Father Bill:

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Dear Carol:

First, let me just be honest and let you know that I have long harbored some skepticism about Marian apparitions and the prophecies that so often accompany them.  While some of these “private revelations”, as the Church calls them, have been accepted by the Church as believable, they are not matters of faith—that is, Catholics are not required to accept them as part of the deposit of faith.

Of course, once the Church has proclaimed that it is acceptable to believe in a given private revelation, it lends a measure of credibility to it that cannot be summarily dismissed, even if one chooses to be skeptical.

As you know, it is not only in Marian prophecies that we see God portrayed with human emotions.  The Bible—and particularly the Hebrew Scriptures—has many such examples.  God can be angry.  God can be sad. God can be tender.  God can be vengeful. God can be tricky.  Why all these manifestations of so many common human traits?

I think that in many of the Marian apparitions—especially those not approved by the Church—these human emotions really come from the humans who are claiming to see the visions.  They often are angry about something going on in the Church or the world, and their rendering of their visions is a way of promoting their agenda.  Portraying God as a profoundly angered almighty is a way of motivating people to accept the terms of the visionary's agenda.  It can be quite frightening to believe that God is angry enough to treat us or our world very badly; the visionaries know that, so they tend to use fear quite liberally.

However, the main reason why God is so often portrayed with human qualities is that it is nearly impossible to think of God in any other way.  For example, we give God gender.  You did it in your question; you used the pronoun “He”, yet God has no gender.  God is neither “He” nor “She”, but calling God “It” would—in the English language, at least—utterly depersonalize “Him”.  We don't easily relate to an “it”.

That word “relate” may be the key to understanding why the Bible and visionaries alike attribute human qualities to God; they personalize God.  Without that personalization, how would we relate to Him?  It's really hard to relate to a disembodied spirit who shares no qualities with us.  That is surely one reason why “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us”.  Jesus is the human face of God.

There, in Jesus, we see the face of the all-loving God you ask about. In the end, human words, whether in the suspect prophecies of some of the Marian apparitions or even in the Bible, are bound to fail. They simply are not capable of getting beyond the limits of our human vocabularies and comprehension to the ultimate reality of God. Jesus is God's Last Word for all of humanity, and if there is anything that Jesus does unambiguously, it to express the infinite love that God has for us. Our words constantly fall short, but God's Word says it all.

Thank you for your question, Carol, and may God bless you. - Father Bill

"Do Catholics believe in the rapture?" - Janice

Father Bill:

Do Catholics believe in the rapture? If my cats are going to be left and I am going to be taken into the air, I just don't want to go.  How could a loving God leave our pets to suffer like that?  I am new to the Catholic faith through RCIA a number of years ago.  I listen to Christian radio in the car and they talk about the rapture a lot. - Janice

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Dear Janice,

You really have at least two questions here: Do Catholics believe in the rapture? How good is Christian radio for Catholics?

Since you are obviously Web-savvy, I'm going to refer you to this article: http://www.littlerockscripture.org/en/wtbsa_rapture.html. It does a wonderful job explaining the Catholic perspective on the rapture. Simply put, we Catholics do not believe in the rapture as it is portrayed in popular evangelical culture and literature, so your cats will not be left behind—but please read the article.  It will answer your question way better than I can.

How good is Christian radio for us Catholics?  From a Catholic perspective it's really a mixed bag.  I don't listen to it very much, but I do know that there are lots of good programs on Christian radio.

However, when I listen, I listen with a very discerning ear.  Christian radio in its most common form usually has an evangelical theology, so it contains many ideas that simply do not agree with the teachings of the Catholic Church.  The rapture is just one example.

While most of these stations try to tread lightly when it comes to the Catholic Church or even other Christian Churches, I have all too often found that they take digs at us Catholics in usually subtle ways.  Simply put, they usually have nice music and some pretty decent programming, but there are things that Catholics should be wary of.

While vacationing in Corpus Christi a few years ago, I learned of a wonderful Catholic radio station that is maintained by the Diocese of Corpus Christi.  KLUX has a lot of really nice easy listening music interspersed with news, Catholic prayers and inspirational messages.  When I got home I found that I could listen to the station on the Web.  You can too: http://klux.org/listenlive.asp.   I hope you'll like it.  God bless you, Janice. - Father Bill

"Under Jewish Law doesn't a brother have to marry
his brother's widowed wife should he die?"- Eljunia.

Father Bill:

I'm reading Mark 6, where John the Baptist is imprisoned and later beheaded, but John condemns Herod for marrying his sister-in- law.  I was under the impression that under Jewish law one had to look after one's brother's widowed wife usually by marrying her i.e Judah and Tamar. Why is Herod being condemned for this particular infraction?  Eljunia

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Dear Eljunia,

I think the answer to this is pretty straightforward. Herodias' previous husband, the Gospel of Mark says his name was Phillip, wasn't dead. This makes it a clear-cut case of adultery.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that both of Herodias' husbands were half-brothers of her father. This means that they were her uncles, which in turn means that both relationships were incestuous.

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Richard:

You have been faithful to the Lord and He is well pleased.  You will be richly blessed.  God wants us all to be faithful and you have succeeded to the Lord's delight.  Pray about this, asking the Lord to lead you as you strive to be an example for others.

May God continue to richly bless you with His grace.  You are a true disciple for our heavenly Father.  The Priests at CatholicView

"I offered a course online and one student paid tuition but only
attended once. Am I obligated to refund her money? - Mark

CatholicView Staff:

I have a business ethics question. I recently offered a course online in my area of expertise. One of the registrants of the course attended only one of the 12 courses offered. After a few weeks, I contacted her to ensure she was being notified of when classes were and see why she was missing. She had several reasons why she wasn't attending but mostly due to being "busy". My question is, should I refund her registration fee? I feel badly taking money from someone who is not benefiting from the course, at the same time, the course has been offered as promised, and I can't force her to attend. What is the right thing to do? - Mark

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Mark:
 

I presume that she has not asked for a refund of the registration fee. You do not have to refund the money since she is the one making all the decisions concerning how her money is being spent. She knew her obligations of participating in the class. But in the interest of compassion, you could refund the money of the registration fee to her knowing that she did not use the money as she should have. But she did pay for the class that she did not want to take. So, your refunding of the money would be a sign of kindness on your part.

The right thing to do: follow your heart. You are not required by law as a Christian to give back the money. But being an understanding and compassionate person, you could refund the money telling your student that when she is ready to give her full attention to the class, she can register again in the future.  By the way, thank you asking this question. It shows that you are a man of integrity. - The Priests at CatholicView

"Has there ever been a doctor of the Church Who's doctorate
has been removed? - Em

CatholicView:

Has there ever been a Doctor of the Church who's Doctorate has been removed?  I was reading St. Augustine's commentary on the sermon on the mount and am appalled at Chapter 16:49-50.  Surely the Church can't accept Augustine's position.  Thank you for answering - Em

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Em:

The title, Doctor of the Church, is usually given to a person whose writings, life, and sermons have made a major impact on the Christian faith, the understanding of scripture, and the clarification of questions concerning Church teachings and doctrines.  The title is given after the person dies, so it has never happened that a doctor of the Church has ever lost his or her title.  In the Roman Catholic Church, the title, Doctor of the Church, is usually bestowed by the Bishop of Rome, the pope.  It can also be given by local churches as well.  The list of Doctors of the Church is not large.  Such persons who have been given that title are Saint Athanasius, Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, Saint Augustine, as you mentioned, Saint Thomas Aquinas (my favorite), and the last one named as such was Saint Therese of Lisieux by Pope John Paul II on October 19, 1997. 

Saint Augustine's commentary of the Gospel of Matthew is well known and studied by theologians, philosophers, historians, students studying to be clergy, and many others such as yourself. In the text from Saint Augustine's commentary on the Sermon on the Mount, Chapter 16, sections 49 and 50, Saint Augustine is musing about a question on what constitutes adultery and fornication. Saint Augustine was a man of his time (354 AD - 430 AD) and his writings reflect the questions he was receiving about moral questions such as divorce, adultery, and the marital rights of both husband and wife. In section 50, he writes about an odd situation about how a wife of a husband who is in debtor jail and sentenced to death for not paying his debts. The wife makes a decision to give herself sexually to a rich man to pay for her husband's debts and get him out of jail and a death sentence. Since in marriage, a man's body belongs to his wife, and the wife's body belongs to her husband, she asks her husband's permission to give herself sexually to a rich man who lusts for her and promises to give her a pound of gold (interestingly enough, the man gives her dirt in a bag instead and she sues him in court and not only got the gold to pay for her husband's debts but also got title to the property that the dirt in the bag came from....good for her). Saint Augustine does not judge the woman's action since it seems he understands why she did such a deed, she did it to save her husband's life. To Saint Augustine, that was the greater good. He does not, however, make a moral judgment about what she did to get the money. But he does make a point that adultery and fornication is never an accepted Christian value. To us, this is a very strange story about moral decision making. Also, his view of marriage and the marital rights of husband and wife might make some cringe. But he was answering a moral question from his understanding of the biblical statement that marriage is an unbreakable bond before God. To this day, the bulk of his writings are still being studied and dissected for Christian wisdom to live our present day lives.

Saint Augustine is a Doctor of the Church because of his massive volumes that set the stage for Christian doctrine to this day. He certainly earned the title, Doctor of the Church.  For the readers' further study, please see the actual translation of Saint Augustine's commentary on the Sermon of the Mount, from his writings, Chapter 16, Sections 49 and 50, on which the question was asked about.

Chapter 16, Section 49 and 50, of the Commentary on the Sermon of the Mount, by Saint Augustine:

49. Again, it is asked whether, if, with a wife’s permission, either a barren one, or one who does not wish to submit to intercourse, a man shall take to himself another woman, not another man’s wife, nor one separated from her husband, he can do so without being chargeable with fornication? And an example is found in the Old Testament history; Abraham taking Hagar with Sarah’s consent. but now there are greater precepts which the human race has reached after having passed that stage; and those matters are to be investigated for the purpose of distinguishing the ages of the dispensation of that divine providence which assists the human race in the most orderly way; but not for the purpose of making use of the rules of living. But yet it may be asked whether what the apostle says, “The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband; and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife,” can be carried so far, that, with the permission of a wife, who possesses the power over her husband’s body, a man can have intercourse with another woman, who is neither another man’s wife nor divorced from her husband; but such an opinion is not to be entertained, lest it should seem that a woman also, with her husband’s permission, could do such a thing, which the instinctive feeling of every one prevents.

50. And yet some occasions may arise, where a wife also, with the consent of her husband, may seem under obligation to do this for the sake of that husband himself; as, for instance, is said to have happened at Antioch about fifty years ago. About the year 343; for Augustine wrote this treatise about the year 393. in the times of Constantius. For Acyndinus, at that time prefect and at one time also consul, when he demanded of a certain public debtor the payment of a pound weight of gold, impelled by I know not what motive, did a thing which is often dangerous in the case of those magistrates to whom anything whatever is lawful, or rather is thought to be lawful, viz. threatened with an oath and with a vehement affirmation, that if he did not pay the foresaid gold on a certain day which he had fixed, he would be put to death. Accordingly, while he was being kept in cruel confinement, and was unable to rid himself of that debt, the dread day began to impend and to draw near. He happened, however, to have a very beautiful wife, but one who had no money wherewith to come to the relief of her husband; and when a certain rich man had had his desires inflamed by the beauty of this woman, and had learned that her husband was placed in that critical situation, he sent to her, promising in return for a single night, if she would consent to hold intercourse with him, that he would give her the pound of gold. Then she, knowing that she herself had not power over her body, but her husband, conveyed the intelligence to him, telling him that she was prepared to do it for the sake of her husband, but only if he himself, the lord by marriage of her body, to whom all that chastity was due, should wish it to be done, as if disposing of his own property for the sake of his life. He thanked her, and commanded that it should be done, in no wise judging that it was an adulterous embrace, because it was no lust, but great love for her husband, that demanded it, at his own bidding and will. The woman came to the villa of that rich man, did what the lewd man wished; but she gave her body only to her husband, who desired not, as was usual, his marriage rights, but life. She received the gold; but he who gave it took away stealthily what he had given, and substituted a similar bag with earth in it. When the woman, however, on reaching her home, discovered it, she rushed forth in public in order to proclaim the deed she had done, animated by the same tender affection for her husband by which she had been forced to do it; she goes to the prefect, confesses everything, shows the fraud that had been practiced upon her. Then indeed the prefect first pronounces himself guilty, because the matter had come to this by means of his threats, and, as if pronouncing sentence upon another, decided that a pound of gold should be brought into the treasury from the property of Acyndinus; but that she (the woman) be installed as mistress of that piece of land whence she had received the earth instead of the gold. I offer no opinion either way from this story: let each one form a judgment as he pleases, for the history is not drawn from divinely authoritative sources; but yet, when the story is related, man’s instinctive sense does not so revolt against what was done in the case of this woman, at her husband’s bidding, as we formerly shuddered when the thing itself was set forth without any example. But in this section of the Gospel nothing is to be more steadily kept in view, than that so great is the evil of fornication, that, while married people are bound to one another by so strong a bond, this one cause of divorce is excepted; but as to what fornication is, that we have already discussed.

 Interesting question.  God bless you.  - The Priests at CatholicView

"I am 18 and a High School Senior. I had a strange encounter that
I feel was from above. What steps should I take?" - Grant

CatholicView Staff:

My name is Grant and I'm an 18 year old high school senior. I was baptized as an infant into the Church, and I attended mass regularly until about 3 years after my first communion. After that I moved to my father's house (my parents got divorced when I was six) where I attended his Protestant church. For a while I was content with where I was spiritually.  That all changed when my mom (who was a non-practicing Catholic) passed away last year from alcoholism-related complications.  Her death made me re-evaluate my standing with God.  I knew I still believed, but I didn't know much else.  Recently, I have been toying with the idea of returning to the Church.  There was one night in particular when, while I was laying in bed, I was giving serious thought to living the rest of my life as a Catholic. Then all of a sudden I felt a sensation on my forehead.  I felt it there for about five minutes.  It was nothing like I had ever experienced before. It was slightly painful, but not really.  It was warm, and tingly, but it felt amazing in every sense of the word.  Before the "feeling" I was tiredly contemplating my faith.  Afterwards, I was energized, and I had a strong sense that this was an encounter from above directing me toward the Church.  I know, it sounds crazy.  However, I have never used drugs or alcohol, and I am still a virgin.  I have no medical issues that would explain this, nor am I on new medicine.  Anyway, I would like to know what a priest would say about this.  I don't know whether or not I should accept this "encounter," and if so, what the next step for me should be.  Thank you so much!  - Grant

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Grant:

I am happy to know that you are considering on entering the Catholic Church as a full member.  I am thankful to God for your spiritual journey with Jesus Christ, our Lord and our Savior.  I am a Catholic because I chose to be.  I am spiritually strengthened by the sacraments and by the 2000 years of Christian wisdom and biblical interpretation that has been passed down since the apostles.

As for your experience, I am amazed by it.  To people of faith, such experiences are not strange.  It is an affirmation of our faith journey to the Lord. It seems that you were touched by the Spirit of God and that somehow you were also touched by your mother who continues to love you as her son from her place in heaven.  The Spirit of God is directing you to study and know as much as you can about the Catholic Church.  But what is even more important, your knowledge of the Church would make no sense at all without a personal and loving relationship with Jesus Christ the Lord.  May your relationship with the Lord be strengthened by this special experience that you had.  May all your studies and questions be the stepping stones to a wonderful friendship with Jesus!

Your next step: talk to your parish priest about entering the RITES OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION FOR ADULTS in your local parish.  Explain to the priest about your past with the Catholic Church.  There is no need to talk about your own personal mystical experience unless you want to.  And get involved in your local parish.  I am so happy for you!  - The Priests at CatholicView"
 

My current employer is taking work from my old employer.
Should I inform my old employer?" - Mark

CatholicView Staff:

If you knew your current employer is accepting work from your former employer's client, would you tell your former employer what is going on? - Mark

_________________________________

Mark:

The client of your former employer is working with your present employer. The client is the one making the business decisions and that client is responsible for notifying your former employer of any kind of business relationship that may be happening. Unless there is a problem with fraud, cheating, stealing of intellectual property, there is no need to speak to your former employer about this particular business relationship. If there is something criminal, then I would call the police to investigate. May the Spirit of God give you peace and discernment in all things! May God lead you to do the right thing. And do not be afraid! - The Priests At CatholicView

"There is a Catholic Church built in the small spot where St. Peter lived in
 Capernaum.  Is there any proof that this is true? - Jay

CatholicView Staff:

In Capernaum, I believe there is a Catholic Church that has been built on the same spot that Peter's house was and lived. What proof do we have that tells us it was Peter's exact place of the home? - Jay

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Jay:

Thank you for your question.  Since the first century, a certain little house on the northern Sea of Galilee shore city of Capernaum, Israel, has been honored as the home of Saint Peter and his family, including his mother-in-law that is mentioned in the New Testament. A fourth century Byzantine church was built over the house and enshrined it as a way for Christian pilgrims to touch the past and walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ and His apostles. Later, in the 20th century, the Franciscan order, as custodians of the Christian shrines in the Holy Land (Israel), built a modern octagon church over that site.

According to most archeologists, that site is most likely the home of Saint Peter. In an article from SACRED DESTINATIONS, a web site, the author states:

It is actually quite likely the room enshrined within the church of Capernaum is the house of Peter where Jesus stayed. This is supported primarily by evidence for very early reverence and public use of the house (mid-1st century), which would be difficult to explain otherwise. Moreover, the identification is not contradicted by anything found in the excavations and the evidence actually conforms quite closely to the biblical descriptions. (please see this link: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/israel/capernaum ) 

Many of the Christian sites have been authenticated as the actual sites where Jesus actually was. My favorite has been the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem, the site of both Calvary (the site of Jesus' crucifixion) and the site of the tomb of Jesus (and His resurrection). I am sorry that I cannot get into all the archeological details (I am not an archeologist) of why we KNOW that Saint Peter's house is enshrined in Capernaum. But here are some links that might help you understand what we know about this very special site.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capernaum

http://christiananswers.net/dictionary/capernaum.html

http://www.bib-arch.org/online-exclusives/oldest-church-01.asp (a excellent reference from the BIBLICAL ARCHEOLOGICAL REVIEW MAGAZINE)

I pray that one day you will be able to visit these places in person and be drawn into the history of the place! I enjoyed walking the footsteps of Jesus and His apostles. -  The Priests at CatholicView

"Why doesn't the Catholic Church view LDS (Mormon) as
being Christian? - Curtis

CatholicView Staff:

Why does the Catholic and Protestant religions not view the LDS (Mormon) religion as being Christian?  When asked, they claim they are, but I have heard otherwise when talking with fellow Catholics.  Thanks.

 _________________________________

Curtis:

Thank you for your very interesting question.  Here is what Catholic Answers has to say about this topic: (Does the Church consider Mormons Christians? - Catholic Answers Forums JESUS CHRIS )  "The  Roman Catholic Church believes that while individual Mormons may be persons of good conscience, Mormonism itself is a belief system that would reduce the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit from being the three Persons of the one, true, and infinite God to being three limited, finite deities among an uncounted multitude of deities, all of whom merely reshaped small parts of a preexisting cosmos.  It also teaches that human beings may, by practicing the tenets of its faith, become gods and goddesses themselves, with their own planets full of people worshiping them.

While the Church would reject nothing that is true or good in Mormonism or any other world religion, Catholic theology would have to note that there is a tremendous amount in Mormonism that is neither true nor good. Further, because Mormonism presents itself as a form of Christianity yet is incompatible with the historic Christian faith, sound pastoral practice would need to warn the Christian faithful: Mormon theology is blasphemous, polytheistic, and cannot be considered on par with the theology of other Christian groups."  Use this link for more on this subject. 

Use the following link to read what Father Luis Ladaria, S.J. writes about the validity of the baptism in The Church of Latter Day Saints: THE QUESTION OF THE VALIDITY OF BAPTISM CONFERRED IN THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIS  

 Because of this vast difference in beliefs such as the Trinity, Mormons, although having some good points are not in union with the Catholic Church.  Hope this helps.  - CatholicView Staff

 
“Why do people make 3 crosses on their forehead,
lips, and chest during Mass?”? - Marisol

CatholicView Staff:

In mass before the Gospel is read I see people make 3 crosses on their forehead, lips and chest. Why do they do this and what do they say? - Marisol

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Marisol:

Thank you for your question.  At Mass, when the priest presents the gospel, we make a cross on our foreheads, our lips and our chests.  On the forehead this symbolizes that the Word may always be in our thoughts and purify our minds. We make the second cross on our lips so that our words may be holy and that we share the gospel with others. We make the third cross on our hearts, inviting God to write His Word there and to strengthen our love for Him.  God bless you.  - CatholicView Staff

"I live with my fiancé but we are abstinent.  Can
we still receive communion? - Jon

CatholicView Staff:

I currently live with my fiancé, and we are planning on getting married next year.  We are both abstinent.  I realize that this is not the IDEAL situation for us, both of us being Catholics.  Can we still receive communion? - Jon

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Dear Jon:

God is pleased that you are remaining abstinent until you are married.  And you are right.  This is not the ideal situation because although you are abstinent, there is still a grave temptation for two people in love.  The bible teaches us to avoid the occasion of sin.  This is what you must do.  Please look for alternate housing and then know you do not have to ask if you can take communion because you will feel secure knowing that you and your fiancé can.  May the Lord continue to bless you for your faithfulness to Him. - CatholicView Staff

CatholicView:

I stopped going to church for six months to care for my dying mother.  When I returned after her death the priest alienated me by referring negatively to my absence stating, "Some people haven't been here in months".   I felt abandoned.   No one called me to see if I needed help or prayers.    He now shuns me.  I want to change churches and my faith has been conflicted.  What should I do? – Melanie

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Melanie:

I am so sorry this is all happening at a time when you just lost your mother.  And it is inappropriate to assume the worst of a parishioner without facts. 

I would suggest you call your priest and make an appointment for a face to face talk.  I am sure all will end well if he hears what you have to say in this matter.  After all he is a human being just like you and prone to make mistakes in judgment.    If the priest is unapproachable, seek counsel at another Church.

God knows your situation and your heart.  He sees all things.  Rest easy, laying all these hurts in the mighty hand of God.  God bless you.  - CatholicView Staff

"I am afraid of the future and the unknown.  What do I do?" - Lia

 

CatholicView Staff:

I am scared of the future and the unknown. I am scared of dying.  Also, I don't how to express my passions and interests in a 9-5 job.   I am not expressing my true self or passions to the world.  How do I get the most out of life?  What do I do? - Lia

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