participate in the grace of the sacraments of initiation into the church which are baptism, confirmation, and the reception of the Holy Eucharist.  Please talk to your parish priest or deacon and explain that you received baptism and confirmation under emergency conditions and that you would like to be formally received into the Church!  God bless you abundantly!  - Father Cervantes

 


“My fiancé and I are planning for an
April wedding.  Can we marry civilly
in December if we do not engage in
sex?” - Hanna
                                                                                                                                                                
 

Father Francisco:

My fiancé and I have been planning for our wedding next April. We have booked the church already and is currently finishing all the church requirements. However, my student visa will expire next May and I recently talked to my counselor and told me that I will be out of status after May. So we thought about getting a civil wedding this December for paper purposes only. He lives in DC and visits me here in Texas once a month. After our civil, we won't be living in the same roof and will wait for the blessing of the church before we engage to sex. Can we still have our church wedding with mass next April? Thanks for your time! - Hanna

______________________________

Hanna:

Congratulations on your upcoming marriage in the Church!  I am so happy for you both!  God has blessed you abundantly!  May the Lord bless you with every good thing and may the Spirit of God be your strength in good times and in bad times.  If your immigration status expire in May 2015, and you are getting married in April 2015, I don't see why you would wish to have a civil marriage in December 2014.  Just keep on your schedule and your immigration status should not be harmed.  But if you do marry civilly in December 2014, then yes, you can still have your Church wedding in April 2015.  Just present your civil license to the priest/deacon presiding at your wedding as soon as possible and continue with your marriage preparation.  As long as you do not live together until your church wedding, all will be fine.  Once again, congratulations and I pray that your immigration status will be resolved in your favor!  
 - Father Francisco


“Is it better not to vote or to vote for one
who is considered the ‘lesser evil’?  - Adrian

Father:

Thanks for your help on this matter.  I know you cannot tell me for which party to vote, but this is about comparing catholic moral values and two different political platforms/programs. So, I believe we are at the public policy level, which is legitimate.  My first question is, if the two proposed platforms are not in complete agreement with Catholic values, is it better not to vote, or to vote for what one considers the "lesser evil" as referred to the "common good"?  Second question is, generally speaking, economic inequalities -including access to basic health care and good education- have a deeper influence on the "common good" of a Country than, for example, the abortion and contraceptive issues? Thanks again, Adrian

 __________________________

Adrian:

As a citizen of the United States of America, we have a civil duty to vote and have our voices heard through our representatives.  No political party in the USA are always in "agreement with Catholic values," as you say.  As a citizen and believer, I must look at the BIG picture, the WHOLE platform and judge accordingly with prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  I personally, as a priest and citizen of the USA, am not a one issue voter.  I have to take into account the whole platform and see how it will affect the good of all citizens.  I am really concerned about the economic inequalities that exist in our country. 


I have thousands of hard-working faithful in my parish who make very little in regards to income.  They live simply and try to make ends meet, and they are concerned for their welfare and future of their children.  For me, the economic inequalities are something to fight about.  This is an important issue for me when it comes to voting.  Life issues such as abortion and artificial means of contraception concerns also figure into my voting.  I take it all in and make a decision to vote.  I always vote for the greater common good, or as you say, the "lesser evil."  Remember, in politics, especially USA politics, there is NO ONE political party that supports the whole Catholic moral agenda.  But I am required to vote, so I will. –
Father Cevantes




“I feel alone in my faith.  Does that mean
I don’t have enough faith? - Alex


Father Cervantes:

Former Southern Baptist.  I feel alone in my faith, like it's a one-sided relationship. I've prayed for answers, never got any. Does that mean I don't have "enough faith" to be able to hear what God is "saying" or is He not "speaking" or do I not know the "signs" or is this a free-will thing? -  Alex

 _____________________________

Alex:

If you say that you feel that you have a one-sided relationship with God, then something is wrong in your spiritual maturity and your walk with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  I do not know what you are praying for, but each prayer is answered, each prayer is heard, and the energy of each prayer is responded in like by the power of God. 

I am reminded of the biblical verse from Ephesians 4:12-16 in which Saint Paul talks about growing up in Christ:  "To equip the holy ones for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the extent of the full stature of Christ, so that we may no longer be infants, tossed by waves and swept along by every wind of teaching arising from human trickery, from their cunning in the interests of deceitful scheming.  Rather, living the truth in love, we should grow in every way into Him who is the head, Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, with the proper functioning of each part, brings about the body's growth and builds itself in love."  This isn't an issue of enough faith. 

You wouldn't be asking this question if you didn't have faith in Jesus.  You have enough faith.  It is a question about your spiritual growth and maturity.  As I said, all prayers are answered according to the Will of God and according to YOUR greater good and the greater good of those around you.  In other words, God answers your prayer in regards not only to yourself but to those around you.  You are an important link to those around you, to God's plan not only for yourself but for God's plan for those you meet and touch.  Maturity in Christ means that you are able to see the consequences of your prayers and trust that God will fulfill your needs and even bless you with more according to the BIG PICTURE called God's eternal plan as you bring others with you on the road to salvation. 

God is speaking to you, He is showing you signs, but instead of focusing and even obsessing on your desire and wants which blind you to what God is doing in your life, be thankful always.  Your gratitude of the heart will open your eyes to the wonders of God's plan for you and those around you.  Your question really is a wake-up call:  grow up in Christ.  God is not a genie in a bottle that will give you everything you wish for.  On the contrary, God is our loving Father, who like your earthly parents, will only give us what we truly need for our growth and maturity.  Let's begin this growth in Christ by being thankful and allowing ourselves to accept that God will ALWAYS do what is best in our lives and for those around us.  Our faith in Christ is not about YOU.  Our faith in Christ is about ALL OF US. 

Once that realization is set in our hearts, then spiritual maturity can begin and peace will reign in our lives no matter what happens.  Trust in the Lord always!  2 Peter 3:18 says "But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ!To Him be the glory now and to the day of eternity.  Amen." – Father Francisco

 


“I am Ukranian Catholic married to a man
who divorced his first Catholic wife who
got an annulment.     Can I receive
Communion?”- JoAnn



Father Cervantes:

I am Ukranian Catholic. I married a divorced non-catholic (methodist) in a Lutheran Church by a minister. He was married in a Roman Catholic Church to a Catholic and divorced and his ex-wife got an annulment. Why can't I get married in a Roman Catholic Church (mass) and why can't I receive communion? - JoAnn

__________________________ 

JoAnn:

Your husband can get married in the Catholic Church.  He received a decree of nullity of his first marriage and is free to marry in the church.  You are Catholic (Ukrainian-Rite) and were not married before.  As I understand it, you were never married before, and you married your husband in a Lutheran congregation though your husband had his first marriage annulled by a church tribunal.  You are BOTH free to marry in the Church.  You can marry in the Catholic Church, and after your marriage has been solemnized in the Church, you can receive communion.  Please, talk to your parish priest about this! 

By the way, traditionally, the Catholic marriage should happen in the parish church of the bride which is you.  You should, if you are able to plan it, be married in a Ukrainian Catholic Church!  If not, you can get married in the Roman Catholic Church of your husband. There is no obstacle for you getting married in the  Church.....unless there is a condition on the annulment of your husband's first marriage. 

Please bring this question and answer to your parish priest or deacon to start the conversation, and get planning on getting your marriage in the Church solemnized in the sacrament of marriage (convalidation is the official term).  God bless you.  - Father Cervantes



“My Catholic friend is in love with a Hindu
girl whose parents disapprove of the
marriage.  Please advise? - Jo

                                     
Father Francisco:

My friend is a Catholic and he is in love with another girl who is a Hindu. She was in a relationship previously where she was blinded into getting her marriage registered. Now, she never had any sexual relations with that person nor did she stay with him for more than a day. Her parents were not willing for her to get married to that person and so she decided that she would not proceed with that even though at the back of her mind she was not sure if the registration of marriage would cause an issue. She is very innocent and my Catholic friend is in love with her but he is not sure if he should proceed with it as for him to get married to her she would have to first get divorced. And he is not sure if annulment is something which he should encourage her to do keeping the Catholic faith in mind. She is also in love with my Catholic friend and they are not sure where to go and how to proceed with this.  Please advise. - Jo

___________________________

Jo:

I have always advised against inter-religious marriages as there is always the conflict of religious belief that can be the cause of great disagreement and suffering, especially when it comes to the raising of children in which religion.  But love is love and the church permits inter-religious marriages in the Church if both parties agree to bring up their children in the Catholic faith, the faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. 

In regards to your specific question about non-consummation of the marriage of the Hindu party, yes, she can receive an ecclesiastical decree of annulment of her civil marriage because she did not seal that marital bond with intimate sexual relations.  She would have to receive a decree of nullity before they can marry in the Church because the Church recognizes her marriage as valid unless proven otherwise.  Your parish priest can help your friends in this regard.  Proving non-consummation of the marriage depends on the accepted testimony of the husband and wife in this marriage.  Once the testimony is given, the annulment of marriage will be given and both parties will be able to marry in the Church.  Remember, the Hindu party must get a
civil decree of divorce or annulment before a church annulment can be given.  -   Father Francisco


"I am Catholic and my fiancé has not
attended pre-cana classes and is
worshiping Buddha.  What should
I do? - Sophia
               


Father Francisco:

I came to the US as an international student. I had been a good Catholic since my first communion.  I got civilly married with my fiancé who was not Catholic. We had done pre-cana, and would go back to my country for the ceremony because my family lived there. Because of moving from place to place, my fiancé couldn't attend any Catholic classes, and has been worshiping Buddha. I felt very guilty so I hadn't been receiving communion.  I went to confession for others sins except my intimacy relationship with him.  What should I do Father? Am I not allowed to receive communion until we get married at the Church? - Sophie
__________________________


Sophia:

I am always concerned when people enter an inter-religious marriage, especially with two distinct belief systems such as Christianity and Buddhism.  These differences will be a cause of great pain in the future if certain things are not resolved before the marriage in the Church, such as what religion will the children be brought up in.  Of course, you alone can make the decision to go forward with this marriage.  But think of the future, and ask your own family for advice about your fiancé.  It seems that your fiance does not want to partake of any instruction concerning our Catholic faith.  If he did, he would have done it by now.  Be careful and wise and ask the Holy Spirit of God to guide you in your decision to marry this man who may not want to have anything to do with Christians.  As to your question about receiving communion, if you are living together in your civil marriage, then you cannot receive communion until your marriage is solemnized (blessed) in the Church.  May God guide you.  –  Father Cervantes


“A group from the Ambassador For Christ are
stating that ‘Priesthood in the Catholic Church
has no biblical essence’.  Can you help us
respond?” - Gabriel

Dear Father:

I would greatly appreciate if you can help me respond to issues currently being raised by a group from Ambassador For Christ, these Christian fundamentalist are stating that ‘Priesthood in Catholic Church has no biblical essence’ other of their comments range from degrading to insulting, Can you help us please, thank you Father and look forward to some assistance.  Below is a brief glimpse of this organization.  In God’s grace.  - Gabriel

“The issue of Catholic Priesthood is under attack from a Christians fundamentalist’ the Ambassador for Christ’ this is the same group that produce the magazine ‘The Plain Truth by !!!! Armstrong form the USA.  ‘The Catholic priesthood has no bible significance, the Jewish priestly system and how God substituted the physical nation of Israel to a new people in spirit. God's people are not an ethnic group anymore but those who inwardly bear his Holy Spirit. Romans 2:28-29.

There is no Jewish temple today therefore there is no need for a temple priest. The Jews now stand and mourn at the "Wailing Wall" in Jerusalem at the remains of the Jewish temple just as prophesied by ancient prophets of God.

Furthermore, the appointment of priests in the Bible was restricted to men from the tribe of Levi from the descendents of Aaron and not any other Jewish tribe or even any other Levite clan.
Catholics should know by now that the Jewish priestly system did not pass on to any Gentile nation, it ceased at the Crucifixion and Jesus is now the High Priest representing all who believe in Him as Saviour - Hebrews 4:14-16.
No human agent today can claim the position that is currently being occupied by the Lord Jesus Christ. Those who worship God, must worship Him in spirit and in truth. John4:24’
….end of text……..

___________________________ 

Gabriel: 

The AMBASSADORS OF CHRIST, is a discredited Christian group based in Pasadena, California, is what was left when the original congregation founded by their "prophet", Herbert Armstrong, who died in 1986.  His death left the various congregations of the World Wide Church of Christ to go on their separate ways because of internal disagreements, with the AMBASSADORS OF CHRIST staying in Pasadena at the campus of Ambassador College.  Since their publications have caused you to question your Catholic faith, I wanted to send you a clear and biblical apologetic concerning the ordained presbyterate (priesthood).  Here is a discussion from Eternal Word Global Catholic Television Network (EWTN) led by a former Evangelical Christian who became Catholic, James Akins, concerning your question. 

http://www.ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/PRIEST3.htm 

THE PRIESTHOOD DEBATE - James Akin

The above link should be able to dispel all doubts about Catholic Church teaching that is directly given to us by the apostles themselves.  You may want to print this answer out so that you can study it with your bible by your side and make notes on your copy of the answer.  This will give you an insight on what the Ambassadors of Christ is all about.  God bless and may the Spirit of God strengthen you as you grow in our faith in Jesus Christ, the High Priest.  Father Francisco


Will my brother who was a soldier and
killed in combat go to heaven?  - Wilson

Father:

I have a question for you that has been on my mind.  My brother served in war and died in battle.  Do soldiers go to heaven even after they must kill people in battle? - Wilson
_______________________________

Wilson:

Yes, soldiers go to heaven.  I hope so, since I was a member of the U.S. Air Force as a chaplain for 24 years!  The principle of self-defense is always at work when it comes to war and battles between armies.  Elite soldiers (special forces) must defend their people, their country, and their fellow soldiers.  The military life is a special vocation that demands everything of the military member.  Self-defense sometimes leads to the death of the aggressor, though not intended as the primary motivation (survival is the primary motivation of self-defense, the death of the aggressor is secondary).  Remember, Jesus loves soldiers too, even Roman ones that occupied Israel in Jesus' time (see Matthew 8:5-13)!  The Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 2263-2267, states this in regards to self-defense:

Legitimate defense

2263 The legitimate defense of persons and societies is not an exception to the prohibition against the murder of the innocent that constitutes intentional killing. "The act of self-defense can have a double effect: the preservation of one's own life; and the killing of the aggressor. . . . The one is intended, the other is not."65

2264 Love toward oneself remains a fundamental principle of morality. Therefore it is legitimate to insist on respect for one's own right to life. Someone who defends his life is not guilty of murder even if he is forced to deal his aggressor a lethal blow:

If a man in self-defense uses more than necessary violence, it will be unlawful: whereas if he repels force with moderation, his defense will be lawful. . . . Nor is it necessary for salvation that a man omit the act of moderate self-defense to avoid killing the other man, since one is bound to take more care of one's own life than of another's.66

2265 Legitimate defense can be not only a right but a grave duty for one who is responsible for the lives of others. The defense of the common good requires that an unjust aggressor be rendered unable to cause harm. For this reason, those who legitimately hold authority also have the right to use arms to repel aggressors against the civil community entrusted to their responsibility.

2266 The efforts of the state to curb the spread of behavior harmful to people's rights and to the basic rules of civil society correspond to the requirement of safeguarding the common good. Legitimate public authority has the right and duty to inflict punishment proportionate to the gravity of the offense. Punishment has the primary aim of redressing the disorder introduced by the offense. When it is willingly accepted by the guilty party, it assumes the value of expiation. Punishment then, in addition to defending public order and protecting people's safety, has a medicinal purpose: as far as possible, it must contribute to the correction of the guilty party.67

2267 Assuming that the guilty party's identity and responsibility have been fully determined, the traditional teaching of the Church does not exclude recourse to the death penalty, if this is the only possible way of effectively defending human lives against the unjust aggressor.

If, however, non-lethal means are sufficient to defend and protect people's safety from the aggressor, authority will limit itself to such means, as these are more in keeping with the concrete conditions of the common good and more in conformity to the dignity of the human person.

Today, in fact, as a consequence of the possibilities which the state has for effectively preventing crime, by rendering one who has committed an offense incapable of doing harm - without definitely taking away from him the possibility of redeeming himself - the cases in which the execution of the offender is an absolute necessity "are very rare, if not practically nonexistent." - Father Francisco

                                                 
CATHOLICVIEW STAFF

“In these times of selfish evil and greed, what
can be done to bring more good? - Tinkle

CatholicView:

In these times of selfish evil and greed, is there anything, besides good deeds and thoughts, that could be done so as to bring more good into this world? -  Tinkie

 ____________________________

Tinkie:

Thanks for your query.  You are correct in asking what can you do as a Christian to bring good in a world that is filled with so many things that is contrary to God’s teachings.

I would suggest that you not only continue to do good deeds but be a living example of Christianity.  So many do not know the Lord.  Be that example that will make others think about the serenity that shows on true Christians.  Continue to help others as much as possible.  Encourage those who are afraid or suffering with a smile and understanding and watch the change.  This is what the Lord wants us to do.

Remember, as Jesus went up to heaven, He asked us to spread the gospel to everyone we meet.  And we can do this with loving caring for others.  In Mark 16:15 Jesus tells us: ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.'”  You can do this with a caring Christian attitude, bringing  kindness to others and doing good deeds, knowing that our Lord sees all we do.

Thank you for writing in.  May God bless you abundantly
.  – CatholicView Staff


If I have been morally wronged by someone,
am I obligated to forgive him? - Tory

 

CatholicView:

If I have been morally wronged by someone, I believe that I am obligated to forgive him.  Do I need to go to confession to make that forgiveness effective? – Tory

 

Tory:

You do not say how this person wronged you morally.  If this is a serious wrong, then, yes it is difficult to forgive.  Even so, you are correct in saying that as a Christian Catholic, you must forgive.  If you have done this already and meant it sincerely, God is well pleased with your action.  If you have not forgiven this person but are considering it, then move forward and forgive him if you are able to do so. 

I would suggest you speak with your parish priest if you have lingering doubts about your forgiveness, especially if this is a serious and morally wrong situation.  May the Lord bless you greatly for the caring you have shown this person who wronged you.  - CatholicView Staff 

 


“Do I still go to heaven if I commit suicide?”
 – Rich

CatholicView Staff:

Do I still go to heaven if I commit suicide? – Rich

___________________________________ 

Rich:

This is a question that has been asked many times.  In the past, the Church had thought that suicide was the decision of a free act of the will and that people who killed themselves were acting with their full mental capacity.  With the strides made in medical knowledge, the Church now knows that most people who commit suicide do so after a long and torturous mental, physical, and emotional pain that cannot be appreciated by most people.  This pain clouds the decision making process of a human being and disables the mind from making a free act of the will.  To be able to overcome the built-in instinct for survival is a sign that the person is in mental distress that does not allow for free will to function.  Sin happens ONLY by a free act of the will.  Depending on the particular situation, the Church does not see suicide as an automatic ticket to hell.  Notice that I said in my answer to you that “most” people who commit  suicide do so outside of their complete free will and therefore are not culpable of sin.

There are those who commit suicide fully aware of what they are doing, fully aware of their options, making fully aware plans (pre-meditated action), and fully aware of their situation.  People who are “fully aware and free” who commit suicide will have to answer to God for their actions.  Usually, though, suicide is an act of a person not able to make a free will decision, thereby not guilty of sin.  –CatholicView Staff


“I want to believe, but don’t know how.  Advice?”
– Noelle

CatholicView::

I think I want to believe, but I apparently just don't know how. Do you have any advice? – Noelle

 __________________________________

Noelle:

The fact that you have written to us means you are on the road to believing in the Lord.  Have you taken the time to pray about this?  A simple prayer will do.  If you don't know what to say, ask the Lord to help you, tell Him of your struggles to believe.   Ask boldly. You will get His help.  It is God Who is calling you to believe. 

 

Here is a short prayer for you:

 

“Dear Lord Almighty, I come before You, asking You to show me how to believe in You.  Touch my heart and let me know You are right here for me.  I have so many doubts, but I want to believe in You.  Take away my indecision and give me faith to believe in You.  I humble ask this through the power of Your Son, Jesus Christ." 

Know that God hears all prayers.  If you continue to pray, He will answer you.

Noelle, most importantly, make an appointment to speak with a priest or minister.  Tell what you feel and that you want to believe in our Lord.  You will be able to discern God's love for you as you talk to them.  What a glorious day that will be.  May God and His Son, Jesus Christ bless you.  – CatholicView Staff 


“My girlfriend and I are both 68 years old and are
expressing our love sexually.  Are we condemned?”
Ukrainian  - George
 

CatholicView:

I am a divorced man (annulment in process), who reconnected with a friend of 50 years, now a widow after 40 years of marriage. We have grown to love each other very much and would get married immediately, but both of us have circumstances that will not allow us to marry right away,. One of the circumstances is that she's in CA and I'm in DE, so we can't see each other very often. We are both 68 years old and are expressing our love sexually, although sometimes physically challenging. There is no seed to spill and no egg to fertilize, but we feel that God has given us to each other and it is very special. Neither one of us wants to go against God, but we want to take advantage of the time we have, especially at our age. Are we condemned for wanting to show our love to each other? - George

______________________________
 

George:

I am pleased to hear you have found someone to spend the remainder of your life with.  However, although you cannot have children at your age, you are committing adultery.  This goes against God's teaching.  And Church teaching.  Although it will be difficult, you must refrain from sexual activity until your vows are taken.   You are committing adultery. 

The wait will be worth it. 
Please visit your parish priest and discuss this further.   God will bless you as you move forward on your marriage journey.  - CatholicView Staff 

 

 

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