MAY/
JUNE
2015
ASK A
PRIEST
QUESTIONS
AND
ANSWERS
FATHER
KEVIN
BATES,
SM
FATHER
LAZARUS
CHAWDI
PRIEST
STAFF
CATHOLICVIEW
STAFF
FATHER
KEVIN
BATES,
SM
"Why do
we say
Jesus
will
return
to judge
the
living
and the
dead in
the
Creed?"
- Tony
Father
Kevin:
If when
we die
we are
judged
and or
given
God's
mercy to
enter
His
kingdom,
then why
do we
say
Jesus
will
return
to judge
the
living
and the
dead in
the
creed?
I know
many
prayers
are
symbolic
but
always
wonder
at this
point of
the
prayer.
Thank
You -
Tony
_____________________________________________________
Good
question
Tony!
What’s
ahead of
us all
only God
knows.
Our
faith
tells us
that we
will in
some
fashion
stand
before
God with
our
lives
open for
God’s
scrutiny.
I think
we can
safely
say that
this is
the case
now and
every
moment
of our
life.
Those
expressions
such as
one you
quote
here
from the
Creed,
are born
of a
faith
that
somehow
the God
Who
knows
our
hearts
will be
our
ultimate
judge.
We also
know
through
Jesus
that God
is
utterly
merciful
and
utterly
just.
The
point of
naming
this
truth in
the
Creed
acts as
timely
reminder
to us
all of
something
that
occurs
beyond
time and
beyond
human
understanding
and is
designed
to
prompt
us into
living
good and
worthy
lives.
Every
blessing
to you.
-
Father
Kevin
"Is the
death
penalty
immoral?"
- Zoe
Father
Kevin::
Is the
death
penalty
immoral?
I know
that
Jesus
would
not
support
capital
punishment,
but what
about
major
terrorists
like
Osama
bin
Laden or
Hitler?
I am
struggling
with
this,
please
help. -
Zoe
_____________________________________________________
Dear
Zoe:
This is
a very
vexed
question
and one
which
the
Church
has
struggled
with as
we are
doing
now.
The
death
penalty
removes
people
who have
committed
terrible
crimes.
It does
not
however
remove
the
pain,
the loss
and the
tragedy
that
these
people
have
bought
to
others.
Knowing
that
these
people
were
safely
locked
away for
the rest
of their
lives
would
achieve
just as
much in
terms of
the
healing
for
victims
of
crime.
The
Church
over the
centuries,
has
accepted
the
right of
governments
to
impose
the
death
penalty
for
major
crimes.
I think
you
would
find it
harder
these
days to
find a
member
of the
Church
who
still
approved
of such
killing.
Is it
immoral?
I think
it is,
but that
is just
my
personal
view. I
see it
as
institutionalized
murder.
It
serves
no
purpose
other
than
providing
some
people
with a
sense of
revenge,
which
quickly
turns to
a
feeling
of great
emptiness
as the
pain of
the
original
crime
still
persists.
When we
hear
victims
of crime
forgiving
those
who have
brutalized
them and
their
families,
I think
we see
the best
in the
human
spirit
coming
through
as we
did with
those
families
the
other
week in
southern
USA who
spoke
words of
forgiveness
following
the
racially
motivated
Church
massacre
there.
I've
seen the
same
thing
here in
Australia
too and
know of
at least
one
father
or a
murdered
daughter
who has
dedicated
his life
to
working
with
convicted
murderers
to
enable
them to
regain
some
sense of
human
value
following
crimes
they
have
committed.
Something
very
good
comes
through
these
brave
people,
the like
of which
I have
never
seen
emerge
when
capital
punishment
is
enforced.
When it
comes to
the
worst of
criminals,
such as
the ones
you've
named, I
think it
best to
leave
them to
God’s
mercy,
as their
crimes
are
often so
far
beyond
anything
we can
imagine.
Is it ok
to
execute
them?
What
good
does
this do
to the
rest of
us?
What
comes
from it
other
than a
sense of
vengeance
which in
the end
becomes
a sense
of
emptiness?
Let’s
keep
wrestling
to find
the best
way
forward
together. - Father Kevin
PRIEST
STAFF
"How can
I "Seek
first
the
Kingdom
of God
and
still
pursue
my life
and
career
goals?"
- Tony
Father
Francisco:
How can
I "seek
first
the
Kingdom
of God"
and
still
enthusiastically
pursue
my life
and
career
goals
with
intent
of being
successful
in
achieving
them?
- Tony
____________________________________________________
Tony:
There is
nothing
in the
scriptures
that say
seeking
the
Kingdom
of God
means
that one
is not
driven
and
successful
in one's
career
and
life.
On the
contrary,
there is
a
parable
that
Jesus
told
about
such
drive to
succeed
as part
of one's
destiny
to make
the
world a
better
place.
The
parable
is in
the
Gospel
of
Matthew,
Chapter
25,
Verses
14-30.
It is
about
three
servants
who were
given
five,
three
and one
talent (mina)
to do
something
with
this
money as
their
master
goes on
a
journey.
The
first
two
servants
invested
their
talents
and made
more for
their
master.
The
other
servant
hid the
money
and gave
it back
to the
master
with no
interest
or
profit.
The
master
was
upset
with
that
last
servant.
The
moral of
the
parable
is in
verse
29-30:
"For to
everyone
who has,
more
will be
given
and he
will
grow
rich;
but from
the one
who has
not,
even
what he
has will
be taken
away.
And
throw
this
useless
servant
into the
darkness
outside,
where
there
will be
wailing
and
grinding
of
teeth."
God
wants us
to use
our
talents,
minds,
intellect,
strengths
and
weaknesses
to make
the
world a
better
place
through
what we
do. Our
destiny
is to be
successful
in all
that we
do with
what we
have.
In God's
Kingdom,
there is
no room
for
slackers!
Seeking
the
Kingdom
of God
involves
our
faith
and
heart to
be
focused
on God
and to
do all
for the
greater
glory of
God.
That is
summed
up in
the verse
from
Matthew,
Chapter
6, Verse
21:
"For
where
your
treasure
is,
there
also
will
your
heart
be."
Success
in what
you do
must not
turn
into
self-centeredness
and
greed.
On the
contrary,
success
is
always
oriented
to the
good of
all
around
you.
Success
in your
destiny
is for
the
greater
glory of
God, not
for
you alone.
If your
heart
treasures
God and
His
love,
you will
succeed
and be
fulfilled
in all
things!
So,
don't
work
solely
for the
material,
for
material
things
will
always
disappoint.
Work for
making a
difference
and you
will be
blest
beyond
your
comprehension.
In that
same Gospel
of
Matthew,
Chapter
6,
Verses
19-20:
"Do not
store up
for
yourselves
treasures
on
earth,
where
moth and
decay
destroy,
and
thieves
break in
and
steal.
But
store up
treasures
in
heaven,
where
neither
moth nor
decay
destroy
nor
thieves
break in
and
steal."
Keep
your
eyes and
heart on
the
Lord,
and use
your
energy
to
succeed
and move
up! And
as you
do,
bring
others
along
with you
on the
road to
success
and
fulfillment.
By doing
so, you
store up
treasures
in
heaven
which
will
last
forever. - Father Francisco
"My
partner
is the
mother
of my
child
and is
Seventh
Day
Adventist
and
prejudicial
towards
Catholics.
I am
Catholic
and want
to marry
her but
will not
convert.
What
should I
do?"
- Teddy
Father
Francisco:
I come
from a
very
devout
Catholic
family,
however
my
partner
and
mother
of my
child is
a
Seventh
Day
Adventist
in which
she too
is
devout.
I love
her and
want to
marry
her but
it is as
if
Adventists
are
brought
up to be
prejudicial
towards
Catholics.
I really
want her
to
understand
my faith
and
maybe
convert
her to
Catholicism
( big
ask) the
only
reason
we are
not
married
is
because
I'm not
an
Adventist.
The
literature
I am
giving
her
doesn't
seem to
be
convincing
her. And
I am not
going to
convert.
- Teddy
____________________________________________________
Teddy:
This
relationship
between
Christian
beliefs
is
destined
to
fail.
To say
that
Seventh
Day
Adventists
are
anti-Catholic
is an
understatement.
They
teach
that the
Bishop
of Rome,
the
Universal
Pastor
of our
Catholic
Church
and
Communion,
is the
anti-Christ.
It has
become
obvious
to you
that
your
partner's
beliefs
in
Seventh
Day
Adventism
is
stronger
than her
love for
you. If
she really
loved
you, she
would be
open to
working
with you
on this
issue of
faith.
But she
isn't.
Even
though
you have
a child
to look
over and
guide,
your
relationship
will
never be
reconciled
and will
not be a
source
of
fulfillment
for
you.
I pray
that you
can move
on and
find someone
else who
will
share
your
Catholic
faith
and the
love of
Jesus
Christ
that you
have in
your
heart
within
the
Catholic
tradition. Be
the best
father
you can
be for
your
child.
That
should
now be
your
focus. -
Father
Francisco
"Why did
Pope
Francisco
say "It
is
dangerous
to
have a
relationship
with
Jesus"
- Vince
Father
Cervantes:
Why is
the Pope
of the
Catholic
Church,
speaking
the
following
on June
25,2014:
"THAT IT
IS
DANGEROUS
TO HAVE
RELATIONSHIP
WITH
JESUS
CHRIST?"
In
reference
to 2nd
Thessalonians
-Chapter-2:
4.
After
all was
not
Jesus
Christ
that
said to
Peter
"Take
care of
my
sheep"?
I used
to be a
Catholic.
THANKS.
- Vince
_______________________________________________________
Vince:
I do not
know
where
you got
this
line
that
Pope
Francis,
the
Bishop
of Rome
and the
universal
pastor
of the
Church,
said
that it
is
dangerous
to have
a
relationship
with
Jesus
Christ.
This
sounds
like one
of those
anti-Catholic
campaigns
that
frustrate
me
because
such
campaigns
are
filled
with
hate and
misinformation.
Pope
Francis
spoke in
Italian in
his
Wednesday
general
audience
about
the
danger
of those
saying
that
they
have a
personal
and
exclusive relationship
with Jesus
and have
NO
relationship
with the
Church
or any
Christian
community.
As he
said,
there
are no
"do it
yourself"
Christians
because
all
Christians
receive
the
faith of
the Lord
from
someone
else
through
evangelism.
Here is
what
Pope
Francis
really
said on
June 25,
2015:
....we
are able
to live
this
journey
not only
because
of
others,
but
together
with
others.
In the
Church,
there is
no "do
it
yourself,"
there
are no
free
agents."
How many
times
did Pope
Benedict
describe
the
Church
as an
ecclesial
WE!
At
times,
one
hears
someone
say: "I
believe
in God,
I
believe
in
Jesus,
but I
don't
care
about
the
Church..."
How many
times
have we
heard
this?
And this
is not
good.
There
are
those
who
believe
they can
maintain
a
personal,
direct
and
immediate
relationship
with
Jesus
Christ
OUTSIDE
the
communion
and the
mediation
of the
Church.
These
are
dangerous
and
harmful
temptations.
These
are, as
the
great
Paul VI
said,
absurd
dichotomies.
Once you
have
accepted
Jesus as
your
Lord and
Savior,
you
enter
the Body
of
Christ,
the
Church,
the
body of
all
believers
in Jesus
Christ.
You
cannot
have
faith in
Jesus
without
being
part of
the
Church.
Saint
Paul, in
I
Corinthians
12,
describes
all
believers
as being
part of
the Body
of
Christ
on
earth.
Each
person
has been
given a
part in
the Body
of
Christ
to bring
others
to
salvation
and
reconciliation.
One does
not have
faith in
Jesus
without
being
part of
the Body
called
the
Church.
The
Church
is the
New
Jerusalem
as
described
in
Revelation
21:9-11,
and it
is this
New
Jerusalem
that
Jesus
will be
united
with at
the end
times.
Here is
what
Revelation
21:9-11
says so
clearly:
One of
the
seven
angels
who held
the
seven
bowls
filled
with the
seven
last
plagues
came and
said to
me,
"Come
here. I
will
show you
the
bride,
the wife
of the
Lamb."
He took
me in
spirit
to a
great,
high
mountain
and
showed
me the
holy
city
Jerusalem
coming
down out
of
heaven
from
God. It
gleamed
with the
splendor
of God.
At the
end
times,
Jesus is
not
going to
marry
individuals....He
is going
to be
united
with His
Church,
the New
Jerusalem!
Therefore,
our
faith in
Jesus
unites
me with
the
Church.
It has
to. My
faith
makes me
a member
of the
Church
and if
not, our
faith is
not
salvific
and
is worthless.
Certainly,
Pope
Francis
is very
clear:
it is
a dangerous
and
harmful
temptation
to think
that you
can be a
Christian
without
other
Christians.
And that
is the
truth.
Saint
Paul
reminds Timothy
in I
Timothy
3:15:
You
should
know how
to
behave
in the
household
of God,
which is
the
Church
of the
living
God, the
pillar
and
foundation
of
truth.
If you
truly
have
faith in
Jesus,
you are
part of
the Body
of
Christ,
the
Church,
the
pillar
and
foundation
of
truth,
the
bride of
Christ.
To say
that one
has
faith in
Jesus
without
belonging
to the
Church
is
deceiving himself.
For the
complete
speech
of Pope
Francis
on that
particular
day,
here is
the link: https://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/audiences/2014/documents/papa-francesco_20140625_udienza-generale.html
-
Father
Cervantes
"Is it
wrong to
wear
religious
items
like
medals
or
crosses?"
-
Valerie
Father
Francisco:
I have
two
questions:
Is it
wrong to
wear
religious
items
like
medals
or
crosses?
How
about
having
Statues
or
figurines?
I am
confused
on
whether
these
are
considered
"sinful"
in terms
of
idolizing
and
worshipping.
we
shouldn't
believe
in
amulets,
good
luck
charms
or
protective
charms.
But
isn't
wearing
these
items
act like
amulets
to
"protect"
us?
Most of
us have
these
items
blessed.
Is it
then
considered
a amulet
and is
seen as
sinful?
Where is
the line
then
being
crossed.
Thanks!
-
Valerie
___________________________________________________
Valerie:
Wearing
religious
items
like
medals
and
crosses
are not
wrong or
sinful
to the
normal
Catholic.
These
religious
symbols
are
reminders
of God's
presence
with us
or of
the
saint's
intercessory
prayers
for us
all.
Nothing
material
can ever
protect
us from
anything.
No
"amulet,"
no
religious
symbol
have any
powers
associated
with
protection,
luck, or
anything
like
that.
But once
someone
believes
that any
of these
religious
symbols
have
"power"
to
protect
or bring
luck,
then
they
fall
into
idolatry.
However,
images
of Jesus
or the
saints
serve to
remind
me
of the
love and
spirituality
that
they
lived so
that I
can live
that
same
spirituality
as they
did.
Pictures
and
statutes
are like
the
pictures
that I
have of
family
members
and
friends.
The
pictures
are not
them,
but they
do
remind
me of
their
love for
me and
my love
for
them.
These
family
and
friends
pictures
always
bring a
smile to
me. And
so do
the
pictures
and
images
of Jesus
and the
saints
and
other
Christian
heroes:
they
spur me
on to
victory
over sin
through
my faith
in
Jesus.
As a
priest,
I bless
these
sacred
images
and
medals
to set
them
aside
for
God's
greater
glory.
There is
NO
promise
of
anything
beyond
the fact
that
these
images
and
medals
are
being
set
aside
for
God's
glory,
not
mine,
and
certainly
not for
some
fabricated
notion
of luck
and
protection.
But if
you
believe
that
these
things
are more
than
just
reminders
of God's
presence,
then
don't
use
them.
But I
enjoy my
picture
of Jesus
here in
my home
(based
on the
image of
the
Shroud
of
Turin).
I am
always
reminded
of
Jesus'
love and
His Gift
of
salvation,
and His
presence
with
me.
There is
a
biblical
reference
that I
want to
share
with you
in
regards
to such
religious
articles
that explains
why
Christians
have
such
articles
of faith
close to
them.
In the
Acts of
the
Apostles,
Chapter
21,
Verse
12,
Saint
Luke the
writer
recounts
why
people
used to
take
souvenirs
of the
apostles
back to
their
homes
and
friends:
"So
extraordinary
were the
mighty
deeds
God
accomplished
at the
hands of
Saint
Paul
that
when
face
cloths or
aprons
that
touched his
skin
were
applied
to the
sick,
their
diseases
left
them and
the evil
spirits
came out
of
them."
From
then on,
Christians
have
always kept
something
that
reminded
them of
God's
power
and
presence.
In the
biblical
reference
in Acts
of the
Apostles,
the face
cloths
and
aprons
didn't
have the
power to
do
anything.
It was
the
faith of
the
people
that
these
articles
elicited
that
healed
and
saved,
that
faith in
Jesus
that was
spurred
by
having a
symbol
to help
them
focus
their
faith in
Jesus to
accomplish
the
impossible.
These
religious
articles
are just
that....reminders.
Faith is
what
accomplishes
all
things
in
Jesus.
And if
these
articles
of
faith can
help
anyone
focus on
Jesus,
then
praise
God!
-
Father
Francisco
"It
seems
many Old
Testament
men had
multiple
wives
yet they
were
favored.
I wonder
if
these
commandments
were
directed
to
single married men only?" - Bob
Father
Francisco:
It seems
many Old
Testament
men had
multiple
wives
yet they
were
favored.
For
instance
Moses
had 3
wives
and he
brought
to us
the 10
commandments.
For a
married
men
(especially
with
many
wives)
it would
be easy
follow
the
commandment
about
adultery
and the
commandant
about
neighbor's
wife;
however,
for a
single
person
it may
be
impossible
or
really
hard to
follow.
I wonder
if these
commandments
were
directed
to
single
married
men
only.
Even
when I
go to
church I
look at
beautiful
women
but many
of those
are
married
or
engaged
(some of
them
just go
alone to
masses
while
their
husbands
stay at
home). -
Bob
_________________________________________________________
Bob:
The
commandments
in the
Old
Testament,
Exodus,
Chapter
20, were
meant
for
everyone,
single,
married,
celibate,
or even
married
to
several
others
(as they
were in
the Old
Testament).
In the
Old
Testament,
there
was an
acceptance
of
polygamy
that
eventually
gave way
to the
definition
of
marriage
to be
between
one man
and one
woman.
When God
called
His
people,
the
Hebrews
(Jews),
He gave
them the
commandments
through
Moses
and God
accepted
the
people
as they
were --
knowing
that in
time,
their
faith
and
spirituality
would
grow and
mature
and they
would
shed
their
old ways
and
accept
God's
ways.
The
commandments
are for
everyone.
And the
example
you used
that it
would be
difficult
for a
single
man to
keep the
commandment
against
adultery
and
coveting one's
neighbor's
spouse, the
married
man is
also
expected
to keep
this
commandment
as
well.
And if
one is
single,
why
would it
be
difficult
to
keep?
Everyone
is
expected
to keep
the
commandments,
do not
commit
adultery
and do
not
covet.
And as a
celibate
priest,
I am
expected
to keep
that
commandment.
And
married
people
are
expected
to keep
that
commandment.
My faith
in God
and my
love for
Jesus
DEMANDS
that I
keep the
commandments
-
Father
Francisco
"I am
seeing
Charismatic
members
of the
Latin
Community
in my
church
sharing
facebook
pictures
of small
children
hyperventilating
and
sobbing
while
singing
to
Jesus.
Does the
Church
condone
this?" -
Debbie
Father
Francisco:
I am
seeing
Charismatic
members
of the
Latin
Community
in my
church
sharing
Facebook
pictures
of small
children
hyperventilating
and
sobbing
while
singing
to Jesus
and
praising
it. The
video is
not even
from a
Catholic
source
but a
protestant
Pentecostal
one.
Father
Nunez on
Spanish
EWTN
sends
out
warnings
to
Catholic
Charismatics
to not
allow
children
to
Celebrate
Halloween
or All
Souls
Day
Celebrations.
Is our
church
monitoring
these
groups
to make
sure
they
aren't
mixing
religions
right on
our own
church
grounds?
If the
church
approves,
then
fine;
but
something
tells me
the
church
is not
aware
that
this is
going
on. I am
concerned
this
group is
going a
little
too far
with
Protestant
Pentecostal
practices
of
Speaking
in
Tongues
at
meetings,
healings,
and
exorcisms.
- Debbie
_______________________________________________________
Debbie:
I share
with you
my
concerns
for the
charismatic
movement
within
the
Church.
I am
really
concerned
for the
Spanish-speaking
charismatic
ministries
and
their
leadership.
I have
worked
with the
people
of this
spiritual
movement
that has
been
with us
since
the
1970's
in the
United
States
of
America.
I find
that the
people
involved
in the
charismatic
spirituality
are
faith-filled
believers
and they
really
sense
and feel
the
presence
of God
in their
lives.
I have
also
experienced
the
miracles
of the
Holy
Spirit
in
regards
to
the healing
of
broken
souls
and even
physical
healings.
At the
same
time, I
have
become
alarmed
at how
the
leadership
of the
charismatic
prayer
groups
have
taken on
such a
dictatorial
control
over the
members
of
the prayer
groups.
The
manifestation
of the
charismatic
gifts of
the Holy
Spirit
is
described
all over
the New
Testament
(the
Christian
Scriptures).
Saint
Paul
writes
in
I
Corinthians
14
(a whole
chapter
on this
subject)
that the
gifts of
the Holy
Spirit
are
really
for
unbelievers
as a
sign of
God's
presence.
The
problems
you have
so
wisely
discerned
about
the
charismatic
movement
was also
seen by
Saint
Paul in
I
Corinthians
14.
In this
issue of
how
prayer groups
are
directed
and
organized
and what
is
taught
there in
the name
of Jesus
and His
Church,
the
local
pastor
is
ultimately
responsible
for the
discernment
of the
truth of
the
gospel.
The
local
pastor
must
be involved
and
attend
their
meetings
and give
teachings
according
to the
Word of
God and
the
magisterium
of the
Church.
If the
pastor
cannot
do that,
then the
bishop
of
the diocese
must get
involved
and
investigate
what is
going on
with the
leadership
of the
charismatic
prayer
groups
in the
parish.
As a
local
pastor
of a
large
parish,
I know
how
difficult
it is to
keep an
"eye" on
everything
that is
going
on. But
the
"buck"
stops
with
me in
regards
to my
parish!
I cannot
be
derelict
in my
pastoral
responsibilities.
I ask
that you
speak
with
your
parish
pastor/priest-in-charge
and talk
to him
about
your
concerns
about
the
charismatic
groups
in your
parish.
Please
be
prepared
to give
specific
examples
of your
concerns.
You do
not want
to make
irresponsible
or
untrue
accusations.
For
example,
showing
children
in
"charismatic
ecstasy"
crying
and
shaking
on
Facebook
video is
close to
being
abusive.
That
alone
would
get the
leadership
of the
prayer
group in
a major
discussion
with me
as their
pastor
(and
I would
change
the
leadership
of the
groups
if any
kind of
abusive
or
manipulating
behavior
is
detected).
Once
again,
it is
your
parish
pastor/priest-in-charge's
responsibility
to deal
with all
things
happening
in the
parish
in
regards
to
ministry
and
parochial
outreach.
If
speaking
with
your
pastor
doesn't
satisfy
you, your
diocesan bishop
is
willing
to hear
of your
concerns.
I must
say
again:
the
charismatic
prayer
groups
in my
parish
have
been a
source
of joy
and
amazement
to me as
a parish
pastor.
I have
seen
miracles
and I
have
seen
changed
hearts.
I have
seen
healings
and I
have
seen hardened
hearts
soften
by the
power of
the Holy
Spirit.
I have
seen
people
spiritually
mature
and I
have
seen
spiritual
wisdom
grow. I
have
faithful
parishioners
who are
willing
to do
outreach
and
ministerial
work in
our
neighborhoods.
I
am grateful
for
their
generous
hearts
and the
sacrifice
of their
time.
At the
same
time,
there
are
major
concerns
in
regards
to
leadership,
power
plays,
and
people
claiming
to have
the gift
of
prophesy
when
they do
not have
such a
gift but
instead
have
used their
"prophecies"
to
manipulate
people.
You are
correct
in your
concerns.
I pray
that you
speak up
when you
see something
in your
parish
that
concerns
you.
That
means
that the
Holy
Spirit
is
inspiring
you to
do
something!
-
Father
Francisco
"Why
would so
many of
our
women
knowing
the
scripture
and the
Consequence
ever
wear
pants.
Why
would
men of
G-d
allow
it?" -
Daniel
Father
Cervantes:
Women
And
Wearing
Pants:
The
issue is
that a
friend
said
that the
Torah in
Deuteronomy
22:4-5
says, "
A woman
must NOT
wear
men’s
clothing,
nor a
man wear
women’s
clothing,
for the
LORD
your God
detests
anyone
who does
this".
They
then say
that
this
means
"PANTS".
So women
are not
allowed
to wear
pants
today
because
it is
man's
clothing.
If I
miss
understand
Deuteronomy
22:5,
THEN for
a woman
to wear
pants,
G-d
accounts
this as
an
abomination
and
detest
it [A
SIN] .
So, why
would
ANY
woman
Jew or
Christian
ever
wear
pants if
G-d sees
it as an
abomination.
The last
thing I
would
want to
do is
sin
before
G-d and
be seen
as an
abomination
and
detested.
Please
help me
to
understand
our
teaching
on this
matter.
AND does
THIS
SCRIPTURE
MEAN -
Pants
for
today.
Why
would so
many of
our
women
knowing
the
scripture
and the
Consequence
ever
wear
pants.
Why
would
men of
G-d
allow
it? -
Daniel
___________________________________________________
Daniel:
All
Christians,
who have
professed
faith in
Jesus
Christ
as Lord
and
Savior,
have
been
washed
clean in
His
Blood
shed on
the
cross on
Calvary.
The most
important
part of
the
Christian
message
is that
all
believers
in Jesus
Christ
are now
in a New
Law and
New
Covenant
with God
the
Father
through
Jesus
Christ
in the
Holy
Spirit. In
the
Christian
scriptures,
in the
Gospel
of Mark,
Chapter
7,
Verses
17
through
23, it
is
written
for
Christians:
Jesus
said
to his
disciples,
" Are
even you
likewise
without
understanding?
Do you
not
realize
that
everything
that
goes
into a
person
from
outside
cannot
defile,
since it
enters
not the
heart,
but the
stomach
and
passes
out into
the
latrine?
Thus He
declared
ALL
foods
clean.
But what
comes
out of a
person,
that is
what
defiles.
From
within
people,
from
their
hearts,
come
evil
thoughts,
unchastity,
theft,
murder,
adultery,
greed,
malice,
deceit,
licentiousness,
envy,
blasphemy,
arrogance,
folly.
All
these
evils
come
from
within
and they
defile."
For
Christians,
Jesus
Christ
has
fulfilled
the Old
Law and
has a
established
a New
Covenant
made by
one's
faith in
Jesus.
Through
faith
and
obedience
to
Christ,
we are
washed
clean
and no
longer
under
the Old
Law.
The
prescriptions
of the
Old
Covenant
and the
Mosaic
Law has
been
fulfilled
and
completed
in Jesus
and
these
prescriptions
of the
Old Law
are no
longer legally
binding
for
Christians.
Christians
no
longer
follow
the
dictates
of the
Old Law
for
salvation
and
God's
grace.
On the
contrary,
my faith
and
obedience
to
Christ
in the
Gospels
is what
gives me
salvation,
peace,
forgiveness,
reconciliation,
complete
access
to God
the
Father,
and spiritual
freedom.
So,
questions
such as
you
proposed
do not
resonate
with my
Christian
faith in
Jesus.
What
constitutes
woman's
clothes
and
men's
clothes
changes
with
each
generation
and
culture.
Therefore,
what
one's
wears
does not
defile
me
before
God. It
is what
is in my
heart
that
defiles
me. And
the
motivations
of the
heart is
what I
am
judged
by, not
by
anything
exterior
to me.
Here is
what
Saint
Paul
writes
to the
Galatians
in the
Christian
scriptures
(the New
Testament),
Galatians
3:2-6 --
"I want
to learn
only
this
from
you:
did you
receive
the
Spirit
from
works of
the law,
or faith
in what
you
heard?.....Does,
then,
the one
who
supplies
the
Spirit
to you
and
works
mighty
deeds
among
you do
so from
works of
the law
or from
FAITH in
what you
heard?
This
Abraham
believed
God, and
it was
credited
to him
as
righteousness."
It isn't
following
the Old
Law and
living
in the
Old
Covenant
that
gives me
salvation
and full
access
to God.
In the
New Law
and
Covenant,
it is
faith
(and
obedience
to the
Gospel
of Jesus
Christ)
that
gives me
all
things
in God.
I am
reminded of
the old
song,
Amazing
Grace.
That
sums up
the
whole
Christian
message.
The Old
Law has
been
abrogated
in Jesus
Christ!
Christians
now live
in the
New
Covenant
of God's
love,
mercy,
and
forgiveness,
not
judged
by
appearances
but by
what is
in our
hearts.
-Father Cervantes
"I am a
new
Christian
but feel
so
down.
Can you
give
me
guidance?"
-
Abdullah
Father
Cervantes
I am a
new
Christian,
and I
need
more
guidance
from
you, I
feel so
down. I
was
trying
to
commit
suicide.
but who
ever is
in the
sky had
saved
me.
Please
reply to
me back,
I need
to talk
with you
freely
and
share.
Thanks.
-
Abdullah
__________________________________________________________
Abdullah:
Welcome
to the
Body of
Christ,
the
Church,
and
welcome
to the
faith
that
will
save you
and give
you a
new
purpose
in
life.
You
believe
in
something
outside
of
yourself,
and your
faith
and
obedience
to the
Gospel
of Jesus
Christ
will
bring
you to
Love
Itself
Who is
God.
You have
been
made in
the
Image of
God. You
have
been
made
with
God's
love. You
were put
together
by God's
Plan for
a
purpose
in this
world
and in
your
community.
You are
God's
gift to
the
world.
You are
God's
love to
the
world.
Your
faith
will
bring
you to
the
realization
that
through
Jesus,
you can
and will
touch
God and
God will
touch
you in
the
depths
of your
soul.
When you
become
depressed
and sad,
stop and
open
your
mind to
the
beauty
of God's
creation
around
you and
realize
that you
are part
of the
beauty
of God's
creation.
You are
part of
God's
plan.
You are
important
to the
plan
that God
has to
save all
those
who live
in the
world.
Though
you may
be
overwhelmed
by the
present
moment,
understand
that you
are part
of God's
BIG
picture,
the BIG
plan
that you
cannot
see or
understand
at the
moment.
You are
an
amazing
creation
of God.
So, stop
looking
only at
your
problems
and
yourself.
Open
your
eyes,
the eyes
of your
mind and
soul,
and see
how
truly
amazing
you are
because
you have
been
created
in the
Image
and
Likeness
of God.
So, when
the
pressures
and
problems
of life
blind
you to
your own
God-given
beauty,
please
say this
little
prayer:
Lord
Jesus,
you are
my
Savior
and
Lord.
You are
saving
me and
you have
saved
me.
Help me
see your
plan for
my life,
and help
me to
show the
world
that you
are Lord
and
Savior.
Open my
mind to
see the
wonders
of your
creation
which
includes
me. I
thank
you,
Father,
for
having
created
me in
Your
Image
and
Likeness.
Send me
your
Holy
Spirit
to
always
lift my
eyes to
see only
You and
Your
Love for
us all.
In Jesus
Name, I
pray.
Amen.
Go now
Abdullah
in
peace,
knowing
that you
are
indeed
special
and
loved by
our
Heavenly
Father.
-
Father Cervantes
"Can you
help me
to
understand
the
dialogue
of
St.
Catherine?"
- Tim
Father
Francisco:
I am
reading
the
dialogue
of St.
Catherine
of
Sienna
and in
it, the
God the
Father
refers
to
looking
at
yourself
with the
" eye of
the
Intellect".
Can you
please
rephrase
that
term to
help me
understand
what is
being
written?
Thanks,
Tim.
_____________________________________________________
Tim:
The
actual
quote is
included
for all
our
readers
below.
Saint
Catherine
of Siena
was a
great
mystic
and
theological
teacher
of the
Church
during
the
1300's.
She had
visions
of
angels
and
Jesus
Himself
often
since
her
sixth
birthday.
She
became a
religious
(professed
nun)
when she
was only
16! In
her visions,
she had
such
wonderful
and
awesome
experiences
of God
and
angels
and the
Blessed
Virgin
Mary.
In one
of her
revelations,
about
Divine
Providence,
she
quoted
this verse
from her
mystical
encounter
with God
the
Father:
"Open
the eye
of your
intellect,
and gaze
into Me,
and you
shall
see the
beauty
of my
rational
creature.
And look
at those
creatures,
who
among
the
beauties
which I
have
given to
the
soul,
creating
[the
soul] in
My Image
and
Similitude,
are
clothed
in the
with the
nuptial
garment
(that
is, the
garment
of
love),
adorned
with
many
virtues,
by which
they are
united
with Me
through
love."
I guess
another
way of
saying
this
today
would be
this:
open
your
mind,
your
intellect,
and see
how
rational
God is,
for God
is all
reason,
all
intellect,
all
wisdom,
all
beauty,
all
life, all
love,
and see
God
reflected
in His
creation
of the
human
soul.
For each
of us
are
created
in the
image
and
likeness
of God.
By
meditating
on our
own
beauty
and soul
and our
rationality,
we can
begin to
understand
and
become
united
with the
Creator
Father
who is
the
infinite
version
of
ourselves.
To God,
we are
beauty
because
we have
been
made in
the
Image
and
Likeness
of
Beauty
Itself
(yes,
you are
truly
beautiful
to God
always).
We
reflect
God, we
are the
products
of God's
pure
love, we
are
love.
If only
all of
us could
even
appreciate
this
truth,
there
would
never be
the
effects
of sin
and
greed
that
surround
us and
comes
from our
basest
desires.
But once
we touch
the face
of God,
we
understand
and live
and feel
that we
come
from
God,
that our
soul has
God's
DNA in
it, and
that we
come
from God
and will
return
to God
if only
we are
united
to Him
in true
faith
and
obedience.
God is
intelligence,
and in
this
verse
from
Saint
Catherine
of
Siena's
mystical
vision
of God,
God asks
us not
to only
know Him
with our
feelings,
but with
our
minds
and
intellect.
For our
readers,
here is
the
introduction
to the
Dialogues
of Saint
Catherine
of Siena
and the
source
of the
question
asked
above:
A
TREATISE
OF
DIVINE
PROVIDENCE
How a
soul,
elevated
by
desire
of the
honor of
God, and
of the
salvation
of her
neighbors,
exercising
herself
in
humble
prayer,
after
she had
seen the
union of
the
soul,
through
love,
with
God,
asked of
God four
requests.
"The soul, who is lifted by a very great and yearning desire for
the
honor of
God and
the
salvation
of
souls,
begins
by
exercising
herself,
for a
certain
space of
time, in
the
ordinary
virtues,
remaining
in the
cell of
self-knowledge,
in order
to know
better
the
goodness
of God
towards
her.
This she
does
because
knowledge
must
precede
love,
and only
when she
has
attained
love,
can she
strive
to
follow
and to
clothe
herself
with the
truth.
But, in
no way,
does the
creature
receive
such a
taste of
the
truth,
or so
brilliant
a light
there
from, as
by means
of
humble
and
continuous
prayer,
founded
on
knowledge
of
herself
and of
God;
because
prayer,
exercising
her in
the
above
way,
unites
with God
the soul
that
follows
the
footprints
of
Christ
Crucified,
and
thus, by
desire
and
affection,
and
union of
love,
makes
her
another
Himself.
Christ
would
seem to
have
meant
this,
when He
said: To
him who
will
love Me
and will
observe
My
commandment,
will I
manifest
Myself;
and he
shall be
one
thing
with Me
and I
with
him. In
several
places
we find
similar
words,
by which
we can
see that
it is,
indeed,
through
the
effect
of love,
that the
soul
becomes
another
Himself.
That
this may
be seen
more
clearly,
I will
mention
what I
remember
having
heard
from a
handmaid
of God,
namely,
that,
when she
was
lifted
up in
prayer,
with
great
elevation
of mind,
God was
not wont
to
conceal,
from the
eye of
her
intellect,
the love
which He
had for
His
servants,
but
rather
to
manifest
it; and,
that
among
other
things,
He used
to say:
"Open
the eye
of your
intellect,
and gaze
into Me,
and you
shall
see the
beauty
of My
rational
creature.
And look at those creatures who, among the beauties which I have
given to
the
soul,
creating
her in
My image
and
similitude,
are
clothed
with the
nuptial
garment
(that
is, the
garment
of
love),
adorned
with
many
virtues,
by which
they are
united
with Me
through
love.
And yet
I tell
you, if
you
should
ask Me,
who
these
are, I
should
reply"
(said
the
sweet
and
amorous
Word of
God)
"they
are
another
Myself,
inasmuch
as they
have
lost and
denied
their
own
will,
and are
clothed
with
Mine,
are
united
to Mine,
are
conformed
to
Mine."
It is
therefore
true,
indeed,
that the
soul
unites
herself
with God
by the
affection
of love.
So, that soul, wishing to know and follow the truth more manfully,
and
lifting
her
desires
first
for
herself
-- for
she
considered
that a
soul
could
not be
of use,
whether
in
doctrine,
example,
or
prayer,
to her
neighbor,
if she
did not
first
profit
herself,
that is,
if she
did not
acquire
virtue
in
herself
--
addressed
four
requests
to the
Supreme
and
Eternal
Father.
The
first
was for
herself;
the
second
for the
reformation
of the
Holy
Church;
the
third a
general
prayer
for the
whole
world,
and in
particular
for the
peace of
Christians
who
rebel,
with
much
lewdness
and
persecution,
against
the Holy
Church;
in the
fourth
and
last,
she
besought
the
Divine
Providence
to
provide
for
things
in
general,
and in
particular,
for a
certain
case
with
which
she was
concerned."
Thank
you for
writing
to us.
-
Father
Francisco
CATHOLICVIEW
STAFF
"I am
not
Catholic
but am
engaged
to a
Catholic
and we
want to
marry
outside
on a
farm.
Is this
acceptable
in
the
Catholic
Church?"
-
Carolyn
CatholicView
Staff:
I'm
currently
engaged
to a
Catholic
and we
will be
getting
married
in a
couple
years.
His mom
would
like us
to get
married
in a
Catholic
Church
due to
God not
recognizing
our
marriage.
We want
to get
married
outside
on a
farm. Is
our
marriage
going to
be
recognized
by the
Catholic
Church
and is
it
acceptable?
-
Carolyn
________________________________________________________
Carolyn:
Congratulations
on your
upcoming
marriage.
Pleas
know
that
marriage
isn't
just
between
you and
your
fiancé -
it's a
Sacrament
and a
three-way
"contract"
between
man,
woman
and
God.
You can
have
another
clergy
member
of a
different
faith
marry
you
outside,
but a
priest
cannot
do this.
Unless
there is
an
unusual
reason,
Catholics
are
married
in the
presence
of our
Lord
within
the
Church.
A
Catholic
Christian
getting
married
outside
on a
farm is
not
acceptable
nor is
recognized
by the
Catholic
Church.
-
CatholicView
Staff
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