JULY 2008
FATHER AMARO SAUMELL
FATHER KEVIN BATES, SM
FATHER CEDRIC PISEGNA, C.P.
CATHOLICVIEW STAFF
FATHER AMARO SAUMELL
”Is it wrong to work at a clinic where others are
prescribing birth control?” - Kathleen
Father Amaro:
I'm a NP with an opportunity to delivery
primary care to those w/o health insurance. The problem is that other providers at the
clinic prescribe birth control. Is it morally wrong to work at the clinic even though I
wouldn't be involved in prescribing such meds? - Kathleen
Dear Kathleen:
Sort of feeling like Matthew the tax collector
huh? Yes, we’re all faced with these
moral dilemmas. Don’t feel alone. They even happen within the structure of the
Church.
I don’t think there is any medical
facility that does not do something that opposes God’s will in some way. That’s the problem with knowledge. Sometimes humanity gets so excited about having it
that it forgets that knowledge isn’t merely a “quick fix” for a given
situation. Since the medical community often
seems to look to handle symptoms rather than the problem, these situations always arise.
Since you are not administering any of these
medications, you’re ok. After all, the
people who come into your place of work are helpless.
They need good, ethical medical professionals. You are a good example. You can often help with a passing line or two that
prompts them to think without actually giving “advice” you are not
“authorized” to give. It’s
sort of like the pharmacist that can’t tell people not to take birth control pills. But they can surely advise of the ill effects
enough to make people think twice about putting these “nature altering”
substances into their bodies.
If it becomes too uncomfortable, health care
processionals are needed all over. You can
always change places of employment. - God bless, Father Amaro
”How would the Church have me spread the word of
God's reward to the faithful?” - Gail
Dear Father:
I have a question about Catholic Doctrine that
is very important to me. I have been the
recipient of many profound miracles in my life. How
would the Church have me spread the word of God's reward to the faithful? I feel called to spread this news. Does the Church have a forum for such
testimonies? Thank you for your valuable time
and attention. Most sincerely, Gail
Dear Gail,
How wonderful that you saying to
God, “Here I am, Lord.” We need so
many more. Because we profess in our Creed to
be one, holy catholic and “apostolic” church, it is important that you follow
all the guidelines of your local successor to the apostles, your bishop. That would mean that to do things in the most
productive way, you need to really challenge yourself with the catechism so that all falls
in line with what the Holy Spirit has revealed through the living Church. I’m sure your diocese offers many courses in
catechetics and evangelization. Get a
certificate as a catechist. You’ll find
it very useful. And thank you for wanting to
“be” a Catholic rather than merely wanting to “attend” a Catholic
Church. This is what true laity is all about.
– God bless, Father Amaro
”If I commit a sin I have an addiction to, is it a sin?”
- George
Dear Father:
I have been told by a seminary professor (priest) that sinning against an addiction of
impurity is not a sin as long as it is not wanted to be done and is fought as best as
possible. May I have your thoughts on that,
please? Thank you. - George
Dear George,
St. Thomas Aquinas has the best explanation for
this. I’ll give an example. When a person who knows that smoking is damaging to the
body has that first cigarette, it is a mortal sin. It’s a grave act, sufficient
reflection has taken place through “knowing” that it is harmful, but complete
consent is given. But after having smoked for a while, the person grows to hate smoking,
but is trapped in an addiction. No longer is complete consent given. Therefore smoking in
itself may no longer be a “mortal sin.”
However, there might be a conscious decision
not to do anything about this. There may be a “sin of omission” that is taking
place because the person is avoiding all help in correcting the problem. Herein lies what may be a mortal sin.
It’s worth applying these principles to
your struggle. God bless, Father Amaro
”Is life worth living if a man suffers from
insanity?”
- Roland
Father Amaro:
If a man suffers from insanity, should he stay
alive to serve as an example to others such as his own mother and sister, and brother? Is
his life still worth living? Thank you. - Roland
Dear Roland,
If a person has cancer, he should stay alive as
long as possible to endure, even though it’s an “inconvenience” to family?
Sounds like a crazy response, huh? The
same principles apply.
The worldly response is always that which
serves “convenience” rather than joyful service.
It’s the same point of departure that is used to rationalize abortion,
promiscuity, exploitation, bad business practices, or whatever. Rather than seeing
the long-range effects of doing things in moral order, they look to their own convenience
and comfort.
As Christians, we see a more positive view of
“worldly inconvenience.” We see these situations as an
“opportunity!” Yes, yes, yes.... it’s an opportunity of love and
care. It’s an opportunity for charity.
A truly insane person does not know he or she
is insane. This is a malfunction that needs to be cared for in the same way any mortal
challenge would be cared for. A person doesn’t voluntarily have cancer. He or
she has lost control of his or her body. An insane person has lost control of his or her
mental faculties. What an opportunity to love that person you have. What a valid and
conspicuous way to reveal the love of God and neighbor as a witness to your relationship
with God. God bless. – Father Amaro
FATHER KEVIN BATES, SM
”Shouldn’t
I be allowed to love like heterosexual couples?”
- Steven
Father Kevin:
I am a homosexual male. Why must I, according
to the Catholic Church, be subject to a life of celibacy just because I am gay? Shouldn't I be allowed to love my partner like
heterosexual couples? Steven
Hello Steven:
And thanks for your question. You can
do whatever you like of course as we are all bound to follow our own conscience.
The Church offers its teaching for your
consideration and then invites your mature, prayerful response. Like a lot of moral
issues, the issue of homosexuality is one that is undergoing much scrutiny and reflection
in our own time. Our understanding of many moral issues develops slowly over time,
and taking a hard line on some issues is not helpful to this reflective process. At
this time the Church teaches that homosexual actions, of themselves, are not morally
acceptable. This may well remain the case in the future. I encourage you to
reflect deeply in God's presence on your situation and then make your own mature and
generous response to how God invites you to live. The choice is totally yours
however, and no one is "not allowing" you as you put it to live as you choose.
God understands how we are made and simply longs for us to be as loving and life
giving as we can. All good wishes. - Father
Kevin
”Am I
obligated to continue being open to life?” - Sarah
Father Kevin:
I have been open in our marriage and have 4 children that are very close together. I have been using NFP for the past 4 years
to have a break, but my husband wants to have another child. I have some health problems that would need to be
monitored if pregnant but nothing life threatening.
Am I obligated to continue to be open to life? I still have many years of fertility. Thank you.
Sarah
Dear Sarah:
Thank you for your question. In this,
as in all other moral decisions that we are faced with, God simply asks that we be as life
giving as we possibly can. This includes our physical capacity, our emotional and
psychological capacity, our economic capacity and so on. You also have to consider
the needs of your present children and your ability to care for them. God
does not ask the unreasonable or the impossible. It seems that both you and your
husband need to come to an agreement on the matter first and be at one in your decision.
That seems to be most important. I am sure the decision you make together,
will be as generous as you can be. You are certainly not obliged to put your own
health at risk of course, in fact the opposite is the case, you must look after yourself
so that you can be there for your family as it is already. Every good wish and prayers, Sarah. - Father Kevin
”If I
sin, will God still answer my prayers?”
– Elizabeth
Father Kevin:
Does sinning affect whether God will answer my prayers and petitions? I am afraid God will not answer my prayers because
I have sinned by pleasuring myself. – Elizabeth.
No
Elizabeth,
Sinning does not affect whether God listens to you or not.
God loves you so much and can't help listening to you and loving you no matter what
mischief you get up to! In Matthew 5:45 it says, "...for
He (God) gives His sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the
just and the unjust alike." And
so, He answers prayers of the worthy and the unworthy of us. God will answer prayer
according to His design, not ours. When God created us and gave us life, He had a
plan for each of us. You and I are important in God's plan. No matter how
insignificant you feel, no matter how much you see or not see your own God-given
worth and dignity, you are important to Him and His plan for salvation. So, stop
focusing on your particular sin and put your eyes on the Lord and His plan for you
and your family. Focusing on sin and guilt only blinds you to God's plan, His total,
unconditional love for you. Yet, this unconditional love challenges me to grow up
and spiritually mature which means that I will continue to battle with sin in my
life. Since I encounter God's love, I must return that love by living for him.
That means that I will continue to overcome sin in my life. Every blessing, Father Kevin
FATHER CEDRIC PISEGNA, C.P.
”Is it a sin to go to a nightclub that was once a
church?”
- Jason
Father Cedric:
I have a pal who sings in a band that I would
like to see. The only nearby show soon is at a church turned into a nightclub that has
kept some of the church's qualities. I
am conflicted about going to this place. Would
this be wrong or a sin? -Jason
Jason:
I don’t think it is a sin. The church sold
the grounds and this establishment took it over. It would be sinful if it were a strip
bar. I would stay away from there if I were you. If it is only a bar, I think
it would be okay this once. However, it is your conscience that you must
follow. Your question shows that you are troubled about this. You must weigh
in your own mind what is right to do and choose well. God help you to make the right
choice in prayer. - Father Cedric
“I've been wondering seriously if I really want to
go to
heaven. Any advice?” - Johnny
Father Cedric:
Lately I've been wondering seriously if I really want to go to heaven. Of course I don't want to go to hell. But the imagination that I have regarding heaven
and eternity seems like it will be just a blissful unreality. Because how can everybody’s perception
of happiness be without conflict so it would just have to be an illusion. Or secondly to be servant of God for eternity...
what kind of servant? A butler, a
gardener..what? I don't mean to sound
flippant but eternity is a very long time and I do truly believe in "John 3:16"
but just what am I getting into? I love my
family very much and would love to spend eternity with them but maybe they don't want to
spend eternity with me or maybe I don't want to spend eternity with the people they want
to spend eternity with i.e. (son in-laws, or some of my aunts and cousins). I dream of a heaven and the eternity
aspect of being in some blissed out state of servitude and this doesn’t sound very
appealing to me. I love God and I will do His
wishes. It is just that my ignorant
perception of the afterlife sounds like a drag.
I love you, Sweet Jesus; You are my Savior. I'll preach and fight for you throughout my life. But I suppose I'm saying that having everything
perfect as they say heaven is supposed to be is something I'm not sure I want or deserve. I have no aspirations to climb the almost
corporate structured ladder into one of the top slots behind the pearly gates. I would be cool with just wandering the earth,
enjoying all that You have created. I'd love
to do more servitude for You here while I'm on earth.
Heaven just seems strange to me and I'm not sure that I want to go. Just being honest and please forgive me for
my ignorance. What advice would you give to
me? - Johnny
Johnny,
You are very philosophical. I invite you
to keep questioning and being curious, searching is the root of wisdom. You are not
alone in your wonderings. I’ve heard from a number of people who question what
heaven will be like and they are not sure they want to go either.
Fortunately God has given me some glimpses of
glory. I invite you to purchase my book “Death the Final Surrender.”
I was given two “near death” experiences. In these experiences I
detail in precise fashion what will happen to us when we die. God showed me that we were
made for “glory.” Glory is pleasure, electricity and joy. Trust me,
you will enjoy this! The flipside of glory is shame and disgrace. There will either
be one or the other. There is no in-between. The choices we make now will
determine eternity. You will just have to trust that heaven and God are what your
heart was made for. More than that, if you develop a personal relationship with
Jesus Christ now, God will give you the foretaste: his Holy Spirit. Even now, you can
begin to experience the glories to come, along with intimacy that will thrill your soul.
We all love pleasure. Some enjoy golfing,
fishing, eating, gambling, shopping, traveling, sex, music. What do you enjoy?
Imagine that compounded by a million! Saints have said that the music in heaven is
so beautiful that when they heard the best music on earth it sounded like a tin box.
In terms of relationships, only those worthy of heaven will be there. We will be
purified and easy to get along with. The service you talk about will only give us
more joy.
Heaven is something you will not want to miss.
Jesus said that those outside “weep and gnash their teeth” because they
missed it. I pray for you and all reading this that God will impress upon your heart
the Glory and the pleasure of eternal life with God. I pray you will also understand
the alternative. May you understand the seriousness of the moment now. Our
choices and lifestyle determine eternity. My prayer for all is that you will develop
your relationship with God such that you will know the foretaste of heaven now: The Holy
Spirit. I invite you to go to my website and learn more through my videos and
clicking on “eternal life.” www.frcedric.org
Many blessings. - Father Cedric
”Is there anything in the Bible that talks about
infant
baptism?” - Christine
Father Cedric:
I was baptized as a baby as a Protestant. My family was not religious, we were just
baptized. Now that I'm older I've made the
decision to follow my Savior Jesus Christ and attend a Baptist church. They are
telling me however, that I need to be baptized again because the last one didn't count
since I didn't make the decision to follow Jesus first.
I see in the Bible where it says you need to make the decision to follow then baptize, but
many denominations including Catholics baptize first. Does it really matter?
Is there anything in the Bible that talks about infant baptism? - Christine
Christine:
You must understand that Catholics believe that
baptism is like a seed sown. Grace is given in the moment, even though the one receiving
the sacrament is a baby. We believe that through the parents’ influence and that seed
sown, when the baby comes of age, they will be able to make “graced” decisions
about their faith. Can a person who was not baptized come to faith? Absolutely.
We are simply saying that baptism predisposes a person to grace and therefore,
hopefully, a faith decision later on.
However, that being said, there is a problem in
our church and in other denominations. Our late Holy Father Pope John Paul II talked about
many in the church are “baptized pagans.” Many have neglected the grace of their
baptism and are not attending Mass and are living lifestyles apart from the Gospel.
Baptism is not a guarantee of salvation. There must be baptism AND faith. You must
live out this faith with a dedication to Jesus Christ and God’s will. That is
activating your baptism.
In answer to your question: Jesus commanded
that we make disciples of all nations “baptizing in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Mt. 28:19) The early church baptized as the
ratification of faith. While there is no specific referral to infant baptism (this
developed in time in the history of the church) Acts 16:33 tells us that Paul’s
jailer was baptized “with all his family.” I’m sure there were children
(perhaps babies) in his family that weren’t believers per se. Yet they were baptized
in the hope that grace would flower into decision.
My advice to you is to be re-baptized. Although
we believe that there is only one baptism (stated in our creed), since you are joining
that denomination that believes that way, you should adapt to their teaching. In your
heart you can believe that your first baptism is what began a salvation process in you.
Now you are simply ratifying this through your adult choice by being baptized again. God
knows your heart and that is what matters most. God Bless you for your new dedication to
Jesus Christ. - Father Cedric
CATHOLICVIEW STAFF
“What does the number “666” mean? - Rhoda
CatholicView Staff:
I have heard and read some frightening things about the number 666 and it seems to represent evil. Can you explain what this number means so that I
can understand when people speak of this? Many
thanks. - Rhoda
Dear
Rhoda:
This is
a question many
people ask about. 666 is a number associated with
extreme imperfection and therefore extreme evil.
Biblical numbers have meaning and are meant to emphasize a biblical message: 7 is perfection, 6 is imperfection, 12 is
associated with the tribes of Israel, the Apostles, 1 and 3 are associated with God
Himself. 40 always represents a long time,
not a specific exact time frame of days. In
the book of Revelation, 666 is a number of a man, a human being, whose name adds up to
666. In the Greek, there were no Arabic
numbers that we use today. Instead, numbers
were given a letter, the most obvious example would be Roman numerals such as
“V” would be 5, and “I” would be 1 and “X” would be 10. In Greek, the name Nero Caesar, the evil emperor
of Rome that murdered many Christians during the first century A.D., added up to 666. The beast (anti-Christ) in the book of Revelation
(Revelation 13:18) was Nero.
I hope
this clarifies the matter for you. God bless. - CatholicView Staff
”Am I required to pay so my daughter can be a
“stay at home”
mom? - Lauren
CatholicView Staff:
Am I required to pay for my grown daughter expenses so she can stay at home with her
daughter instead of putting the grandchild in daycare. I can easily afford to foot the
bill. Am I being selfish to not give the money for her to be a Stay at home Mom and now
she has to work and put the child in daycare?
Lauren:
Thank you for your question. You are not being selfish if your daughter is
healthy and able to work . She is a grown
person with a child and should not be dependent on you to support her desire to be a
“stay at home” mom.
However, you do not say whether your daughter
is married or has any other means of support. I
would suggest that you sit down with your daughter and explain that your responsibilities,
now that she is a grownup, have changed and she is responsible for the care of her family. You faced your own and now it is her turn to do
so. As an adult, she cannot expect to be
supported indefinitely unless she is in serious trouble with her finances. Make it clear and with love that if she is in financial danger from lack of money you will help
her. But please make sure to let her know you
love her and will always be there with standby support.
Hope this helps. – CatholicView
Staff
“Can I marry my non-Catholic, divorced fiance in
the
Church?” - Tawny
CatholicView Staff:
I have recently become engaged to a non-Catholic.
I would love to have a Catholic marriage ceremony and he
has agreed with that. The only problem is he is divorced. His marriage was in the court
and not in any church. Will we still be able
to have a Catholic wedding? Thank you. -
Tawny
Tawny:
Congratulations on your engagement! Please see your parish priest so you can sit down
and talk about the particulars of his previous marriage.
Have your fiance bring in any information concerning his marriage so the
priest can determine what can be done, such as obtaining an annulment, if it is necessary. I am sure this can all be worked out to your
satisfaction. Again, congratulations on
your upcoming wedding. – CatholicView
Staff
”Does a lottery drawing performed by a priest at the altar
after Mass cross the line?” - Hans
CatholicView Staff:
Our parish has a weekly lottery drawing, with the winner getting financial assistance with
gas for his or her car. I have no problem with this. I do however have a problem with this
being done by our priest after Mass, in front of the altar, while wearing full vestments.
It seems inappropriate somehow. Are there official guidelines re: after-Mass activities
that take place in church immediately after Mass? Having just received Our Lord in the
Eucharist, isn't some degree of a sense of the sacred still warranted? Does a lottery
drawing performed by a vested priest in front of the altar after Mass cross the line?
Hans:
Thank you for your question. I agree with you that a priest should not make a
raffle or even gasoline lottery contest drawing in front of the congregation immediately
after Mass. Instead, there is nothing wrong
in saying that the drawing will be at this particular time and place, like the parish
auditorium, and anyone who is interested in being there are certainly invited to see the
results. I would agree with you that the
timing of the drawing is problematic. – CatholicView Staff
”I am not Catholic. Would
you view me as a good
person if I do not commit mortal sin?” – Carol-Ann
CatholicView Staff:
While christened as a Catholic, I am a scientist at heart.
If I am a good person and do not commit what Catholics refer to as mortal
sin, would you still view me as a good person? I ask mostly out of curiosity and a search
for my own beliefs. Thank you. Carol-Ann
Dear Carol-Ann:
You are a good person. You were born and created good (see Genesis 1:31). Whether you acknowledge God in your life or not,
you are a good person. Sadly, some good
people do bad things that have dire consequences and the person loses sight of his or her
inborn goodness created by God. It seems
that your question implies that one cannot be a professional scientist and a faithful
Christian. I would strongly disagree. For science shows the immensity and infinity of
God even in its minuscule details. – CatholicView Staff
”Do Catholics get saved by public
declaration?” - Erica
CatholicView Staff:
I am Catholic, and I know a lot of Protestant Christians..
They are always saying you have to get "saved". Now I know it says that in the bible that you must
get saved by accepting him and I want to know why Catholics don’t do that, and if
they do, how? Thank you. Erica
Erica:
Many Christians from different denominations
state that a person must make a verbal and public affirmation and acceptance that Jesus is
their Lord and Savior as a pre-requisite for
salvation. This is true.
Catholics do this on a daily basis when they
receive communion, pray in community, talk about the Lord, and participate in the
sacramental life of the Church. Holy
Communion is a time that I publicly affirm and accept
Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior into my heart, life, and body for real. For Jesus is truly present in Holy Communion and
that, for Catholics, is the “ultimate altar call” to salvation. Interestingly enough, the reception of the
sacrament of confirmation has been a way of publicly proclaiming your faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Every day, Christians reaffirm their faith in the
Lord by prayer, gratitude, living your faith, and showing the love of Christ in everything
we do. - CatholicView Staff
”I am a forensic
technician. Is it wrong to do autopsies
on homicide victims?” - Eliz
CatholicView Staff:
I have just been hired part-time at the local coroners office. I will be a forensic tech there, responsible for
doing autopsy on homicide victims. Is there
anything in the church's teachings that goes against me performing these procedure on the dead? - Eliz
Dear Eliz:
There is no canonical law or statute that
forbids you as a Christian and Catholic to perform autopsies on dead bodies. Finding answers is so important for the peace of
mind of the families of the deceased. But
always remember, treat the deceased with the greatest respect since the body that you are
working on was at one time a “temple of the Holy Spirit.” Please see the biblical reference in I
Corinthians, Chapter 6, Verse 19: “Or do you not know that your body is a temple
of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your
own?” – CatholicView Staff
“Is there a time limit on
penance given during confession?”
- Louis
CatholicView Staff:
My question is involved with confession. Sometimes when I go to confession the priest
gives me a penance which is "say 2 Our Fathers and 2 Hail Marys". These are ok
and once said the penance is done. However,
some priests give penances which are like "spend 5 minutes everyday meditating and
offer it up for the parish community" or "read a little scripture
everyday". In some cases they say it is a penance and other cases they just tell you
to do it. They sometimes do not give you a
time limit or set number of times or they say everyday.
My question is this: Whether they give it as a penance or fail to mention it
as a penance (and you assume it is the penance), how long does one have to do this
penance?: everyday for the rest of my life? And
if I miss one day or forget or just feel lazy and don't do it one time or two during the
rest of my life, do I commit a sin? And does that make my confession invalid? I realize these are good things to do and reading
scripture and meditating is good, but does this mean I have to do this, under pain of sin,
for the rest of my life? Is there a time
limit on penance given during confession? - Louis
Louis:
Penance (satisfaction for sin committed and
confessed) is considered a one-time act. Even
though it is a nice thing to say that one should meditate and pray for five minutes a day,
the actual penance would be considered a one time act of meditating and praying. The everyday part is a recommendation for your
spiritual welfare. If you cannot
perform the penance given during your confession or you have a question about the penance,
it is important that you say something, or mention it at your next confession. Not completing your penance is not particularly
considered a sin but it must be mentioned at your next confession so that the penance (and
gratitude for sin forgiven) be completed by the confessing person. – CatholicView Staff
”I am newly divorced and not remarried.
Can I take
communion?” - Rob
CatholicView Staff:
Can a new Catholic who is divorced, and still single able to receive communion and take
part in confession? Or would he still need an annulment?
Dear Rob:
Yes, a person may receive communion and
participate in the sacrament of confession. The
problem will only arise if that person decides he wants to remarry. Remarriage IS the problem. The person would then need to see a priest
to determine whether an annulment can be granted. – CatholicView Staff
”I want to become a Catholic. What
steps should I
take?” - Jonathan
CatholicView Staff:
I would like to speak with a priest in my area to ask questions about Catholicism and
perhaps join a congregation. Do I just call the church and ask to speak with a priest or
is there someone in the church who handles people like me?
Dear Jonathan:
Welcome to the Catholic Church. You need to call your parish priest and ask about
the steps one must take before baptism. You
will enroll in R.C.I.A. which is the Rite Of Christian Initiation of Adults. It is a process designed for adults to enter
the Catholic Church. It is a time of
instruction and bonding with the community, culminating in receiving the sacrament of
initiation and full membership in the Church. This
process will finalize in receiving the sacrament of baptism, as well as confirmation, and
the Eucharist. All celebrated at the end of
this process. Again, we welcome you to the
Church! – CatholicView Staff
”Should I wait until I am married or in love
to have sex?” - Samantha
CatholicView Staff:
Lately I have been considering waiting until I am married to have sex, though modern
society represents sex as something casual and I’m finding it hard to rationalize why I should wait. Should I wait until I am married or just
until I am in love? – Samantha
Samantha:
Who says that “modern society” is
right? At one time, “modern
society” thought that human slavery was morally acceptable. Now, we know that human slavery is an offense to
the dignity of humankind and God. “Modern
society” does not judge by the morality of God but by the selfish desires of human
want. Who cares what “modern
society” is saying or thinking about anything concerning my life in Jesus Christ. All that matters is that my relationship with God
is full and complete. Slavery to my bodily
wants traps me in a never-ending cycle of painful decisions that always end up in
self-destruction. Keep your eyes on the Lord. Your best secret, which is yourself, should only
be shared with someone whom you know will keep it forever in their hearts. That is what marriage is all about…..the
sharing of our best secrets with one another and the maintaining of the secret all our
lives long. Here is something I wrote about
this subject earlier that bears repeating again:
You ask a question that so many
before have asked through the ages. The Church, through its vast human experience,
sees sexual intimacy as healthy and life-giving only in the context of married and
committed love. Outside of marriage, sexual intimacy could be used for any
purpose that lust would require, such as domination of another, the destruction of a
person's self-worth, the use of another simply as an object of desire. Then this
kind of selfish sexual relations becomes a destructive force that takes away and even
destroys the life spirit of the other. I would describe sexual intimacy like
this. What is the BEST SECRET that I have? The best secret that I have is
myself, my true identity. I alone control how much of my true self I want to
share with anyone I meet. But I always keep some part of me secret and away from
other's gaze. Some people think that they know me but they really don't know
everything about me. They only know the part that I wish to share and only that
part. But within the committed love relationship called marriage in which sexual
intimacy is achieved and enjoyed in its fullest purpose, I share my best secret with
someone who will keep it for me all the days of their life. Within that sexual
relationship, I share everything and nothing is held back. If I am going to give my
best secret away, I want to give it to someone who will appreciate it and treasure it
with all their heart and lives. That's why when people engage in sexual relations
without the commitment of life-long love that is the basis of family (and therefore,
the cornerstone of society itself), people feel betrayed when the other person betrays our
secret and breaks up the relationship because they weren't satisfied with my secret.
Then I feel like nothing but used and thrown away like trash. That's why
the Church, through our human experience, wants to have all Christians grow and mature
into loving and life-giving persons in Jesus Christ. Sexual intimacy outside of
marriage can be and has been a destructive force that tears persons apart. By truly
being honest with yourself ("if you truly love them..."), and if you really love
a person, then get a commitment that lasts for life. Don't share your best secret
until you are sure that the other will treasure your secret forever.
– CatholicView Staff
”Why is Mary considered to be without sin?”
- Ogwang
CatholicView Staff:
The bible says that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of GOD, why then is Mary
considered to be without sin? Thanks,Ogwang
Dear Ogwang:
The Church has taught as part of its infallible doctrines that Mary was conceived without original sin, meaning that
she was conceived and born in complete union with God.
Sin is to be seen not as a violation of commandments or stain of darkness on
the soul. Sin is to be seen in the light of
relationship with God. Sin is a broken
relationship with God that has negative and evil consequences in the lives of sinners and
victims of sinful action alike. Venial sin is
a partial break in our relationship with God while mortal sin is a complete and
destructive break with God and His Church. Where
does the Church base its doctrine that Mary was conceived in complete union with God? It starts with the gospel verse, Luke, Chapter 1,
Verse 27-28: “In the sixth month, the
angel Gabriel was sent by God…to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph of the
House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.
He went in and said to her: Rejoice
so highly favored! The Lord is with
you.” How can an archangel of the
stature of Gabriel speak to a sinful human being by saying that Mary was full of grace (so
HIGHLY favored by God)? And how could be
called to be the mother of our Savior and Lord if she was in a broken relationship with
God? She did not receive baptism yet she was
in full relationship with God, no sin. God,
according to His plan of salvation, prepared a temple for His Son in the sinless womb of
Mary. This is even more
emphasized in Luke, Chapter 1, Verse, 42-43: “Elizabeth
said, “Of all women you are the most blessed and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honored with a visit from the
mother of my Lord?” How can Mary be
proclaimed most blessed and most favored if she was in original sin? Impossible. The
doctrine of the IMMACULATE CONCEPTION was formally and infallibly defined by the Church (and accepted by the Orthodox Churches)
in 1854 even though the Church has accepted it as a fact of faith from the first century
A.D. As the book, Understanding
Catholicism, says, “Mary’s unique position of being conceived without
original sin…shows that she existed from her conception as prominent in God’s
redemption plan. God arranged sinlessness as
a tribute to her and to prepare for the arrival of the Savior through her.” (Second Edition, page 169). Hope this helps you. CatholicView Staff
”What do I need to do in order to return
to the Catholic Church?” - Jaine
CatholicView Staff:
I'm not sure who to ask this question of, but I hope you can help (or direct me to where I
can get help). I was raised a Catholic, but left the faith and joined another religion a
few years ago. I've since had a change of heart and strongly desire to return to the
Catholic faith. I was baptized Catholic at the age of 8, made my First Communion &
Reconciliation soon after, but was never Confirmed. What do I need to do in order to
return to the Catholic Church? - Jaine
Dear Jaine:
I am so happy to hear that you desire to be in
full communion with the Catholic Church again. The
process is simple: call your local parish
priest and explain your spiritual journey. After
a good confession, you are reunited with the Church.
And with the help of your local parish, you can start on your spiritual
journey to receive the sacrament of Confirmation. Welcome
back, my sister in Christ! – CatholicView Staff
”How do I counsel my children to practice chastity
when I myself did not do so?” - Diane
CatholicView Staff:
I am a practicing Catholic and am very active in my parish and in the past few years have
felt the call to deepen my faith by involvement in a ecclesial movement. I pray daily and try to attend daily Mass at least
once a week (besides Sundays). When I was a young woman, however, I lived according to
society and not the teachings of the Catholic Church, and engaged in pre-marital sex, used
contraception and even had an abortion. I have since realized the immorality and
self-destructiveness of my behavior, and have confessed my sins and reconciled with the
Church. However, I can't help feeling like a hypocrite when I support the traditional
teachings of the Church, given how I behaved in the past. I truly believe that Christ
forgives all sins, so why don't I feel forgiven? The deeper my faith becomes, the more I
am filled with regret that I did not always follow the ways of Jesus. Am I a hypocrite for
actively participating in the life of the Church, and for fervently believing and
supporting Her teachings? How do I counsel my children to practice chastity when I myself
did not do so? - Diane
Dear Diane:
Our Christian faith is a faith of second
chances, and God gave you a “second chance” to make things right with the Lord! I thank God for His mercy and love for you. Just because you lived a sinful life doesn’t
mean that you cannot live a Christian life NOW! And
that is what forgiveness is all about! Forgiveness
does not mean to forget, for you will always remember “where you came from.” Forgiveness means the ability and power to live SOLELY in the present and trust God for the future, leaving the past behind
since we can’t do anything about it. What
is important and, really, all that matters is NOW, the present. Keep your eyes on the present and on the Lord. Looking back over your shoulder is Satan’s
way to keep you in the slavery of sin and misery. Keeping
your eyes forward is God’s way of building His kingdom on earth. So, proclaim the truth to your family and friends,
live the truth now, and learn from your past. You
are not a hypocrite simply because you made
mistakes in the past. You have been renewed
and given another chance to make things right for those around you. A hypocrite is someone who hasn’t learned
what it means to be a follower of Christ, someone who “talks”but doesn’t
“live” the faith. You not only
talked about your renewed faith in the Lord, you are now living it! Share with your children the faith and the path to
true happiness that are the commandments of the Lord.
There is no need to talk about your past transgressions with your children unless they ask you specifically about a certain
past situation. Praise God! Now, go and teach the truth of Jesus to the ends
of the earth! - CatholicView Staff
”My family hurt me deeply. Do I not only forgive
but forget?” - Stacie
CatholicView Staff:
My question is about forgiveness. Recently my family deeply hurt me. I am trying to forgive them. I have been able to be civil and even friendly
with them again but don't trust any of them. I
don't tell them deeply personal stuff or trust them with my true feelings. I keep more to
myself because I feel burned and unwilling to touch the "oven" again. Does this mean I haven't truly forgiven them, and
am therefore sinning? Or is it simply smart
to refrain from putting myself in harms way again? I don't dwell on the harm they did me,
or bring it up at all anymore. But I do
remember it, and it makes me cautious. - Stacie
Dear Stacie:
Forgiveness does not mean to forget (the old
adage, to forgive and to forget). Forgiveness
means the power and ability to live in the present.
The past is gone. There is
nothing you can do about the past but learn from it and prepare for the future by what you
have learned. Forgiveness is that wonderful
ability to live now, not in the past. I will
never forget what has happened in the past. My
memory, God-given gift that it is, will not allow me to forget. So, instead, my heart and soul will be my strength
to live in the present time without looking back. I
am sorry to hear that you family has hurt you in a deep and personal way that demands the
healing of your broken heart. Healing begins
when you make the decision not to look back but to look forward. As for your family members who have hurt you, one
of the lessons learned from your past dealings with them is to be very careful and
cautious. This is not a bad thing. You must do all you can do to ensure the peace
that is in your heart. There is no need to
expose yourself to certain family members. All
that is required is that you treat all people with respect and refrain from bringing up
the past. By doing so, you live in the
present and have no expectation that somehow the past could be changed for you. – CatholicView
Staff
”Will priests marry people outside the church in,
say,
an outdoor location?” - Sharon
CatholicView Staff:
Will priests marry people outside the church in, say, an outdoor location? - Sharon
Sharon:
Church
policy is that couples to marry in a sacred space. Marriages
are always performed in a sacred place and that is the Church. However, in extenuating circumstances, you may be allowed to marry outdoors. But you
must obtain the permission of the local Bishop. Talk
to your parish priest for further details. – CatholicView Staff
“If someone is in danger of death, which Sacraments
can they be administered?” – Betty Ellen
CatholicView
Staff:
I have
a question for consideration. If someone is in imminent danger of death due to
illness, which Sacraments can they be administered? More specifically, can they be
administered Last Rites and Penance? Or, does Last Rites encompass Penance at that
point? If Penance and Last Rites can be
administered to someone in immanent danger of death, does the ill person face any specific
requirements in terms of receiving Penance. For example, do they have to be able to
speak their sins? (I'm thinking specifically of a case where a person may have
a heart attack in the presence of a priest. Does Last Rites do it? Or, could Penance
be administered with any specific requirements--ability to speak, consciousness, knowledge
of sins on the part of the priest.) I
appreciate the answer to this question. My father and I have a difference of opinion
on this issue. - Betty Walter
Dear
Betty:
Let’s
look at what the scripture says in regards to the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick
(Extreme Unction) in the Letter of James, Chapter 5, Verse 13-16: “If any one of you is in trouble, he
should pray: if anyone is feeling happy, he
should sing a psalm. If one of you is ill, he
should send for the elders of the church, and they must anoint him with oil in the name of
the Lord and pray over him. The prayer of
faith will save the sick man and the Lord will raise him up again; and if he has committed
any sins, he will be forgiven. So, confess
your sins to one another, and pray for one another, and this will cure you.” The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick has
included in its “job description” the forgiveness of sin! If a person who is incapacitated by illness and
cannot verbally confess their sins to the priest (elder), then the anointing of oil is the
absolution of sin. If the person is able to
speak, that person can verbally confess their sins to the best of their ability to the
priest for the Sacrament of Penance. In
regards to your specific question, a person who had a “heart attack” before the
priest and cannot speak, the Anointing of the Sick at that time also forgives all sin that
the person has committed if their heart was open to forgiveness before the serious illness
appeared. Here is something that is important
to remember: if the person doesn’t want
forgiveness in their life before the illness, even though the Sacrament of the Anointing
of the Sick is administered and forgiveness of sin is claimed for that person, if that
person doesn’t want the gift, then he is still in his sins before God. But usually, either conscious or unconscious, each
person was open to receive God’s forgiveness and received the full graces of this
special and healing sacrament. – CatholicView Staff
“Is it okay
to use my Rosary to pray the “Our Father”
after reading each verse of Jesus’ passion?” - Alma
CatholicView Staff:
The other day I was meditating on the sorrowful mysteries
while praying the rosary that gives you a biblical verse before each Hail Mary. After
saying the first three Hail Mary's it occurred to
me that since I was reading about Jesus' passion, it was
more suitable to pray the "Our Father" after each verse I was reading. My
question is, since a precursor of the Rosary was the 150 Pater Nosters, is it okay if I
pray 10 Pater Nosters after each mystery when I
meditate on the Sorrowful and Luminous Mysteries? All of a sudden it just seems more
appropriate to me and for Joyful and Glorious Mysteries the Hail Mary's would be more
appropriate. I don't want to scandalize anyone if I do it this way when praying with the
family so I want to know from you first if it is okay.
Thank you and God Bless you. - Alma
Dear Alma:
The Rosary is the five decades of the prayer,
the Hail Mary, with the prayer, the our Father, preceding each decade. The way you propose is not the rosary but it is a
good prayer discipline. I like your idea! You can pray anyway you like. Officially, though, what you propose is not the
rosary, but if it strengthens your relationship with God, by all means, pray the way you
like! As a matter of fact, I am going to try
out your idea myself in my personal prayer! There
is no regulation that says you MUST pray the rosary in a certain way. The regulation of the Church is that you pray! And the way you propose with the scripture
mediations before each decade is an excellent way to focus your mind and heart on Jesus!
– CatholicView Staff
”Is it acceptable to have the same godparents for
both of my sons?” - Scott
CatholicView Staff:
Our 5 year old son has wonderful godparents. We now have another son. Is it acceptable to
have the same godparents for both of our sons? - Scott
Dear Scott:
Yes, that is fine! How blest your
sons are to have such faithful and present godparents! – CatholicView Staff
”Do I need permission to do a reading at another
church denomination?” - Adrian
CatholicView Staff:
I have recently been asked to read at a funeral of a friend in a Protestant church. Do I
have to ask permission from my parish priest before doing a reading at a service in
another denomination? Thank you. - Adrian
Adrian:
No, you do not have to ask permission from
anyone to read the scriptures for a funeral service at another Christian congregation. – CatholicView Staff
”Is my marriage legal in the Church?” - Will
CatholicView Staff:
My wife and I have been married by civil law. She
is not baptized and I am. We are living
together but are estranged (as far as sleeping in 2 different rooms) My question were we
married and recognized in the eyes of the Lord? Or
just on paper by law and do we still have a moral religious obligation to each other? I think she has seen other people since the
"split". - Will
Dear Will:
As a Catholic, you are required to have your
marriage convalidated/solemnized in the Church. Since
your marriage was not blessed in the Church, the Church does not recognize your marriage
as a sacramental and valid marriage. As soon
as you receive your final decree of divorce, you will be free to marry in the Catholic
Church. Civilly, your marriage is recognized
by the state. There are financial and
business requirements that must be resolved according to civil law. You do not have a “moral religious
obligation” other than the requirements demanded by law. – CatholicView
Staff
”A friend got an annulment and will remarry. Will
her new husband be considered husband #2?” - Steven
CatholicView Staff:
A lady I know received an annulment through the Catholic
Church and is now going to remarry in the church. Will her
husband be considered husband #1 or husband #2? It would be appreciated if you could
please shed some light on this and thank you for being a priest! - Steven
Steven:
The Church only sees the present marriage as
the valid and sacramental one. In your
concern about the number of spouses that this person who wishes to marry in the Church
again, civil law recognized the first marriage as a valid contract. The Church accepts the fact that civil law
recognized the first marriage. So, her
present husband would be husband #2. But the
first marriage was adjudicated to be null and void sacramentally. The Church will only recognize as valid and
sacramental the present marriage in the Church. –
CatholicView Staff
”Can I pray for small things like winning the
lottery?” - Bob
CatholicView Staff:
God always answers my prayers. I mostly pray
on important things. But is it right to pray
for unimportant things like winning the lottery, your baseball team, catching the biggest
fish, etc. ? - Bob
Dear Bob:
The story of the Wedding Feast of Cana (see the
Gospel of John, Chapter 2, Verses 1-12) showed that Jesus was made aware of even a simple
need such as more wine for a wedding reception. No
prayer is too small or insignificant for God to hear and answer. Prayer is a dialog between God and humankind, a
spiritual conversation between souls. As for
praying for baseball teams and lottery, there are some things that God allows to be
without His intervention. But God knows what
you are saying and knows how much you enjoy your games and dreams of winning the lottery. He has promised that He will give you what you
need for each situation in life. Trust in
Him. Meanwhile, nothing is too small not to
share with our Creator. – CatholicView Staff
”Would my non-Catholic spouse need to get his first
marriage annulled so I can go back to Church?” - Christina
CatholicView Staff:
My husband who is a non-catholic was civilly
married before to another non-catholic. She cheated on him and left him and their 3
children about 10 years ago, and they have never seen her since the divorce. I have been a
mother to his kids longer than their real mother. We were married civilly 5 years ago. I
would like to start going to and participating in mass again. Do we need an annulment from
his first marriage or need to have our marriage blessed
by the church for me to receive communion? -
Christina
Christina:
The answers to your two questions, does he need
to get an annulment and do you need to have your marriage blessed in the Church before
receiving communion, are YES. The Church
accepts that your husband’s first marriage as a sacramentally valid marriage unless
proven otherwise. That means that an
annulment process must be accomplished for your husband’s first marriage. Since your husband was not Catholic, he must
follow God’s natural law which means that his first marriage is considered
sacramentally valid. When the annulment
process has judged that his first marriage was SACRAMENTALLY null and void, then you
should have your present marriage blessed (convalidated) in the Church and you will be
able to participate fully in the sacramental life of the Church. – CatholicView
Staff
”I found a persons ashes in the trash, what should
I do
with them?” - Andrew
CatholicView Staff:
I found a persons ashes in the trash, what should I do with them? - Andrew
Andrew:
How odd. How
do you know that these are human ashes? Can
the urn or box of ashes/cremains be returned to the one who had them in their possession? The proper way to dispose of human remains is to
bury them or place them in a safe place awaiting the second coming of Christ at the end of
time. If I could not find where the ashes
came from, I would bury them. – CatholicView Staff
”Am I committing a sin by attending a Buddhist
class?”
- Mary
CatholicView Staff:
I attend a Buddhist class. It has helped with problems of depression/self-esteem. I attend Mass, I believe in Jesus and his teachings. I do not
worship Buddha or believe in karma, reincarnation
etc. In fact, the classes have brought me closer to Jesus' teachings. I view Buddhism as a
philosophy rather than religion. Am I committing a sin? - Mary
Mary:
You have proclaimed Jesus Christ to be your
Lord and Savior and are following Him within the Catholic Church. Attending classes on Buddhism as a way of life
and philosophy is not sinful if it is simply for your knowledge and benefit. It becomes a problem when you take the next step
and begin to “worship” or “venerate” the different
Bodhisattvas/Buddhas and begin to ask them to answer your prayers. That would be considered a violation of the
commandment not to worship false gods (commandments 1 and 2). I am happy to hear that you have become closer to
Christ through your knowledge of Buddhism as a philosophy and way of life for many in the
world. At the same time, I am concerned that
you remember that Buddhism is ALSO a religion and, as a Catholic, your only spiritual allegiance is to Jesus Christ. – CatholicView Staff
”I wronged someone forty years ago. Should I
apologize now?” - Patricia
CatholicView Staff:
I was a wild and rebellious youth. Now as a mature individual I often think of
how I wronged someone I thought I loved. My
inclination is to apologize but after 40 years I'm afraid this intrusion will not be
appreciated and may even be hurtful. I
pray about this often but get no relief. Which
side of the coin is prompting me to do this? Do
I act or continue to pray or other?
Patricia
Dear Patricia:
You did not give enough
information to advise you in this situation. There are times when it is best to
leave things alone after so long and let God reconcile all parties in His time and plan.
There are times when reconciliation and forgiveness must be given in person, face
to face, a confrontation of past hurts for complete healing. As for your situation,
I cannot advise you since I do not know what you are dealing with in your life. If
you feel that your "intrusion" would not be appreciated and even hurtful after
40 years, then I would leave it in God's hands and go forward with your life. - CatholicView
Staff
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