FATHER KEVIN BATES
Father Kevin: I have studied a lot about the change of
solemnity from Saturday to Sunday, including the Councils of Laodicea (Canon 29) and
Florence and about natural law. It seems that keeping the Sabbath commandment on the 7th
day as it is written in the Scriptures is a mortal sin. It seems to me that this ruling is
in direct conflict with Scripture and I don’t understand how this could be so. This
feels like a situation where in order to obey the Church one must disobey God. Please help
me to put this conflict in me to rest. Thank you. -Pat
Hi there Pat: I am certainly no expert on the Councils you
mention, and am a little confused about your reference to natural law, as the keeping of
the Sabbath has nothing to do with natural law, but is rather a matter of divine and
church law. In the early days of the Church, it seems as if we moved from Saturday
to Sunday, partially to mark the day of the Lord's resurrection, and partially as we
became a distinct community from the Jewish community from whom we were born. I
can't imagine God getting too excited about which day we choose frankly, just so long as
the principle underlying that law is observed, namely that we keep a day holy in order to
focus more completely on the things of God. In looking at any of our laws such as this one,
it is important to get in touch with the values underlying the law, rather than just
considering the law itself. This is important for many reasons, not the least
of which is the fact that all laws are given in a specific social, religious and
political context, and these change of course over time. What is more
important is that the good values underlying any law be expressed and maintained.
When we become totally absorbed by the letter of the law, we tend to miss the
point of the law itself. This was the problem with some of Jesus' own opponents.
Father:
Hi Richard and thanks for your question. I reckon you'd need to ask God the answer to
this one! If you are right and there is no God then you don't have any worries.
If there is a God, then you still don't have any worries, because the God I believe
in asks us to do our best, to be as loving as we can, and to be as just, merciful, honest
and so on, as we can. If we break a few rules along the way, God asks us to
express our sorrow for those sins, and all will be well. The God I believe in does
not punish, but rather, we punish ourselves through our own sin, and have to live with
consequences of that. So if there is a God, and you have sinned seriously and have
never tried to patch things up through sorrow, recompense and an improvement in your way
of life, then I guess you risk living with those consequences after death, regardless of
whether you believe in God or not. Kind
Regards. Father Kevin
Father Kevin:
Hi there Mike - You've pitched a good curve ball
with this question! One starting point is that God is compassionate and understands all
our circumstances. The Church also teaches that the circumstances affect the
morality of an action. If I steal to feed my starving family for instance, then it's
likely that my stealing is not a sin. The Church teaches that masturbation is sinful
because it is not necessarily an expression of love for another, it is not open to
new life, it is not a gift to another, but is rather self-centered rather than
other-centered. Alongside this, there is also an understanding in the Church
about psychosexual development and the time it takes all of us to grow into a place of
integrity, calm and maturity. When you ask, "how does the church
feel?" - this is a question you can answer yourself as a member of the church.
Each of us has the responsibility for our own moral life, and having listened to the
church's teachings, we need to integrate them into our lives as best we can. None of
us does this perfectly, and our journey here on earth provides us with the time and
opportunity to grow more and more into the fullness of life that Jesus had in mind for
us. God is patient, understanding, and takes into account all our circumstances as
we journey towards our homecoming with him. If we take up Jesus' invitation,
"make your home in me as I make mine in you", and treat him as our best friend,
some of these issues find their proper place, and perhaps cease to be a cause of anxiety,
as we learn to be patient in our own growing.
FATHER AMARO SAUMELL
Father Amaro: I'm confused about what happens after someone dies. The Bible says that no thought happens, we are asleep, but also Jesus said to the thief on the cross “I tell you today you will be with me in paradise.” I just lost my Mother and Father and am so confused about where they are. – Ray Dear Ray, Sit down and grab a cup of coffee. This is going to take a while. I’m so glad you asked this question. Many don't. They just look at things from the point of view of the “created” and from that environment. You are asking a “theological” question. But your question really challenges many of the “theology” courses that many dioceses have... which I find deeply disturbing. You raise a real issue here. And, it’s a good one. You see, theology uses the language of philosophy, particularly metaphysics. A seminary student who is going on to graduate work must have at least a minor in Philosophy before he can even take theology. We must always remember that we are creatures. Creatures need an environment in which to exist. Our environment is that of physical matter, time, and space. God created us as well as our environment for a purpose. This environment is limited. It can be measured. Measurement and limitation are called “potential.” If a philosopher told you, “Gee Ray, you’re really living up to your potential..” he has given you the ultimate insult. It means that you have met your limit of growth. Anything that can be measured has limitations. Do you have a headache yet? When you get through all that, remember that although God created the environment He is not subject or limited to it. He is not part of creation per se. Yet, God became part of His own creation through Jesus Who is part of the Trinity. He broke the “borders” of limitation in the resurrection. At the same time, Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He always is the Word. He always is the Incarnation. He always is His Passion and Death. He always is His Resurrection. And, He always is His Second Coming. We experience some of Jesus in our environment of time and space. We see it as a past, a present, and a future. Yet to God, there are no such limitations. That is why God knows what we “experience” as the “future.” When someone dies, we “experience” them as in the sleep of death. However, they have left that limited environment of time and space. Yet, to God, our experience in time and space is an eternal “now.” And that person who passed on is no longer caught in the trap or environment of minutes, hours, inches or miles. Our terminology of the “temporal” is even only analogous so that we can make some sense of transition and purification. Ray, I just lost my father too. I know that emptiness. Jesus experienced our emptiness at the death of His friend, Lazarus. Why did he weep? He was about to raise Lazarus from the dead. Jesus is pained over separation... even for a moment. He grieved as one living in our time and space, even though He knew that He was about to raise Lazarus from the dead. You are suffering that measured time of separation from your parents now. But you are the one who is still in the creation, in time and space. Through Jesus’ resurrection, He broke those limitations. He actually destroyed them. Limitation was brought into creation because of the imperfection that humanity chose to embrace as exemplified through Adam and Eve. But now, we not limited even to a Garden of Eden. On Holy Saturday we sing in the Exultet, “O happy fault of Adam.” Why? Because Jesus, in His Resurrection, has even brought us beyond the limitations of the Garden of Eden to be even closer to God in the immeasurable and timeless “eternity” of Heaven. You are experiencing loss. You still need to experience in this environment your own prayers for your parents that God already knows. Even in death, your parents continue to minister to you through the opportunity to pray for them... which reveals something to YOU about YOUR relationship with God and neighbor... in this instance, your parents. Since they are already freed from the limitations of this life, they have already benefited from the prayers that you have yet to say, but God already knows. We have a clue in all of this already for ourselves. Every time we receive Holy Communion, we receive Christ who is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. We receive, accept, and are conjugally joined to Him as the Word, the Incarnation, His Passion, Death, Resurrection, AND second Coming. That is why it is always so necessary to be in a state of grace when receiving and not receive merely as “routine.” As St. Paul says, 1 Corinthians 11:26 So you see, even though we live in the environment of time and space and know its limitations, Jesus has given us the opportunity to be part of eternity now, that same eternity that your parents experience. There is only one Altar. We experience it in different times and places. But the Altar of God is not limited by creation. We receive with everyone who ever has, does, or will receive worthily. When we are living the Kingdom of God, even though we're still here, we’re living the same eternity of all those who have been judged in sainthood by God. Don't ever let yourself fall into the trap of thinking that you're separated from anyone who has received worthily, whether here or in the afterlife. Experience the prayers that you have said for them. Know the communion of your prayers by the experience you have of them. Those are the prayers your parents already know. Think about this. Take some aspirin. And call me in the morning. The more you think about this, the more sense it makes. I hope that it sparks and interest in philosophy so that you’ll experience the understanding of real theology rather than the “let’s pretend” variety. Hope this helps. - God bless, Father Amaro
Father Amaro: When one truly asks Jesus into our lives is it the Holy Spirit that leads us in our spiritual growth. Is there a specific prayer to the Holy Spirit? A big Thank You for your cyber-presence. Your spiritual replies really do elevate my spirits (and those of others). I am very grateful for this website. – Arthur
Dear Arthur, We do have “formulated” prayer to the Holy Spirit. By hearing and saying these prayers, we meditate, learn, and express. But even Saint Paul says, (Rom 8:25) “But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance. In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.” I think the most popular prayer to the Holy Spirit is Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful. And kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your spirit, Lord, and they shall be created. And thou shalt renew the face of the earth. One could mediate on this prayer through his or her whole life and never exhaust its meaning. Hope this helps. - God bless, Father Amaro.
Father, I was reading the letter from the Congregation for Catholic Education concerning the ordination of persons who present deep-seated homosexual tendencies. I had hoped to enter an enclosed order of Monks but I have had a past of homosexual misconduct and despite myself find that I have this disposition to this day, although I have not acted on it in some time. I am currently 21yrs old. Would the said letter and its direction present any difficulty for my entry into a religious order such as the O.C.S.O? Thank you very much for your time. - John Dear John, What a courageous thing to share. I would never presume to judge your possible vocation. But I have experienced many fine men who thought of going into religious life or seminary. You see, many go into these fields with the best of intentions. They believe that since they do not have interest in the opposite gender, but do love the Lord, they can serve Him in this way. What they often forget is the thing that they find the biggest temptation in life is exactly what they will be immersing themselves into... a life full of men... many men. What do you think the experience would be for a heterosexual man to be on an island with a hundred women? The frustration could be more than he could humanly tolerate. I am not saying that this is impossible. God does call us to serve out of the strangest circumstances sometimes. He also calls those who would normally desire to “bear false witness” through gossip into a society of the Church ministry. That sin is on the same “list.” Sometimes these people make good ministers. Other times, they become scandals to the Church and themselves because they were not honest about their limitations. Be very prudent. Be very honest. Make sure you have a Spiritual Director that can challenge you. Don't try to fool yourself or God either way. Whether it is or isn't religious life or priesthood, God has a plan for you that will increase your love for Him and neighbor. And, always remember, as one wise woman told me, “I'd rather be a saint than a priest.” That’s the bottom line. - God bless, Father Amaro
Father:
Dear Carla, Good question. Let me start out this way. If a woman believes that the child within her is merely a “mass of flesh” and has an abortion, or that “God will understand...” is she correct? If a blind person will not believe that the sky is blue, does that change its reality? We can talk ourselves into many things. Even in our great country, we have talked ourselves into the same rational that the Nazis used in order to do scientific experimentation on the Jews. “They’re not human!” Now we're doing the same thing with embryonic stem cell research, aren't we? “They're not human!” We want cures so bad that we can talk ourselves into anything. The terrorists also believe that they will have a number of virgins available to them in heaven. Now, I don't know about you, but I can't see them remaining virgins very long... and eternity is a long time. If these men are really thinking in terms of carnal pleasure and their logic were true, the experience of heaven could either be very frustrating as the virgins remain virgins, or they're going to have a lot of explaining to do to each of them for eternity. (Grin) That doesn’t sound like heaven to me. We see the fallacy in these beliefs. But we stop short at judging their souls. That is God’s and only God’s territory. We might have a “moral certitude” of the results of these sins. But God is the only “absolute” the knows “absolutely!” We don't know if in the last moment of their last breath they experience repentance. It’s a good meditation to compare our own deviations and compromises of faith. We all have them. And we all rationalize for our own agendas. But we know that a God who loves us into being and is totally good does not contradict Himself by wanting any person to destroy another. In our love for God and neighbor, we must continue to pray for ourselves and those who perceive us to be enemies. That brings us to another challenge. What if the people in that part of the world come to terms of freedom and then use that freedom more responsibly than we who destroy 4000 lives in this country every day through rationalized abortion? One never knows, does one? - God bless, Father Amaro
CATHOLICVIEW STAFF
CatholicView Staff: Roxanne: I am reminded of the words that Jesus said to the good thief on the cross when Jesus died for us all: “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise.” (Luke23:42-43). When your believing mother died, Jesus said to her the same words: you will be with Me in Paradise. Your mother is living in the loving embrace of our Lord Jesus forever. Be at peace. – CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff:
Dear
Luke: It is
perfectly normal to feel the way you do. Most of us have an aversion to telling our
innermost secrets. However by confessing our sins we can see more clearly the
enormity of our wrongdoings and try to avoid them in the future with God's help.
Bound under the Seal of Confession, the priest can offer you a great sense of
peace and reconciliation between YOU, GODand the CHURCH.
If you would feel better, go to another parish for this. Do not let fear stop you. Remember tomorrow is not promised so don’t
wait. Examine your conscience as best you can
and take that first step! If you like you
can ask the priest to help you make a good confession.
Cleanse your soul and clear the slate! Take
the leap and do it! You have nothing to lose
and everything to gain. May God give
you the courage to make things right. – CatholicView
Staff
CatholicView Staff:
Michele: Tell your friend to politely mention
this to her non-Catholic friend, stressing that her friend is always welcome to attend
mass of course but to think very carefully before choosing to go up for communion. God bless. – CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff:
CatholicView is sorry that you are facing such trauma in your life. Each of us suffers at one time or another in our lives. But we have to remember that suffering enables us to leave behind those things that keep you separated from God. With suffering comes purity and with suffering comes strength and faith. Rather than concentrating on what you have lost, remember the generous, God given blessings you have received. One of the commandments is “Thou shall not kill”. You are alive for a purpose. God put you here for a purpose. Did you give yourself life? If you did not, you have no right to end what God chose to give. Use this time to continue your prayers knowing that God does hear and you ARE priority otherwise why did He give His Son for your salvation? Each hair on your head is numbered and each breath comes from His grace and mercy. You are special to Him. You are unique and you are loved. Keep in mind that this life will not ever be a perfect paradise. If it were we would not need heaven or salvation. On this earth we are cleansed by trial and suffering, however painfully, in order to be ready for the perfection of eternity. God decides the end of this life for the beginning of the next. Do go and talk to your priest. He has many answers for you. May you find peace for your soul. - CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: I have been away from the Catholic Church for a long while, participating mostly in Baptist churches, however as of these past few years I feel as though God is leading me to be a Catholic priest, but I am also afraid that I may have strayed to far from God and my concerns may not be lent his ear, I earnestly desire to return to him but no longer know how. I have so many fears I am not sure it is even possible. I am embarrassed by the life I have led, but I cannot begin to forgive myself until I feel god has forgiven me. Can you please provide guidance and assistance? - Gary Dear Gary: Do not be embarrassed about something that can be changed with trust in Almighty God. We have all fallen short of what He wants. The saving thing is you can move forward by confessing your sins, by not repeating them, and moving forward in the life God has set out for you. The God we serve is a forgiving God. He loves us even when we are covered in sin. He sent His Son to cleanse us all of sin. And we are blessed that He can read our hearts and recognize our good intentions. If you are sincere in what you desire, God knows that as well. You do not give enough information to make a full judgment here but I want you to know that God is always available to listen. Continue to pray. So keep praying for God’s guidance. Please see a parish priest in your area. He will be able to listen, give you the peace of mind you seek, and set the course for you to return to your Church. - CatholicView Staff.
CatholicView Staff:
Dear Erin: There is a difference between Christening and Baptism. But in religion it has nothing to do with the christening of ships. When a child is christened in a Protestant Church, it means that the child is blessed and is dedicated to God. The baby goes before the minister along with the parents and Godparents in a special ceremony usually during church service. There is no baptism involved. The child is usually dressed in the same type clothes as are used for Catholic baptism. A Christening Certificate is given to show that the child has gone through the ceremonial process. In the Catholic Church the priest baptizes the baby in the Catholic Faith in the presence of the parents and the sanctioned Godparents. It is considered a Rite of Initiation and follows a Catholic tradition of naming the child after one of the saints. Clothes worn by the baby are generally similar to those used in Protestant Christening. A Baptismal Certificate is given to the parents. Hope this helps a bit. - CatholicView Staff
Hello: For the past few months now I have been having lots of scary thoughts about dying. The thought of dying really terrifies me. I think this started when I had a dream a few months back. In this dream I was speaking to a man I didn’t know. I can’t remember what he looked like; I couldn’t make out his face in this dream. Anyway this man told me I was dying and I was really upset and sad, as I didn’t want to leave. Ever since this dream, I’ve been so scared of dying and so worried, that when I die, there might be nothing. Just emptiness, I fear this so much that it scares me to the bone. I don’t know how but is there anyway you can maybe help? – Andrew
Dear Andrew: I am so sorry you are having such frightening thoughts about dying. With life comes death at some time for all of us. But God does not want us to be unhappy and dwell on death. He wants us to use our time getting to know Him. You must make sure you are in a relationship with our Lord. If you are living the way Christ taught us, you do not have to be afraid of dying because He has promised those who believe in Him will have eternal life in His perfect heaven someday. Subconsciously, you may feel afraid of dying
because you are not living a life the Lord wants you to live. Ask yourself if you are doing the right things
that Jesus wants all of us to do. If so, you
have nothing to fear because Jesus told us He would be always there for us by
strengthening, consoling, and loving us. If
you are not living a Godly life, change it! Talk
to your priest and reconcile yourself in the Church.
Though this journey on earth is short, He does not want you to worry about
how long you have to live but that the quality of your life will be such that God will
welcome you into His everlasting kingdom. Do not be afraid. Be at peace!
- CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: NEVER, in my life has my trust and faith been so horribly crushed. I felt so connected with God and His promises. I went through a severe depression, which I am on disability for. 2005 was the year of promise, employment, and “normalcy" for my life. It turned out to be pure hell. I turned to alcohol and lost all the victories I've strived for these past few years. I am ashamed, embarrassed, and feel like dirt. I can't go on like this. Every morning is a nightmare. I need the safety and security of God and the reassurance that He has not turned away from me. - Ron
Dear Ron: I am so sorry you feel that your faith and
trust has been crushed. You are trying to fill the vacuum that you feel in your soul with things that cannot fulfill your need for the endless and unconditional love that comes from God only. I think what you are forgetting is that God
is always there for you. No matter how or
what life gives you, God never leaves you to suffer alone.
He is there, loving, bolstering and giving you the courage to face your
human failures and conflicts. Have you tried to pray to God? Talk to Him, for He is listening. Establish a working relationship with Him through
prayer. Throughout the day, offer Him your
suffering. He already knows what is going on
in your life; He waiting patiently for you to come to Him.
Do not be ashamed or embarrassed. He
wants you to have the peace that goes with knowing you are never left to face your
problems alone. He is waiting to comfort you. I think you should talk to your parish
priest. He will be able to talk to you and
give you the answers you need. Do not be
afraid. He is there to help you. Do not be ashamed.
Don’t let your feelings stand in the way of being reconciled in
your trust and faith in God. – CatholicView
Staff
CatholicView Staff:
Dear Calvin I am saddened that you have no "love" for your parents. In spite of your feelings, please count your blessings. Even though you did not feel that you had the love of the heart, your needs were met and you never went hungry or were without care. Count your blessings not your wants. Love was expressed by your needs being met. And even though you sought their hearts and time, nonetheless, God took care of you through them. Perhaps in the future you can try to reconcile with your family before it is too late. Go and speak to a priest and have him advise you in the way that will help you and give you peace of mind. God bless. - CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: What do you say to someone who cannot understand why children suffer either through illness, acts of God or circumstance? I have a friend who cannot forgive God for allowing these things to happen to children. Help!! - Peggy
Hello Peggy: I think we have to remember where we are when we see things we do not understand. We live in an imperfect world where evil exists and sad things happen because of this. Suffering is a mystery that will be revealed someday. If we look around us, there will be many things we do not understand such as misery, hunger, pain, and all kinds of suffering to which we do not have answers. But God Who loves us has promised He will make things right and we, as Christians have to take His promises on faith and trust. Someday, we will enter God’s eternal heaven where all things will be made right and there will be no more suffering and no more hurt, hunger, and no more death. Almighty God has promised this and we, as Christians must believe it. May the Lord bless you, Peggy. – CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: This is regarding liturgical
vestments and functions. Recently at my parish, the priest has been hearing
confessions in his regular clothes (which is probably not a problem) but does not put on
the "stole." I have asked around whether the stole is necessary for
administering a sacrament (baptism, confession, giving Communion outside the Mass, etc.)
but nobody knows the answer. I'm not sure if this affects the validity of the
Sacrament (confession) or the priest disregards the law of the Church by imposing his own
rules and designs. Pretty soon we will have priests saying Mass in plain street
clothes. Thank you for taking my question. -
Paul
Paul: The validity of the sacrament of penance
(confession/reconciliation) is not dependent on the clothes the priest wears. The
validity of the sacrament depends on the sincerity of the penitent and the words of
absolution from the priest. Now, even though a stole or any kind of clothes or
vestments are NOT necessary for the validity of ANY sacrament, I agree with you that
sacred vestments should be worn at the celebration of any sacrament or liturgical function
unless there is a serious reason not to wear them. I cannot judge why the priest does not
wear his stole, or alb and stole, during the sacrament of penance. I do not know why
he does that unless there is a serious reason. But I have heard confessions in the
oddest of places where I do not have a stole and the absolution of sin is valid
because of the sincerity of the penitent and the words of absolution that I said over
the person. For example, while traveling on a plane, a person asked me to hear their
confession and I did. Priests in persecution have said Mass without any vestments
because Mass was done on the run from authorities yet the Mass was valid because the
priest had the intention of saying Mass and consecrating the bread and wine into the body
and blood of Christ according to the intention of the Church. But unless there is a
compelling and serious reason a priest cannot wear vestments for the celebration of any
sacrament, the liturgical laws of the church demands that a priest wear the vestment that
the particular sacrament demands. – CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: Tonight on my way home from my fiancée’s
house, I stopped to get a bite to eat at a local restaurant, and there I encountered a man
who was clearly homeless and, quite possibly deranged, but in all other respects quite
civil and even sociable. He asked me where I was going and I said I was traveling in the
direction of Washington. Excitedly, he asked me if I would drive him there since he needed
to go visit George Washington University medical hospital for his medications. Without
thinking, I agreed to allow him to ride into town with me and drop him off at the
hospital. While I was driving, my fiancée called me on my cell phone, and after relating
what I was doing to her, she became quite scared for my safety; trying to calmly assuage
her fears while driving and simultaneously not insult my passenger was a challenge.
Gregory: You are to be commended for helping this person get to his destination. But your fiancée is also correct in saying that she feared for your safety. I guess each situation must be taken into account in accord to your own safety as well as for the good of the other. There was no need to apologize to your fiancée for your Christ-like action, but you must also be careful. The Lord Jesus did not want us to be unwise in our generosity. He wants us to have a heart full of love and compassion and to be faithful to Him. Be wise. Judge each situation. Do not put yourself in danger. As Jesus said to the devil when he was tempted in the desert to throw himself off the temple, "Do not test the Lord your God." My advice to you is: be careful and do not test the Lord your God in regards to your safety. Many depend on you to be alive! – CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: I became an ordained minister online at the Universal Life Church. I am Catholic and want to remain as such, but I feel that becoming a minister will bring me closer to God. Can I be both Catholic and a minister in the Universal Life Church? - Paul
Dear Paul: Becoming a minister online is extremely suspect. There are many bogus churches that offer licensing without being legitimate believers in Christianity. And they prey on people and separate them from the true teaching of Almighty God. I would advise you to consider the options your own church provides for you. Why not work within the Catholic Church with people who share your beliefs? You can become a most respected deacon or a Minister of the Eucharist and there are a multitude of other possibilities to explore; so many ways that you could work for the Lord within the confines of your Church. Keep in mind that other faiths can present conflicts of interest and may undermine your own beliefs. I would suggest you think about this matter very, very carefully. CatholicView would suggest you also seek the advice of your parish priest. – CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: Sarah: Your letter is not explicit so it is hard to give you an answer. An “on again off again relationship usually means that there are conflicts in the relationship with your boyfriend. If you have both decided to put God in your lives, this should show both you and your boyfriend that you must abide by the teachings of Christ. Can you do this? Your parents have lived with your relationship during the three “on and off” years. Sometimes parents can see things you cannot because they are looking at the situation with the eyes of experience and love for you. They know the hurt you felt when things did not always work out. I would suggest that you listen carefully to what they have to say about this matter. In any case, CatholicView suggests you talk to your parish priest who will be able to gain all the vital information concerning this situation and offer you advice on how to proceed. May the Lord guide you and help you to make the right decision regarding this relationship with your boyfriend. – CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: Dear Paul: In the
Catholic Church a priest is obligated to silence unless harm (like death) is being caused
unjustly to another. A priest must not
divulge whatever is told to him. If
you are afraid or uncertain about this, go into the confessional and plainly ask for
Confessional Secrecy. The priest will then
assure you of the canon laws that forbid him to share the things you tell him during your
confession. May God give you the courage to
unburden yourself and gain the forgiveness you are seeking.
– CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: Benjamin: Thank you for writing in to CatholicView. Jesus did not talk in symbolic terms. If He did, John's gospel would not have been so clear about eating and drinking Christ's body and blood for eternal life. It is the one and only Jesus Christ and it does not violate the truth of one God. And also, the gospel accounts of the last supper DO NOT show that Jesus partook of his own communion. Instead, he broke away from the ritual of the Passover and gave his disciples communion without himself partaking. Look at the gospels. Hope this helps. – CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: Let me explain, people for instance pray to get
a new job, they get the job and say "God answered my prayers". Well did he
really act as a puppet master for this believer’s life or did they just simply get
the job. My son was diagnosed with Type I diabetes and when there was still a doubt
as to whether he had it I was told by my church that God is the great physician and He can
cure any ailment. I prayed for weeks and God didn't cure my son. So should I
think well, God has the power to snap and the ailment will disappear but why doesn't He if
He is so merciful? I am beginning to believe that God doesn't have a hand in our
lives like so many people believe. Maybe because of Free Will in the world things
happen on their own and God is more likely saying, I don’t promise good or bad in
your lives if you follow me, my promises are after this life, but I will give you the
truth and support in knowing I am watching and am here to listen. And if you lean on
me emotionally and live by my laws you will earn your place with me after this flawed
world is done with you? Dear Justin: You answered your own letter rightfully when you wrote the following: “God is saying, I don’t promise
good or bad in your lives if you follow Me, my promises are after this life, but I will
give you the truth and support in knowing I am watching and am here to listen. And
if you lean on Me emotionally and live by my laws you will earn your place with Me after
this flawed world is done with you.” God did not promise us heaven on earth. This life is just a way station. The sadness of death, illness and loss is part of the human condition. The world is imperfect and there is evil here. Through our miseries we grow and learn our dependency on God’s mercy to carry us through. Through suffering we are refined, honed and made ready for eternal heaven. We do not know the answers in this life to many things. Because they will be made clear someday, we must continue in faith and trust. - CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff:
Dear Stephen: Your letter is not clear about the reason you have been denied visitation with your children. Are you divorced? Were your paternal rights denied in the courts? Unfortunately, because of insufficient information CatholicView cannot give a proper answer for you. Here in the USA we have laws that govern the rights of the mother as well as the father. If you are not allowed to see your children, you will need to address the courts for lawful permission. Please do not take matters into your own hands. Go through the proper channels and seek your demands. And this would be a good time to talk to your parish priest for help in sorting out these issues. May God help you to find a peaceful solution to this heartbreaking situation. – CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: Dear Cynthia: I think you are confusing a cut off age for
mass obligation with fasting. When one turns
60 years of age, it is not required that one fasts during lent. Canon 1252 … all adults are bound by the law of fast up
to the beginning of their sixtieth year. Hope this helps you a
bit. – CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: Joanne: If you pray earnestly, God will lead you to the answers you seek. Keep praying and most of all, quietly listen. Spend time alone in communion with Him. God bless. – CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: Dear Toni: CatholicView is sorry to hear that you lost your mother and then your dog to cancer. These losses are heartbreaking. God is there in your darkest moments but He never promised to make things easy or perfect for us because this is a temporary world with much evil and strife. And none of us know how or what Almighty God will do for us. What we do know is that He is always there to bolster and love us, to give His grace and mercy during these hard times. He is there to comfort and sustain us in spite of these hard obstacles in our way. We cannot know the whys sometimes but the Lord does and He will make these things clear to us when He returns. Remember your mother is now out of pain and suffering and is free from this life’s encumbrances. 1John 5:14-15 tells
us “"And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing
according to his will, he hear us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we
know that we have the petitions that we desired of him" We can only
keep depending on our faith, knowing that sometimes God says no. Loss is really not
the issue: it's how we deal with that loss that makes one a faith-filled Christian. We are on a faith journey that ends with a final destination. Being human we want this imperfect life to become the perfect life on this earth. This is not true. Prayer is not a magic tool that works exactly the way we want it; it is a tool that sustains and strengthens us THROUGH the trials we face. The tangles we have to unravel bring us closer to God through prayer but does not guarantee anything except eternal life and God’s unending mercy and love along the way. Hope this helps. – CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: Dear Giavanni: If you made a solemn vow to Almighty God you cannot undo that vow. Whatever you told God to gain His blessings does not change that vow just because it has now become uncomfortable for you. God does not bargain and your word must be honored. If you are unable to keep up your end of this situation because of illness or some other strong and valid reason, then God will understand. However if you are perfectly capable of keeping your word you must. Please do seek counsel from your parish priest. He will be able to talk this over with you and give you the answers that you seek. - CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: Is a marriage annulment possible after 15 yrs and 4 children if my husband knowingly gave me a sexually transmitted disease he acquired prior to our marriage but never told me, committed rape in marriage, although he denies this, saying he didn't hear me say NO, and has been beating on at least 2 of our kids (criminal charges made but awaiting court hearings) and saying it is "due to the state of our relationship" that he did this? This is not the man I thought I was marrying, I gave him my all, my love, my life, my body and my career. feel as if I have never really known him and that I have broken my vows and yet even tonight he stands in Mass and takes holy communion, yet still denies me and the legal system, that what he has done is wrong, I do not know if he has confessed in sacrament his sins, that be between him and God, but it still feels so wrong. I am in need of some guidance and hope that you can give me some. With many thanks, Caroline. Dear Caroline: We are sorry to hear of your trials within your marriage. Your marriage has been violated in many instances and it sadly has affected your children. It seems that you have very strong grounds to seek an annulment of this marriage, which is heartbreaking to you and your children. Go and talk to your parish priest. Do not be afraid. He will listen carefully to what you have to say, and he will start the annulment process if he deems it viable. May the Lord give you the courage to move forward knowing that God goes with you. CatholicView Staff
NOVEMBER 2005
FATHER KEVIN BATES
Father Kevin: If Christ were to visit our world today would He recognize the religion that He started two thousand years ago? His church has canon laws, liturgies, protocol, etc. I am sure the path He started was a simple one. Now we have colleges of Cardinals with much pomp and circumstance. We have a leader who wears golden rings, wears luxurious vestments, and parades before thousands of adoring people, not necessarily of His religion. Would Christ recognize His modern day Church or would He act like He did many years ago when He found moneychangers in His temple? Thanks. - Steve
Hi Steve - what a question!! Who's to know what Jesus would think if He returned and met us all? Firstly, I think He would recognize His church in the faces of the children who still learn to love Him in their homes and through their schools. He would recognize His church in the faces of the legions of heroic men and women, lay, religious and priests, who daily give their lives for the coming of God's kingdom, in education, in health care, in industry, in working for justice, in supporting refugees, in feeding the poor, in seeking out the destitute and tending to them. He would probably recognize His people as they gather for Sunday worship with faithfulness, even though their Sunday worship is often enough less than perfect in its expression, but their faith carries the day. I think He would recognize His church in the dedicated lives of bishops, priests, religious and lay people who dedicate their lives to prayer, penance, and works of charity. I think He would recognize His church present in the homes of families who struggle to make ends meet, but who still love each other faithfully and courageously, and who still turn to Him for their hope and their ultimate nourishment. As for the gold glitter, uniforms and various male veils you allude to, I think He would grin and recognize that the church is human and that human imperfection, which lives side by side in every heart with holiness and goodness, can live side by side in the church too. I think He looks at you and me and grins a bit too as He sees us struggling to live good lives, but being trapped now and again by our own sinfulness. His grin is full of understanding and forgiveness, and He suggests that we look at each other that way too. Some of the rituals of course, are quite humble in their intent and performance. For instance the beautiful way that the present Pope led the funeral of his predecessor Pope John Paul II is an excellent example. I think on balance, He would enjoy His visit to us. I know we would too - in fact we do - He is still living with us through His Word, through the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist, and in the sacrament of each baptized person - He is to be seen everywhere, calling us to Him. Kind regards. - Father Kevin
Father:
Hello dear Karen: What generous hearts you and your husband have,
and what a brave struggle you are taking on. With that generous heart, I am sure
that God forgives whatever you do, as he knows and understands that you are doing your
very best. God has no trouble forgiving - it is one of his favorite things! He
does it so easily, it is an essential part of being God. God's forgiveness of course
is not made in a vacuum or from a position of naiveté or ignorance. God knows
you through and through, and knows the innermost recesses of your heart, and trusts
you gladly and graciously. Part of our mission as adult members of the
Church is to test our experience again and again in the light of the church's teachings,
and then come back and tell the rest of us what we have found. Our mission is to
live the gospel in the circumstances of our lives, as best we can, and then share that
with each other. In all this we listen for what is most true, most generous and most
loving, taking all the circumstances into account that we can. In this you must know
that God trusts you deeply. Of course all of us are capable of
self-deception, of selfishness, of untruth, and that is why we need each other in the
church through the church's teachings to remind us of the path of generosity and love.
However, simply knowing the rules does not absolve us from exploring for ourselves,
and with prayer and listening hearts, trying to discover what it is God has in mind for
us. Be sure that God understands your situation,
better than any of us. Be sure that you can trust God completely in trying to be as
life giving and generous as you can. And be
sure you will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.
Father:
Hello Camille. You are asking the big question here -
confronting the meaning and timing and manner of our death. We are confronting it at
the moment as a young Australian man is about to be executed for drug trafficking in
Singapore. Australia believes the death penalty is barbaric and not a worthy or
an effective penalty so we are all having trouble coming to terms with that at the moment.
This is a huge question to which of course there is no easy answer. One perspective is to acknowledge that life is
a gift and is given by God for the length of time and quality of time that God
intends. Then we ask why do some people get a better deal than others?
None of us knows. What we do know that God is good and never intends harm,
destruction, misery for anyone. God's purpose for all of us is for a full free
and happy life. The world's violence and poverty is
not caused by God, but rather by our own folly. The death of your old friend
was due not to God's intervention, but rather to the policies of the US, Australian and
British and other governments who believed naively that they could bring peace
through violence. It patently is not working. So much poverty and misery is the result of our
own immaturity, our inability to share god's gifts, our greed, our fear of each other
and our desire for immortality at the expense of others. The brutal ways you refer to are of our own making and we buy a cheap freedom if we try to blame God for them. Every good wish. - Father Kevin
FATHER AMARO SAUMELL
Father: Recently in the parish I attend, I've noticed women and girls wearing veils. I did not grow up with this custom. Can you shed some light on this? - Diana Dear Diana, The custom of the veil probably comes from this scripture: "[1
Cor 11:5] But any woman who prays or prophesies with her head unveiled brings shame upon
her head, for it is one and the same thing as if she had had her head shaved. Of course, one has to know what St. Paul was addressing here. One must remember that the Corinthian community had been very pagan. Some Women who attached themselves to the Temple of Aphrodite were used for an accepted practice of ritual prostitution. This was not really understood until recent years through archeological discovery. In their old customs, the women would go into ecstasies and allow themselves to be used in this fashion. After their conversion to Christianity, finding somewhat boring at times, some of the customs were creeping back into worship, a practice that Paul is addressing. In that culture, for a woman to have their hair uncovered would be like one going topless today. He is telling them that they now have a dignity restored to them that should not be lost for the sake of charismatic excitement. This scripture had been misconstrued for centuries. I remember when a woman might even bobby pin a Kleenex to the top of her head rather than to attend mass with it uncovered. But they didn’t know why. In present day, uncovered hair is no longer seen as immodest. There is no comparison to the situation of the women of the Corinthian community. Yet, in some places the custom or fashion still takes place... with no understanding of its origin. And as feminine and beautiful as the veils are, often the people don’t even understand where the custom came from. They just see it as something they grew up with. Many customs change within the church for different reasons. Many are upset because the tabernacle isn’t in the middle behind the altar. They think that since they grew up with it that way, it was always that way. They get very upset when I point out that the little church that St.. Francis built, which is still present today, had the tabernacle on the side. If you go into the catacombs of the first Christians, you will see a “floor plan” much like we use today, for the custom of the priest facing away from the people did not start until the Middle Ages. Much of what seems “new” are just restorations to what the first century Christians practiced. But always remember what is important... that is what is important for salvation. Even when things are not done right ask yourself, “Will this affect my salvation? Is it a distraction that Satan wants me to have to guide me away from the Real Presence?” I am a “rubric follower.” But I do remember a time when I went to parish to fill in for an absent pastor to preside at the mass. When I got there, the vestments were all locked and the people were gathered. Was it more important that I wore a vestment or more important that the people were able to receive Holy Communion? Under the circumstances, I said the mass with what I was wearing. That was the right thing to do... to keep my priorities straight. The people were hungering for Our Lord and Our Lord is what they were going to receive, no matter what my clothes were. Remember that there is
a difference between Tradition with an upper case “T,” which is the apostolic
faith, the tradition with the lower case “t,” which are customs within the
apostolic faith. The creed and the sacraments
are from the Tradition, while most of the trappings come from legitimate customs. Customs can change, but the Apostolic Faith and
Sacraments cannot. Don’t be distracted! That’s
what the evil one wants. Anything that causes distraction or division is exactly what the
evil one wants! Keep your focus in the right
place. Hope this helps. God bless, Father Amaro
Father Amaro: Catholicism teaches us to believe in one God. My question is simply this, concentrating just on the two largest religions in the world Christianity and Islam how do we know that Christ is truly the way; how do we know for certain that Allah is not the one god? The following statistics represent the trends and current number of people around the world which make up the Islam and Christianity faith. Religion Membership %
of World
Dear Ed, Faith is faith. We understand the God of
Abraham in the fullness of the faith. This privilege carries a great amount of
responsibility. We have an understanding of the one God in the Most Blessed Trinity of
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Are not you, your word, and your action of one human
being? God is the Source, the Word and the Animator in one Being also. Many have not
reached the maturity to understand that God’s “Word” is not confined to
sounds or ink on a page. God’s “Word”is spoken so eloquently that is
manifest in the personification of the Lord of the Incarnation, the human and divine
presence known in Jesus. God’s animation is personified in the Holy Spirit. [Mat 25:14-29] "It will be as when a man who was going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one--to each according to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master's money. After a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, 'Master, you gave me five talents. See, I have made five more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.' (Then) the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, 'Master, you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master's joy.' Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and said, 'Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant and gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground. Here it is back.' His master said to him in reply, " When we look at the limitations of other faiths, we do not judge how they use the measure they receive. But we know that we are responsible to invest what we have received. It is never up to us to condemn or judge. Only God can do that. We give thanks for all that have some measure and pray that they will invest it in a way to glorify God, even if they do not have the fullness of understanding. After all, if Jesus is the “truth” the way and the life, anyone who participates with the fullness of the truth they possess is knowingly or knowingly participating with Jesus who is the “truth” and are being driven to some degree by the Holy Spirit. Think about this for a while. It may give
you a headache at first, but with the Holy Spirit’s help, you’ll understand.
God
bless, Father Amaro
Dear Fathers:
Dear “TK”: This is one of those times that we discover that we don’t have all the answers... at least this teacher doesn’t have it right. We are not to do work of “servitude” on the Lord’s Day. We can, however, enjoy recreation. We can also perform works of charity or works of mercy on the Lord’s Day, even if they do include and element of servitude. Jesus made this very clear when he was criticized. [Luke 6:2-5] Some Pharisees said, "Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?" Jesus said to them in reply, "Have you not read what David did when he and those (who were) with him were hungry? (How) he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering, which only the priests could lawfully eat, ate of it, and shared it with his companions." Then he said to them, "The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath." I think it most
appropriate that you address this with the teacher. If that doesn’t work, you might
consult your Director of Religious Education. And if that doesn’t work, speak to your
pastor. Unfortunately, this is one of those cases where “a little knowledge is a
dangerous thing.” Whatever you do, be humble and kind. Even priests make mistakes
giving out information sometimes. (But don’t tell anyone.. It’s a well-guarded
secret. God
bless, Father Amaro
Father: Since Jesus knew that His betrayal and death were preordained, why did He say of his betrayer, " better that he had never been born"? Thanks. - Tom
Dear Tom, Many people make the
mistake of disobeying the First of the Ten Commandments by taking God’s place and
drawing conclusions as to the fate of Judas. We never judge souls... period. Jesus'
comment could have meant damnation or severe purgatory. We don’t know if Judas
experienced a bit of contrition just as the rope snapped as he hung himself. We should
just take Jesus at His word that Judas experienced suffering and punishment on some level.
Beyond that, we must examine our motivation for wanting to know more that what Jesus
wished to reveal. God bless, Father
Amaro
CATHOLICVIEW STAFF
CatholicView Staff: Can a Catholic priest concelebrate a nuptial Mass at an Episcopal Church? If yes, would he still be able to if the groom were a Catholic priest seeking dispensation from his vows? Thank you. Brian Brian: A catholic priest CANNOT CONCELEBRATE a
Eucharist/mass in an Episcopal Church. A Catholic priest CAN participate in the
ceremony of the exchange of vows in the Episcopal church with a dispensation from
form (rules) in hand from the local bishop. And if the one getting
married is a former priest WAITING for his dispensation from Rome, a Catholic priest
CANNOT participate in such a ceremony. - CatholicView
Staff
CatholicView Staff:
Dear Symon A Faustian Contract is a contract to the
devil to sell one's soul in return for something like money, sex, and power. I never
heard of a contract between two human beings like this, though. Your letter is
saying that someone (a human being) has bought another human being's soul. How is
this possible? Any contract with the devil is not only sin, it is dangerous. –
CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: I am at university and there is a boy I really like and want to help - I feel I could help much more if I was dating him. He's very nice but he does have an alcohol problem, he gets very drunk at least twice a week and drinks(without getting drunk) nearly all other nights. He's agnostic but is open and interested in religion. I'm not sure whether it would really be okay for me to begin dating him, would it be an occasion of sin for me, he certainly isn't a virigin and would possibly pressurise me, and we live in the same corridor so I'm concerned it could be quite hard to resist. But I like him so much and as a friend I haven't been able to persuade him about the dangers of his drinking. Thank you. - Elizabeth Dear Elizabeth: Be very careful of those people you choose for friendship. Especially involving an intimate relationship with someone who is emotionally unable to control his alcohol and seems very uncertain about God. You, yourself has stated that he is trying to pursue sexual relations with you and that IS a sin for you. Jesus asked us to help each other but He does not suggest you begin an intimate alliance with someone unsuitable. You have mentioned no saving factors about him. Please avoid this occasion of sin, BUT PRAY privately for this person. Be kind but keep your distance. – CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: William: There are factors here that you do not mention in your letter. Are you willing to give up your belief in Jesus Christ for this relationship? Is she willing to give up her belief for you? If you do marry, you and your fiancé need to discuss how you will reconcile your religious differences and how you will rear your children. Because you are not Catholic, you will need to talk to your minister face to face for discussion and to receive answers. Only then can you can move forward with your lives. May the peace of the Lord be with you always. – CatholicView Staff.
CatholicView Staff:
Stefano: The bible verse you are looking for is in Matthew 16:18. But the way you put the verse is not the correct interpretation of the meaning of this verse: “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” This has to do with a specific teaching of truth that the Church is teaching in Christ’s name. It does not mean that any law a human person makes is acceptable to God. The verse is about truth not law. – CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: Dear Jane CatholicView is sorry for your loss. Since your husband has died, you are free from any situation that was the cause of your separation from the Church. The priest ministered to you correctly. Rejoice and be glad that you are able to receive the sacraments with a dedicated heart for the Lord. Hope this helps you. – CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff:
Cathy: All life returns to the Creator and miscarried babies are now angels before the Lord! God has taken these children to Himself! Yes, you will see the angel you gave life to in this life on earth. God bless you. – CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: This is a really complicated question. I am not Catholic and I do not follow my faith but I am a Christian and try to be a moral person and I think in this situation I did what was moral. I have a boyfriend of two years, he lives with me and I really saw my future with him. He has wonderful parents and overall we had a great relationship. About a month ago, a stray cat wandered into my house and stayed for 3 days. It was a kitten, not spayed and did not have a collar. I was about 85% sure it was a stray, so I guess there was doubt in my mind. My boyfriend wanted to give the cat to his parents, and we asked everyone in the neighborhood who the cat belonged to but no one knew. I said we should put up some signs just in case, but the next thing I knew, his parents had picked up the cat, and I guess I thought it was over and didn't put up the signs. Meanwhile the parents called the SPCA and the newspaper to see if the cat had been reported missing. They didn’t find anything listed so they got it spayed and its shots done. About 15 days later I saw a poster for the cat in the neighborhood and I took it to them. His mom said they weren't going to give it back and not to tell his dad but I did anyway. His dad said that he knew it was wrong but they had done all this for it, it had a good home and they were going to keep it (he now says he didn’t say that but I’m sure he did). He called the people and told them their cat was alive and well. He told them they found it and were going to keep it, and it would have a good life. I knew it was wrong but I was selfish and didn’t want them to hate me, so I didn’t say anything. I thought it would blow over, but someone in my neighborhood found out my boyfriend and I had given up the cat his parents. The original owner came over to talk. However my boyfriend’s parents advised him not to talk with the original owners or our neighbor friend. I want to know if a priest thinks I did the right thing about the cat? - Tara Dear Tara: Please do not feel badly about the cat. You did what you could under the circumstances.
The so-called owners may not be the owners at all. Maybe they saw the poster and probably
thought they could get something out of you after letting a period of time pass by.
I have actually seen this done to someone else. You tried in every way possible to
get the stray cat identified. If the cat HAD an identity tag or collar you
probably would have returned the cat to its rightful owners. The so-called owners
CANNOT prove it is their cat! So, you did everything right. You did nothing
wrong. So, please, do not worry. You did right. Leave it in God's
Hands. Be at peace.
CatholicView Staff:
Kelly: You cannot change the names of the sponsors of
baptism. That is part of the record. They were the ones chosen to represent the church
as witnesses to the baptism. As for the
term, godparents, this is a cultural imposition on the idea of baptismal sponsors. You can chose whomever you like to be spiritual
mentors for your son. If you feel that the
original sponsors for baptism would not be the best spiritual mentors for your son, then,
by all means, chose someone else. Priests,
deacons, and bishops are not generally asked to be sponsors/godparents because they cannot
be tied or committed to any family or group but committed solely to ministry and church. – CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: Mark: There should be no contradiction in your study of science and your faith
in God as a Catholic. The biblical account of creation (in which there are two
accounts as seen in Genesis 1 and 2) is not a scientific account but a spiritual and
cultural account that states an infallible truth: God is the creator of all
things, God is the Prime Mover and Planner of all existence and that there are no
other gods but God Himself (one God and one God alone). How God creates and how
God brought the universe into existence is anybody's guess. Today's scientific
research had different conclusions than yesterday's science and probably tomorrow's
science. The words of the Old Testament describing creation are not science but
it is truth. So, enjoy your journey into scientific research and marvel at the
wonders of God. You will see how God's creative Hand is in everything and informs
even the smallest detail. And you will also learn that science DOESN'T have all the
answers. For in any type of research of scientific purpose, more questions will be
revealed and answers will be elusive. God is the answer to all questions.
May the Lord guide you in all your deliberations. And don't forget to marvel
and give thanks to the Creator. CatholicView
Staff
CatholicView Staff: Dolores: God knows the heart. If you are trying to do the right thing for your health and well being then God will understand. But this has to be a thing of conscience and common sense. Sadly you will not be able to participate in the Holy Eucharist so you will need to talk to your priest and see if you can receive via a Minister of the Eucharist who will arrange to come to your home to offer this Sacrament to you. Please see your priest and explain your situation. I am sure all can be sorted out. God bless you always. - CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: Dear Ashley: God IS the soul and life of everything. – CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: Dear Mary: There are no specific biblical references as to
whether we will recognize one another in heaven. But the words of Jesus to the thief
who died with him on the cross, "This day you will be with me in paradise,"
implies that he would be recognized by Christ and others in heaven. Also, at the
Transfiguration of Christ on Mount Tabor, the apostles even recognized Moses and Elijah
EVEN THOUGH the apostles did not know or even met them in human life. So, if the
apostles could recognize Moses and Elijah without any introductions, we too would
recognize EVERYONE in heaven without introduction. –
CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff: Dear Jillian: Should you choose to
marry in the Church, your fiancé will have to sign a contract giving permission to have
your future offspring baptized in the Catholic faith.
Think carefully and discuss this with your fiancé and your parish priest.
– CatholicView Staff
CatholicView Staff:
George: Thank you for your question about being a Mason.. You will find your answer in the August 2005 "Ask a Priest". The topic was addressed by Father Kevin Bates. Here is the link to that page: http://www.catholicvu.com/newpage145.htm . Many blessings, CatholicView Staff
(MORE NOVEMBER 2005 TO COME)
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