ASK A PRIEST
 OCTOBER 2009

FATHER WILLIAM G. MENZEL
FATHER AMARO SAUMELL
FATHER KEVIN BATES, SM
CATHOLICVIEW STAFF


FATHER WILLIAM G. MENZEL
“How do I find a balance of God’s life style without
being deceived from TV, RADIO etc.? - Brian

Father Bill:

I recently learned many rappers, such as Jay Z, have signs of demonic lifestyles etc. I’m trying to learn to enjoy life with music and the fun things God has given me without forgetting the history of man and the fact that most people forget "a current spiritual battle is ongoing etc.) How do I find the balance of God’s good life style without being deceived from TV, RADIO etc.? I don’t want to become mentally crazy but not tempted and unaware either.  – Brian

Dear Brian:

Great question!   You obviously are aware of the subtle—and sometimes not so subtle—influence that our cultural media have on our lives.

I had better admit right up-front that, other than having seen the movie “8 Miles”, I know almost nothing about rap music.  I never heard of Jay-Z until I read your question, and I doubt that I could name even two other rappers or hip-hoppers.  I see the occasional headlines, but I just have no interest in this particular corner of our culture.  I have loved classical music since I was about 14 years old. (Yes, some of my classmates thought I was weird!) Nowadays, if I listen to the radio, it’s usually Public Broadcasting or maybe a baseball or football game.

Neither do I watch much TV.  I might watch the news or a Packer or Brewer game (I’m a proud cheese head), but most of the regular programming I find boring or offensive.  I have never watched a reality show, and I have no idea what tops the Nielsen ratings these days.

So maybe I’m the wrong priest to answer your question…but I’ll try.

I have to admit that I’m always a bit skeptical when a singer or actor is accused of living a demonic lifestyle  They may not be living exemplary lives by a long shot, but “demonic”?  Well, I guess it’s all in how one defines demonic.  When it comes right down to it, though, that’s not really what your question is about.  What you’re really asking is how you can live a good Christian moral life while still enjoying what our culture has to offer us.

Here’s a simple answer:  Be choosy.

Our culture is like a massive buffet spread.  You know the picture:  Tables and tables of food, and you can take anything you want and as much as you want.  There’s food you like and food you don’t like.  There’s food that’s good for you and food that’s not.  There’s healthy stuff and there’s junk.  There’s more than enough of the good and the bad.  There’s more than enough of what you like and what you don’t like.  The choice is yours, so be choosy.

It’s the same with our culture.  There’s so much out there that it boggles the mind.  How many different kinds of music are there? Something for just about everyone, right?  Then there are radio stations for every possible taste or need.  My TV cable system offers more than 100 channels for viewing and another 30 or so that offer a variety of music formats.  Some of this stuff is healthy; some of it will rot the soul.  Be choosy.

The problem is, Brian, that a lot of people simply are not choosy.  They are passive—like going to a buffet and letting someone else fill their plate.  Like cows at the feeding trough, they lap up whatever comes their way.  Not a good way to live, Brian…not a good way to live.  It’s way too easy to swallow poison that way, and that’s what a lot of people are doing.

So what should one do?

Begin by defining the standards that will govern your life and your choices.  If you are Christian, those standards are pretty clear.  The Gospel mandate to love God above all and love your neighbor as yourself.  The Ten Commandments.  The four Cardinal Virtues.  For Catholics, the Precepts of the Church are also valuable guides for living the Christian life.

Once you’ve defined your standards, you have something with which to measure the various selections on the cultural buffet. How well does the music you listen to reflect the standards you believe in?  Ask the same question about the TV you watch, the movies you go to, the radio stations you tune in.  Oh, and how about the friends you hang out with?  For most people, friends may be the greatest influence of all.

Finally, I’m going to throw in just a word of realism here.  There is nothing about our culture that is absolutely perfect.  Even the Church falls well short of perfection.  We will never live in a culture that faithfully portrays all the ideals of our faith. Even things that are good for us usually have their downside.  When I eat school lunch with the children, I begrudgingly eat the cheesy broccoli and cauliflower, partly to give good example, partly because I know that—maybe—it’s good for me, and partly because I know that, if I’m lucky, we’ll have cinnamon rolls tomorrow.

So be choosy, but don’t be compulsive.  Support those cultural icons who are closer to the standards you believe in, and don’t support those who drag your ideals in the mud.   I try to avoid movies with Tom Cruise in them, simply because I don’t like his support for scientology and the general tone of his lifestyle.  However, I will make an exception if he’s in a movie that I really want to see. 

Likewise, I don’t regularly watch David Letterman, because he makes light of many things that are important to me.  Still, if he has a guest I really want to see or a Top Ten list that sounds particularly interesting, I may tune in.

Exercise your values and develop confidence in them. Explore new cultural opportunities; broaden your horizons.  There is much that is good and right about our culture.  Many musicians, for example, sing about the cause of justice.  Many movies explore the impact of evil and question some of the distorted values that infect our society.

Above all, take time to learn and practice your faith.  If you do that, you will not be fooled by the superficiality and selfishness that oozes from the sleazy side of our culture.  Instead, you will be motivated to choose wisely from what is good, so that you can enjoy life here and prepare for what is yet to be in the life to come.  Thanks for your question, Brian, and may God bless you.  - Fr. Bill


“What is the meaning of “the lesson of the fig tree”
cited in Matthew 24:32-35? - Edward

Father Bill:

Please tell me how to interpret the Bible quotations regarding the lesson of the Fig Tree cited in Matthew 24:32-35.  I am trying to understand the meaning of “all these things will happen before the people now living have all died”.  Does people refer to the human race rather than individual persons? – Edward

Dear Edward:

Well, all I can say to your question is…we aren’t sure.  This is one of those passages that Scripture readers and scholars will probably puzzle over until the end of time.

For background, Matthew 24 is mostly Jesus’ response to a question asked by His disciples.  Jesus has just told them that the temple buildings they are admiring will be destroyed, so they ask Him in private, "Tell us, when will this happen, and what sign will there be of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"

Jesus responds by warning His disciples to be careful who and what they believe.  He speaks of frightening signs.  He uses powerful images as metaphors for what it will be like when He returns.  Then He says that these signs will mark the time just as accurately as the gathering of vultures marks a dead body or the leafing of the fig tree marks the arrival of spring.

Here’s the passage you’re asking about as it appears in the New American Bible (the translation that is used at Mass):

"Learn a lesson from the fig tree.   When its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near.   In the same way, when you see all these things, know that He is near, at the gates.   Amen, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place."

Your question refers to what the New American Bible translates as “this generation”.  Unfortunately, there is no general agreement as to what “this generation” means.  A common and perhaps traditional explanation says that it applies to the Jewish people.  Others say it means all of humanity.  However, a footnote in the New American Bible says:

"The difficulty raised by this verse cannot be satisfactorily removed by the supposition that this generation means the Jewish people throughout the course of their history, much less the entire human race.  Perhaps for Matthew it means the generation to which he and his community belonged."

Edward, I just didn’t do a lot more research on this.  If you do more research on your own, you’ll probably find one of two things:  1) people who say it means such-and-such, or 2) people who say we just don’t have a satisfactory explanation.  I’m more comfortable with the latter.

A final thought:  The teaching authority (Magisterium) of the Catholic Church has been very careful to guard the treasure of Scripture without interpreting it too narrowly.  This leaves a lot of leeway for us to enjoy and appreciate the Bible as the great gift that it is, without being constrained by overly-specific interpretations of various passages.  Still, Scripture does need to be understood by us Catholics in a way that is consistent with the experience of the Church.  In regard to your question, the Church has never officially interpreted what is meant by “this  generation”.

Obviously, most of what we Catholics believe and practice is deeply rooted in the Bible, and this implies a long tradition on the part of the Church as to how the Bible is to be understood.  After all, the Church existed before the New Testament did, so the Bible is the Church’s book, and the Church is the official teacher of the Bible.

I hope that some of this is helpful to you as you continue to read and pray the Holy Word of God.  God bless you.  - Fr. Bill


“Is the Scripture, “God created all, God
knows all” true?” - Patrick

Father Bill:

Is the scripture, "God created all, God knows all," true?  If this is found to be true it offers confusion in my Christian life.  I feel that this statement would negate the foundation of my belief in God regarding free will.  Please help me to understand. - Patrick

Dear Patrick:

I had to chuckle to myself when I read your question because it brought back a childhood memory.   I must have been around eight years old, and my second grade teacher, Sister Benjamin, must have just taught us that God knows everything.  While walking home after school I pondered this, and daring child that I was, I decided that I was going to try to fool God.  When I stopped at a neighborhood grocery store on the way, I thought that I had figured out a way to do that.

It was a clever scheme.  Instead of turning to the right toward home, as I left the store, I would fool God by turning left.  So I did that.  I had taken no more that two or three steps the wrong way when it occurred to me that God knew I was going to do that too, so the real way to fool God was to turn around and head for home.  So I did.  Again, I took a couple of steps and…well, I am sure you can see where this is going.  After going back and forth a couple of times, I decided to give up trying to fool God.  I’ve always wondered whether anyone in the store or in the nearby houses saw that little boy going back and forth on the sidewalk, and if they did, what they might have speculated was going through his head.

Your question about God’s omniscience and human free will is one that has been asked over and over again for many centuries. Just do an Internet search on the topic and you will see what I mean.  The Scriptures are quite clear in affirming that God knows everything.  Psalm 139 goes about it rather gently, while 1 John 3:20 states it directly.   Human free will is never stated directly, but is certainly implied in passages like Deuteronomy 30:19.

Those who try to answer this apparent dilemma or contradiction often use analogies from human experience.   For example, does a parent’s knowledge of a child’s behavior cause that behavior?  To be more specific, if a parent’s puts a chocolate chip cookie and a piece of cauliflower on the table and tells the child to get something to eat from the table, does the fact that the parent knows that the child will choose the cookie in some way diminish the child’s freedom to choose the cauliflower?  I think that just about everyone would agree that the child would be free to choose the cauliflower – that the parental foreknowledge of the child’s choice didn’t take away the choice.

However, I think that this approach has a serious deficiency.  I don’t want to get into this too deeply, but suffice it to say that human knowledge doesn’t imply that something actually exists, while God’s knowledge does.   What God knows, is.  What God does not know does not exist.  This seems to doom free will once and for all, but we’ll see in a moment that that’s not the case.

I really think that the solution to this apparent dilemma demands that we at least try to come to grips with one significant difference between our existence and God’s.  I’ve pondered this a lot over the years, and I still have a hard time wrapping my brain around it, so forgive me if my attempt at clarity is anything but clear.

The huge difference between our existence and God’s is that we live in “time” and God lives in “eternity”.  “Time” is nothing more than a measure of change.  If nothing changed, we would have no need of time- in fact, we’d never even think to invent it.  Since everything we know does change, we have conceived of time as a way to measure our changing surroundings.

Here’s the hard part.  God lives outside of time, in an eternal, changeless “now”.  For God, everything just “is”.  And this includes the choices we humans freely make, as well as all the evolving details of the changing universe we inhabit.  I firmly believe that God does not micromanage the universe, so what He knows is, but His knowledge does not cause it to be.

Taking all this another step, God knows that we have free will.  If God knows it, then we must have it.

Finally, if none of this makes any sense to you, and I would not blame you if it doesn’t, just do what I do when my brain gets tired; ask a few simply questions.  For example, do you feel you are free to make choices?  Do you feel that you could choose to answer an email or not answer it?  Do you feel that when you sit down to dinner you can choose to put salt on your meat or not?  Do you feel that the TV remote in your hand gives you the freedom to surf at will or to stop wherever you want?  To believe that all this might somehow be determined by God’s knowledge always seems to me to be a greater stretch than to believe that we actually are free.  But you can choose to agree with me.  Or not.  God bless you, Patrick.  Sincerely, Father Bill


FATHER AMARO SAUMELL
“My ex-wife is now Baptist.  Does this help in an
annulment?” - Troy       

Father Amaro:

I was married briefly for 2 years in the late 80's in the Catholic Church.   I've since remarried outside the church for 16 years and had three children.   My ex-wife became Baptist and that is how she lives and raises her children with her new husband.   My wife and I raise our children as Catholic.   I wish to seek an annulment now after all these years.  Because my ex-wife is now Baptist, does this help my quest for an annulment?   – Troy

Dear Troy:

The answer to you question can be "Possibly." However, she is a baptized Catholic. You did make a vow before God that needs to be truthfully rendered invalid. Your ex wife’s attitude toward her Catholic faith can say something about her disposition to the permanence of marriage when you had the ceremony. Remember, what happened after the wedding can only be used as evidence of what had to have been present when you got married. Behaviors themselves after the wedding are not used as a reason for the annulment itself, only as symptoms of what existed before the wedding.

There are many grounds for annulment. Obviously, for the most part, you still embrace your Catholic faith. (Although getting married while still married in the church with another is technically adultery and disregard for the Christ given authority of the Church.) You need to rectify your situation and it’s very possible that this can be done. It’s time consuming. Again, remember that an annulment is NOT a "Catholic divorce." Have your parish priest explain this to you clearly. Ask questions. Be truthful in your answers.  God bless, Father Amaro


“I had five abortions.  Why do I feel unforgiven
and is God in my soul?” - Maria

Father Amaro:

I had five abortions, have confessed, and attended Rachel's Vineyard but still feel hatred towards myself because of my sins. Also, I read in Faustina diary that God leaves a soul of woman that kills a child in her womb.

Why do I feel unforgiven and is God in my Soul?  - Maria

Dear Maria:

I don’t want to judge you. I can’t. I don’t even know you. But I will suggest that it’s possible that you are going by guilt as a "feeling," rather than a "conviction." You must act on the conviction that you believe that God can and does forgive sins. Your emotional feelings of regret are not guilt. They are, as I said, regret. We all have things that we regret. Don’t confuse the two concepts of feelings and convictions. It could be that you have a difficult time making the decision to forgive yourself and others at times because you’re confusing "feelings" again with decision and conviction. If that is the case, it’s no wonder that you would have a difficult time imagining that God truly forgives.

When we forgive others, and ourselves it is truly a decision. That doesn’t mean that emotions are going to go away. That’s a totally different sphere of reality. But the more you learn to make the decision, it’s more likely that the feelings will subside too.

At that time, you might consider helping others to understand the belief in forgiveness. Really take the time to meditate on this. It truly makes sense. The one thing that we have above all living creatures is the ability to decide. We decide to forgive. We decide to be patient. We decide to love. Lower life forms cannot do this. They act on feelings and instinct.  Hope this helps.  God bless, Father Amaro


“Will I go to hell for being in a homosexual
relationship?” - Mark

Father Amaro:

I was raised Catholic but have fallen away from the Church due to my being gay and am in a gay relationship with a man I love very much. Can I still attend church and receive Holy Communion? Will I go to hell for being in a homosexual relationship? Should I end my relationship? – Mark

 

Dear Mark:

Real love does no harm. Real love looks at the design of the human person and physical design body as God created it and respects that. This has to be true in heterosexual relationships too. Being gay is not a sin. However, some of the acts that homosexuals act upon betray the design of the human body. That’s where the sin comes in. If that’s the case, it is possible, if full will is extended to do so, that your salvation can be in danger. If it is not with the full consent of your will, you must depend on God’s mercy. However, you must remember that we must avoid near occasions of sin also. Putting yourself in the proximity of sin is your responsibility.

Every human person has some kind of effect of original sin in his or her life with which to deal. Yours happens to be in the sexual realm. Someone else’s might be in the realm of bearing false witness. Someone else’s might be in not honoring parents. We all deal with something. We must all endeavor to avoid anything that puts us in a place where we’re likely to sin.

We don’t do things just because things make us "happy." When we do, we usually find that it brings us harm. Again, always remember, real love never does harm. Doing no harm can bring us real happiness, eternal happiness. - God bless, Father Amaro

 
“I cursed God and Jesus.  Am I at risk
of eternal damnation?” - Claudia

Father Amaro:

I committed the sin of cursing God and Jesus and calling them certain names.  Am I at risk of eternal damnation as it says in the catechism that those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven in this life or the next?  I want to reconcile myself to God.  – Claudia

Dear Claudia:

Wow! If that is the sin against the Holy Spirit, there are many prophets and holy people ahead of you. Actually, the sin against the Holy Spirit falls in the area of despair.... not discouragement or depression, but true despair. We use the word casually. Despair means that one has decided against hope and just plain quit. Very few ever get to this point. Even many of those who "think" they are at this point have not done so with the full consent of their will. It’s usually motivated by depression or some medical ailment that is coercing such a disposition. Real despair as a sin against the Holy Spirit is blasphemous because it cuts God off from offering hope.

What you describe to me here is just being angry at God. In most case when we’re angry at God, it’s misplaced anger. We’re really angry at circumstances that are cause by people or ourselves. We have no one to blame, so we do what Adam did. He blamed Eve. Eve blamed the serpent. When no one else is left to blame, we blame God.

It sounds to me that you just need to be more truthful about who actually is to blame when you start blaming God. I think you’ll find that it isn’t Him after all.  Hope this helps.  God bless, Father Amaro


FATHER KEVIN BATES, SM
“I have lost my faith completely.  Can you help?”
- Josie

Father Kevin:

I've lost my faith completely.  Help? Catholicism seems so far fetched.  Why does God hate gays like 100 years ago but now we believe in equality?  Why did the Catholic crusaders kill people when one of the commandments is thou shalt not kill?  You know once ages ago a church was bombed, about 34 died and one boy lived, his mother killed and they call him St Peter’s miracle.  ST. PETERS MIRACLE! I’D HATE TO SEE HIS DISASTER.  Why do parents have to bury children?   Children have to bury their parents.  I don't mean any disrespect and I'd love to re-earn faith but I just can't see logic. Please help. - Josie

Dear Josie:

Thank you for your letter.  You are pretty obviously speaking out of a deep pain and not a little anger, perhaps at God, certainly at the Catholic Church and even at life itself.  To answer your questions properly would take several books!  The Church is a many-faceted thing:  it is a community of faith, it is an institution, and like all institutions it has its own politics, its heroes and its fair share of  sin, corruption and mistakes.  It is a community still growing into its understanding of what Jesus had in mind for it, just as each of us is doing, and so the Church's understanding of different issues develops over time.   What seemed clear and uncomplicated at one point in time, becomes more subtle and needing more careful reflection at another time.  What was acceptable in a culture where killing in a war was quite easily justified, now seems impossible to accept in another time in which there is a different understanding of the gospel. 

God's purposes are always beyond our understanding and for someone to label something as "God's will" in one era, seems trite and as you point out, absurd when looked at from another perspective.

All of this of course does not need to destroy or damage a person's faith.  Our faith is deeper than teachings about war or beliefs about God's Providence in which some people die and some live. Our faith is more about a relationship with what is most sacred, of the deepest value to us, and involves an encounter with this sacredness.  In our deeper Tradition, this encounter is a personal encounter with God as revealed to us through the whole of the Scriptures and completed in the life, death and rising of Jesus. When I am anchored to God in the depth of my heart, these other issues may upset and disturb me, may make me angry or incite me to action, but at the end of the day they will not destroy my faith, because in the depth of my being, I know that somehow life is meant to be good and that in spite of all appearances, God loves everyone without exception and all creation without exception.   The length of life one is given, is not a right so much as a gift and we receive it for the time and in the manner it is given because we trust that the God Who gives, nourishes and sustains all life, is Good and True. 

Then these unanswerable questions that you put, and which many of us share, stir us up ourselves to be better people and to make our world a better place, rather than blaming the Church for messing things up.  The Church will always have its wounds just as each of us will have our own wounds.  It's how we look at them and respond to them that draws us into a deep encounter with God that can never in the end be disturbed.

Every good wish to you and I will pray that you find some peace and a renewed sense of faith.  - Father Kevin


“My friend had an affair but shows no remorse. 
What does the bible say about this?” - Stacey

Father Kevin:

I have a friend who has lied (by omission) about an affair with a married man that lasted for about a year.  This man lives in my neighborhood and we are friends' with his wife.  His wife, and myself recently discovered the affair but my friend shows no remorse or claim any responsibility.  My friend is drinking way too much as well.  Am I to forgive and forget, even if she is not sorry?  What does the Bible say about this? Please advise. – S. Nichols

Hi S:

Jesus talks a lot about forgiveness but also encourages us to leave town once we have done everything we can and it isn't working.   Forgiveness is our thing, but we shouldn't forget, so that we can learn from all our experiences, especially our failures. Whether you forgive your friend is totally up to you.  Maybe pointing out the truth of things to her and bringing the issue to a head could be a way of dealing with it all, so that you can feel that at least you have spoken up for your friend's wronged husband. Your friend shows no remorse and takes no responsibility for her actions and that is her issue, not yours.  It's up to you whether you confront her further or walk away.  I don't know that the Bible provides an easy answer to such a situation!  If we listen for Jesus, He was usually encouraging people to stand on their own feet morally and make their own best judgment in the light of God's love.  All good wishes. -  Father Kevin


“Can a person not confirmed take communion?”
- Stephen

CatholicView Staff:

Is it a sin for someone to take Holy Communion when they have not been confirmed?  Or is it my choice and my right as a Catholic to take Holy Communion?  - Stephen

 

Hi Stephen:

Of course you can receive Holy Communion prior to Confirmation. All our kids do it in my part of the world.  Cheers. - Father Kevin


CATHOLICVIEW STAFF
“Should we lie about my fiancé and I living
together before our marriage?” - Rose

 

CatholicView Staff:

My fiancé and I have lived together for the past 2 years. Our families have advised us to lie to our priest about this- they worry that if the priest knew we lived together, he may refuse to marry us. Is this possible? – Rose

Dear Rose:

Thank you for your question.  To lie to your priest will only compound the sin you are already committing; the sin of fornication or living intimately without marriage.  You will need to be open with your priest, going to confession and asking God to forgive you for this grave sin.  Once this is done, you will be asked to abide by abstinence until you are married.  If you are willing to remain chaste, the Church can bless the marriage and you can start married life with the greatest blessing of all, that of our heavenly Father.

Please keep in mind that whatever you decide, we hope that you can realize the enormity of what you are doing.  Living together is wrong and the Church does not condone this. You are breaking one of God’s commandments in doing so.  Remember we do not know when God will call us to account for our actions.  May God give you the courage to do the right thing and live in the grace of God’s blessing. 

Congratulations on your upcoming marriage.  Make it special by doing what the Lord asks of us.  May the Lord give you the strength to move forward in His pathway.  – CatholicView Staff 


“I am Episcopalian.  Can I be a member of the
Catholic Church and receive communion
without attending RCIA?” - Thomas

CatholicView Staff:

I was raised, baptized and confirmed into the Episcopal church.  My wife attended church with me, however she grew up and was baptized as a Catholic.  I grew discontented with the Episcopal church, especially when our Parish refused to stop sponsoring Planned Parenthood.  My wife suggested we attend the Catholic Church.  We have attended there for a while and I feel very at home.  I saw today that Pope Benedict has written a new policy allowing the faithful from the Episcopal (Anglican) church to join in communion with the Catholic Church.  Is that correct?  If so, does that mean I can receive communion without doing all the RCIA and Conversion process?  Please let me know.   Yours in Christ. - Thomas

Dear Thomas:

Thank you for writing to A CatholicView. 

I am sorry that you cannot find the peace and spiritual support that you seek from your local Episcopal parish.  The Anglican communion throughout the world has done so much good in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.  Yet, the Anglican communion is being tried by so many conflicts that come from not being faithful to the Lord and His Word, making doctrinal truth a very subjective exercise to human desires and emotions.  To be honest with you, these conflicts have also transferred to the Catholic Church theological discussions and we, as Catholics have to be firm in our basic moral beliefs and in our faith in Jesus as Lord.  The Anglican communion is loosely structured and, at times, accountability to the Truth is not always there.   The Catholic Church, both Western and Eastern Rites, is a strongly structured hierarchy that demands accountability in regards to the spiritual truths we teach and profess in Jesus Christ!  Some Catholics do not like this tightly structured church but it has served the gospel of Christ for two thousand years.  With that in mind, the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith announced that it will make it easier for male CLERGY of the Anglican communion, married or not, to become full members of the Catholic Church and continue their priestly ministry in the Catholic Church.   But not only that, the Vatican has stated that those of the Anglican and Episcopal communion who become Catholic can KEEP their rituals and prayer book, establishing a liturgical form within the Roman (Latin) Rite.  We could have Catholic parishes using the Anglican/Episcopal Common Prayer Book as their liturgical expression.   Nonetheless, ALL members of the Anglican communion who wish to join the Catholic Church must still be enrolled in the Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) as a process of being recognized as full members of the Catholic Church.  It is now possible that an ENTIRE Anglican or Episcopal parish can together seek full communion in the Catholic Church through the RCIA process and CONTINUE as a congregation together.  There is no need for another baptism since the Catholic Church recognizes the validity of the Anglican and Episcopal sacrament of baptism.  And for all who have been baptized in their respective churches, there is a ceremony of being accepted into full communion with the Catholic Church.  What makes this move by the Vatican somewhat surprising is that male clergy of the Anglican communion who wish to continue their ordained ministry in the Catholic Church will now be accepted quicker even if they are married and have families.  This move makes the possibility of a married clergy in the Roman Rite a reality.  It is now a matter of time that some parishes in the Roman Rite (of which the Anglican liturgical expression will now be considered) will have pastors (priests-in-charge) who are married with children!   (As a matter of clarification, only DIOCESAN/SECULAR priests will have married ordained ministers.  Celibacy will ALWAYS be demanded by those who belong to RELIGIOUS ORDERS AND CONGREGATIONS as that is their charism -- gift of the Holy Spirit -- in ordained ministry.)  So, it is time to talk to your local parish priest and ask about the Rites of Christian Initiation.  The Catholic Church welcomes you and seeks your involvement in the local parish! 

Here is the article that clarifies this change of policy in regards to those who seek full communion with the Catholic Church from the Anglican and Episcopal communions, dated October 20, 2009, from the WORLD NEWS press releases: 

VATICAN CITY -"The Vatican announced Tuesday it was making it easier for Anglicans to convert to Roman Catholicism — a surprise move designed to entice traditionalists opposed to women priests, openly gay clergy and the blessing of same-sex unions.

The decision, reached in secret by a small cadre of Vatican officials, was sure to add to the problems of the 77-million-strong Anglican Communion as it seeks to deal with deep doctrinal divisions that threaten a permanent schism among its faithful.

The change means conservative Anglicans from around the world will be able to join the Catholic Church while retaining aspects of their Anglican liturgy and identity, including married priests. Until now, disaffected Anglicans had joined the church primarily on a case-by-case basis.

"The unity of the church does not require a uniformity that ignores cultural diversity, as the history of Christianity shows," said Cardinal William Levada, head of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in announcing the decision.

The spiritual leader of the global Anglican church, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams, was not consulted about the change and was informed only hours before the announcement. He nevertheless tried to downplay the significance and said it wasn't a Vatican commentary on Anglican problems.

"It has no negative impact on the relations of the communion as a whole to the Roman Catholic Church as a whole," he said in London.

The decision could undermine decades of talks between the Vatican and Anglican leaders over how they could possibly reunite. Although Levada insisted such discussions remain a priority, the Vatican move could be taken as a signal that the ultimate goal of ecumenical talks is to convert Anglicans to Catholicism.

Still, the decision confirmed Pope Benedict XVI's design of creating a unified, tradition-minded Catholic Church — a goal he outlined at the start of his pontificate and has been steadily implementing ever since.

This drive also involved a recent move to rehabilitate four excommunicated ultra-conservative bishops, including one who denied the full extent of the Holocaust, in a bid to bring their faithful back under the Vatican's wing.

Levada made the announcement hours after briefing Williams and Catholic bishops in London about the decision. Notably, no one from the Vatican's ecumenical office on relations with Anglicans attended; Levada said he had invited representatives but they said they were all away from Rome.

Austen Ivereigh, a former adviser to the Catholic archbishop of Westminster, called the Vatican announcement historic because it allowed for the "gradual absorption into the Catholic Church of huge numbers of Anglicans," who are conservative in their theology and liturgy.

Until now, Anglicans had been allowed to join the church primarily on an individual basis. With the new provision, groups of Anglicans from around the world will be able to join new parishes headed by former Anglican prelates, who will provide spiritual guidance to Anglicans who wish to be Catholic. Called personal ordinariates, they will be established within local Catholic dioceses.

The new provision also allows married Anglican priests and even seminarians to become ordained Catholic priests — much the same way that Eastern rite priests who are in communion with Rome are allowed to be married. However, married Anglicans cannot become Catholic bishops.

A model for the future exists in the United States, where a handful of such parishes function — including three in Texas — thanks to a 1980 Vatican decision to accommodate Episcopal faithful and priests who wanted to convert. These parishes use a Vatican-approved Book of Divine Worship, based on the Book of Common Prayer, that includes Catholic and Anglican rituals, said Monsignor William Stetson, who manages the initiative.

The new entity is also modeled on Catholic military ordinariates, special units of the church established in most countries to provide spiritual care for members of the armed forces and their dependents.

In addition, within the Catholic Church there are ancient communities in the Middle East and others in Eastern Europe that follow different rites and allow married priests while remaining loyal to the pope.

The new model doesn't create a new rite, but rather an Anglicanized liturgy within the Latin rite.

Levada said Tuesday's announcement was in response to many requests that have come to the Vatican over the years from Anglicans disillusioned with the progressive bent of the Anglican Communion. Some have already left and consider themselves Catholic but have not found an official home in the 1.1-billion strong Catholic Church.

Levada declined to give exact figures, though he said 30 to 40 bishops had been in touch, accounting for a few hundred would-be converts.

One group, known as the Traditional Anglican Communion, has publicly stated its desire to join the Catholic Church. The group, which split from the Anglican Communion in 1990, says it has 400,000 members in 41 countries, although only about half are regular churchgoers.

"This is a moment of grace, perhaps even a moment of history, not because the past is undone but because the past is transformed," the group's leader, Archbishop John Hepworth said in a statement welcoming the Vatican decision.

Anglicans split with Rome in 1534 when English King Henry VIII was refused a marriage annulment.

Since then, the Anglican Communion, which includes the Episcopalian Church in the United States, has fashioned itself as a kind of big tent of fellowship with a wide variety of worship styles and theological outlooks that include Anglo-Catholics.

It's not known how many Anglicans consider themselves Anglo-Catholic. However, the biggest impact of the Vatican announcement is likely to be felt in England, where the Church of England has been involved in a bitter battle over whether female priests can become bishops. British Anglicans opposed to the ordination of women simply leave and join the Catholic Church.

The announcement is likely to have far less impact in the U.S., where many Anglo-Catholics left the Episcopal Church more than a decade ago. More recently, four theologically conservative Episcopal dioceses and dozens of individual parishes broke away and formed a rival church in North America.

Still, no one expects a sudden mass exodus out of the Anglican Communion because of the Vatican announcement.

"We're not talking floodgates," said Paul Handley, editor of the Church Times a London-based weekly that covers Anglican affairs.

"There are a significant number of people who remain loyal Anglicans who will be seriously (tried) by this," he said, adding that they may want to remain part of the Church of England but will "feel increasingly exposed if their friends start disappearing to Rome."

Some Anglo-Catholics who have not yet left the Anglican fold could choose to stay for a variety of reasons, including a desire to avoid lengthy and expensive battles over parish property. Others may oppose the ruling that married Anglicans cannot become Catholic bishops.

The Rev. Christopher Stainbrook, pastor of St. Timothy's Episcopal Church, an Anglo-Catholic parish that is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas, said it was far too soon to know the implications for his parish or others like it in the U.S.

Indeed, Levada made clear that the next step — publication of the pope's Apostolic Constitution outlining the new provision — would be the start of a lengthy process of consultation with Catholic bishops around the world about how to implement the change.

Still, Stainbrook and other traditionalist Anglican groups were elated by the Vatican announcement.

While some Anglicans will want to remain in the Anglican Communion, others "will begin to form a caravan, rather like the People of Israel crossing the desert in search of the Promised Land," said two traditionalist Anglican clerics in Britain, Bishop Andrew Burnham of Ebbsfleet and Bishop Keith Newton of Richborough.

The Anglican Communion has been divided for decades over interpreting the Bible on many issues, including ordaining women. But the rift blew wide open in 2003 when the Episcopal Church consecrated the first openly gay bishop, V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire.

Williams has struggled ever since to keep the church from splitting, frustrated by moves by churches in the United States, Canada and elsewhere to bless gay relationships.

At least four conservative U.S. dioceses and dozens of individual Episcopal parishes have voted to leave the national denomination, with many affiliating themselves with like-minded Anglican leaders in Africa and elsewhere."

– CatholicView Staff  

  
“Should I allow my ex who is on drugs to
spend Christmas with his children?”  Courtney

CatholicView Staff:

My ex-husband is a crack cocaine addict, who lies constantly and lives a very disgusting life but tries to hide it. He asked that he spend Christmas with me and his children; I don't want to.   Would God want me to allow him into my home on Christmas? – Courtney

Dear Courtney:

I am sorry to hear that your husband is addicted to cocaine.  But the problem here is that your children are entitled to spend time with their father on Christmas.

If you can be sure that your husband can refrain from drugs on Christmas and present himself as a loving and caring father, you would be obliged to allow him this privilege.  However I would make sure to have other family members there to support you should he misbehave or you feel in danger.  Make this a limited visit until you are sure he will try to behave normally.

Talk to your husband and see if he is amicable in wanting to make this special day special without upsetting your children or putting them in danger.  Hopefully seeing his own children in a normal home will strengthen him and entice him to a better life.

Please go and talk to your parish priest.  He is there to help.  He will be able to get enough information to help you make the proper decision.  – CatholicView Staff


“I was married twice.  Which husband will
I spend eternity with?” - Sandra

CatholicView Staff:

If I married twice according to Catholic requirements, the first husband having died prior to the second marriage, which husband will I spend eternity with? – Sandra

Dear Sandra:

There will not be marriage in heaven.  You will know both husbands and acknowledge them in a different kind of love.   The love you shared was a procreative love.   In heaven that love will be different.

On this subject, Luke 20:27 –36 tells us, “Then Jesus was approached by some Sadducees—religious leaders who say there is no resurrection from the dead. They posed this question: “Teacher, Moses gave us a law that if a man dies, leaving a wife but no children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will carry on the brother’s name.  Well, suppose there were seven brothers. The oldest one married and then died without children.  So the second brother married the widow, but he also died.  Then the third brother married her. This continued with all seven of them, who died without children.  Finally, the woman also died. So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her!”

“Jesus replied, “Marriage is for people here on earth.  But in the age to come, those worthy of being raised from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage.  And they will never die again. In this respect they will be like angels. They are children of God and children of the resurrection.”

And so, yes, you will recognize both husbands but there will be no marriage for we will be like the angels.  All this will be made clear someday according to God’s plan.   – CatholicView Staff


“What created God?” - Glenn

CatholicView Staff:

I have asked my friend whose Catholic but she can't help me. I have many questions. I was wondering what created God. Like it had to start somewhere right?

Dear Glenn:

This is a question you will have to ask God someday.  The bible states the following in Isaiah 44:6, “is what the Lord says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies:

   “I am the First and the Last; there is no other God.”

Our human comprehension of Who God is will be made clear to those of us who believe and have faith.  God is NOT a created God; we are.  God creates.  Beyond that we must wait until the end to know all answers.  Only then will we know.    Thank you for writing, Glenn.  – CatholicView Staff

 
“I found out my boyfriend is civilly married
with no plans for divorce.  Should he be
dating?” - Elizabeth

CatholicView Staff:

I recently began dating a Catholic man who seemed very devout. He suddenly announced he is civilly married, though estranged. Given that, I have refused to continue the relationship. He says I am unreasonable. Should he be dating whilst still married and with no immediate plans to divorce? - Elizabeth

Dear Elizabeth:

Thank you for your question.  You are right in refusing to date a married man.  Although the church does not recognize his marriage, which is civil, he is still married in the eyes of the law.  And he must decide to talk to his priest to discuss not only his civil marriage but the matter of him as a Catholic marrying outside of the Church.    His priest can advise what is needed in order for you to feel free to pursue this relationship.  No marriage should be taken lightly as he has.  Plus you do not know if this man is truly estranged, could return to his wife, or is still living at home with her.

You are dating a married man.  This is not allowable in the eyes of the Church.  If there is intimacy involved, you would be committing adultery.  Step back from this situation and continue to think carefully as you have been.   What this man has told you may be just a old ploy that could be heartbreaking for you.  Be wise.  Though it is hard, you must move on.  – CatholicView Staff  


“People criticize the Church and say it
is a cult.  How can I correct them when
I don’t attend each week?” - Ruth

 

CatholicView Staff:

I'm not a practicing Catholic, but it REALLY bothers me when people criticize the Church.  They refer to me as believing in a cult because that's what the Church is.  I know that's wrong.  How can I convince them when they know I do not attend Mass every Sunday? – Ruth

Dear Ruth:

Although you say you are not an active Catholic, you still feel protective of your church.  This is good.  The easy way to convince those who criticize is to be a full Catholic member for then you will be able to speak with authority if you choose to.

Know that it is easy for people to criticize.  Just smile.  You do not have to defend your church. – CatholicView Staff


“Can I become Catholic without going through
the RCIA process?” - Andrew

CatholicView Staff:

How do I become Catholic? I have been looking at the Church for about 6 years now and have read many books on the faith including the Catechism. I have been attending a Baptist church since I was in the 1st grade and have been baptized. Can I just go to the Bishop and be confirmed and then receive the Eucharist? Is it necessary for me to go to RCIA even though I know the doctrines and dogmas? Thanks! - Andrew

Andrew:

The Church welcomes you.  But the Church requires that you attend RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults).  It is a time   to understand all parts of the church doctrine and dogmas and allow you to get acquainted with others who are also just coming into the Church.

If a person has been validly baptized in another Christian community, the Catholic Church recognizes that baptism. Such persons become Catholic by making a public profession of faith that they believe all that the Catholic Church believes and professes as having been revealed by God.  Once baptized, a person is sealed by the Holy Spirit with an "indelible spiritual mark of his belonging to Christ" (Catechism of Catholic Church #1272). " Baptism cannot be repeated" (CCC# 1280).  May you move forward in your desire to become Catholic.  See you in Church! – CatholicView Staff


“I got a bad nose job.  Is it wrong to rectify this?”
- Carol Ann

CatholicView Staff:

Almost 9 years ago, as a young immature 23yr old, I decided to get a rhinoplasty ( nose job ) surgery. It was probably one of the worst mistakes of my life. The result was horrible and I have been living with this for years now thinking that is probably a punishment for being so vain. I always heard God doesn't punish, but I still feel this way. As time passes my nose has gotten worse and worse. I think about getting it fixed by a specialist, and have actually spoken to a couple who says it is definitely fixable, but I always hesitate because, again, because of the whole vanity issue. Is it wrong to get this done and/or pray for a positive outcome?  Thank you very much. – Carol Ann

Dear Carol Ann:

Thank you for writing.  I would suggest that you go ahead and rectify the unfortunately outcome of your surgery.  Just be sure to choose your specialist carefully and be sure that your health will permit it.  You have suffered enough and at this point it is not vanity to correct something that is making you miserable.  Go into it with a prayerful attitude, asking God to help you through this.  This is not a sin.   God be with you.  – CatholicView Staff


“I promised God to stop smoking if I could keep
my driver’s license.  Will God forgive me
if I smoke?”– Christopher

CatholicView Staff:

I was supposed to lose my drivers license, when I went to court. I promised God that I would quit smoking for good, if everything went well. It went too well, and I have not smoked for 8 months. I have the desire to smoke, but I am afraid of breaking my promise. - Christopher

Christopher:

Congratulations on giving up smoking for eight months!  The Lord has indeed blessed you in quitting this habit.  Now it is time to continue in your promise to Him. 

God does not require us to make promises.  He asks us to come, with faith in His Son, and ask for His help.  There is nothing that you can give back to Him except your love and your faithfulness.   Please understand that God’s knows us intimately.  He understands human weakness.  If you really want to break your promise to Him, you must ask Him for forgiveness.  He will forgive you, even though your promise was excellent.   Think carefully.

I can see you love the Lord.  Should you choose to break your promise, ask the Lord to forgive you and He will.  But DO NOT make any promise that you will not keep to God.  Go in peace, honoring Him above all others. – CatholicView Staff


“I am a convert to the Church.  Is it true
only Catholics can be saved?” - Linda

CatholicView Staff:

I have been a convert for 13 yr now.  I was saved before I joined the Catholic Church.  I was told recently that one can only be saved through the Catholic Church.  I find this offensive because my entire life changed the night I gave my life to the Lord. The way I looked upon life and people was totally different than before. And the peace I received, I did not even know existed.

So is this really what Catholics believe, they only they can be saved through the Church?

Linda:

Thank you for writing.  I, too, know what it is to accept the Lord as Savior.  And yes, the peace one receives at baptism is incredible!  Everything is brand new and it is as if your eyes are opened to a new earth and new beginnings.  It is the most beautiful feeling in the world.

You ask if only Catholics are saved.  No, not only Cathoics.  Anyone who believes in our Lord Jesus Christ and follows His teachings are saved.  Keep in mind that only God can judge us, not man.

Congratulations on your sacred relationship with Jesus Christ.  And welcome to our Church - CatholicView Staff


“I feel bad when millions of children die
from hunger and disease.  Help me come
to terms with this?”   - Daniel

 

CatholicView Staff:

I struggle when thanking God for small blessings in my life when millions of children die every year from preventable causes.  It does not seem proper to thank God for a job promotion when millions suffer from hunger and disease.   Please help me come to terms with this...Thank you.

Dear Daniel:

CatholicView received a similar question last month so I am passing that answer, written by Father Bill, onto you with a few slight changes.

“Your specific question asks what the Bible and the Church have to say about enjoying life despite the tragedy all around us. I could be wrong, but I don’t think that the Bible or the Church directly address this.   There is a lot about tragedy in the Bible and a lot about joy, but tragedy most often seems to be related to sin and human failure, while joy seems to be related to living a life that is righteous, just, and pleasing to God.

Neither can I think of any official teachings of the Church that tell us how to find joy in life in spite of its many sorrows.    However, many of the saints have had their say in this regard. I would suggest that you look into the life of St. Theresa of Avila.  Although she was a mystic and suffered many indignities, she was still very down-to-earth and witty.  I think you would enjoy reading about her life.  An Internet search should lead you to plenty of books by and about this amazing saint and doctor of the Church.

I’m sure that you realize that even though we don’t all experience the weight of success, just about everyone has to live in the midst of tragedy.  Whether it’s the broad human tragedies like war, hunger, terrorism and poverty, or the more immediate tragedies like the illness or death of a loved one, we all live in a world that contains plenty of what Psalm 23 calls the “valley of darkness”.  Still, the overall tenor of Psalm 23 is one of a quiet kind of joy found in knowing that, even in the midst of life’s travails, “the Lord is my Shepherd”.  That psalm has helped many people on their walk through life.

I admire your empathy.  You obviously take upon yourself the pains of others. Such empathy is both a gift and a burden.  It is a gift because you are a compassionate presence in the lives of others, but it is a burden in that such empathy casts a shadow over your joy.

We don’t know why bad things happen to good people, but they do. We don’t know why a young mother dies of breast cancer or a young father dies in a car accident coming home from work. It sucks…it really does, and we feel helpless and more than a little angry.  Personally, I don’t think that God does these things.  I think they just happen, and God weeps with us when they do…but that’s just me.  Others would disagree. So much really comes down to our mortality and how we perceive that inevitable aspect of human life.  We will all die.  Is death really a tragedy?  Not, I suspect, if we have embraced life.

You can’t change the fact that others are suffering and you are not.  I wonder if I can be bold enough to tell you to embrace the life you have. It is a gift from God that holds great potential.  Thank God every day for your blessings.  Pray the Morning Offering.  Pray the Serenity Prayer. Pray the Lord’s Prayer…”thy will be done”…and leave what you can’t control in the hands of God. –Father Bill

Hope Father Bill’s answer helps a bit. – CatholicView Staff


“My boyfriend and I live together.  What is
so wrong with this?” - Ashley

CatholicView Staff:

My boyfriend and I have been dating for four years. We have both recently graduated from college, and have decided to move in together. We are planning on getting married. We have been having sex, and neither one of us has ever had sex with anyone else but each other. What is so wrong with this?  - Ashley

 

Ashley:

Surely you know your actions in living together without the benefit of marriage is a sin.  The Bible teaches that co-habitation without being married is called fornication.  God and Church forbid having sex without marriage.

“God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin”. – Thessalonians 4:3

If you are planning on getting married, why not wait rather than live in sin? 

1 Corinthians 7:2 tells us “But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband.”  And then again in 1 Corinthians 6:18 it says, “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man does is without the body; but he that commits fornication sins against his own body”.

Please go and talk to a priest so you can explain your situation fully as we are limited in time and space.  I know he will be able to help you.  – CatholicView Staff


“I had an affair with my sister’s husband. 
They are now divorced and I continued the
relationship.  Is this a mortal sin?” - Polly

CatholicView Staff:

I had an affair with my sister’s husband. We are now both divorced.  We have continued our relationship.  Is our relationship a mortal sin? – Polly

Polly:

You do not give enough information to make a judgment.  Did you confess your sin?  Also, did you both receive annulments of previous marriages?  Are you continuing your adulterous behavior?  Has your sister forgiven you?

You see, Polly, there is much to consider here.  You have done irreparable damage to your sister’s life as well as your own.  What you are doing is continuing something that was wrong from the beginning.

Please go and speak to your priest so that he can determine what you should do.   He will help you.  – CatholicView Staff


“Are priests still required to say the Divine Office
daily?” - Carl

CatholicView Staff:

Are priests still required to say the Divine Office daily?

 

Dear Carl:

Thank you for writing to CatholicView.  Yes, priests, religious orders, and laity still recite the official set of daily prayers called the Liturgy of the Hours or Divine Office and is prescribed by the Catholic Church.  The daily recitation of the Liturgy of the Hours is a canonical obligation and consists primarily of psalms supplemented by hymns and readings.   For more on this subject please visit Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liturgy_of_the_Hours.  God bless. CatholicView Staff


“I have had all the Sacraments except marriage. 
Can I be godmother to my niece?” - Adriana

CatholicView Staff:

I have received all my sacraments except marriage, could I be a godmother to my niece. I've been trying to convert my partner to Catholicism and he has initiated confirmation classes.   My sister cannot think of anyone beside me to be a godmother. Would you please advise?  - Adrianna

Dear Ardrianna:

Congratulations on you becoming a godparent to your new niece.  I do not see any problem with your qualifications.  And being a aunt of this upcoming beautiful baby is a bonus as well.

The qualifications are:  That a godparent must be a willing baptized Roman Catholic who is at least sixteen years old (unless otherwise specified by the diocese), that the person has received the sacraments of Holy Eucharist and Confirmation, and is in good standing with the Catholic Church.  You qualify on all conditions.

Only one godparent is required but this would be up to your sister.

Many blessings to you.  I am sure that you know that as a godparent, you  must accept the responsbility, should it be necessary, of raising your niece in the Catholic faith.   I think your sister has made a good choice for her wonderful baby.

Best wishes to your sister and her husband on this blessed event.  - CatholicView Staff


“My girlfriend does not accept Church teaching. 
How do I convince her?” - Bob

CatholicView Staff:

I met an attractive girl on Catholic dating website. We like each other. The only thing is that she does not accept all Church teaching: sanctity of life, premarital sex, and contraception. She tells me that "we live in an imperfect world and therefore it seems to be the most logical not to agree with teachings (how otherwise will we stop spreading aids in Africa?!!)...and that a woman should have a right to decide what to do with her life.   She has also indicated that now she is “reborn Catholic”.   How do I convince her to accept all Church teachings? - Bob

Bob:

I am sorry that you are in such conflict.   You say you met her on a Catholic dating website, but the very things she does not adhere to such as sanctity of life, premarital sex, and contraception are important and vital issues.   If you pursue this relationship, you will find yourself in turmoil.  Have you met this girl in person? 

No one can force another to accept anything unless they are willing to do so.  Her philosophy is a strong signal that you will have a hard road ahead if you pursue this relationship.  Move on and find someone who will share the values you believe in.  God bless you. -   CatholicView Staff

 
“Can I become a non-denominational ordained
minister without being excommunicated?” - Sarah

CatholicView Staff:

A non-catholic friend wants me to perform their marriage ceremony.  Can I become a non-denominational ordained minister without being excommunicated from the Catholic Church?- Sarah

Dear Sarah:

As a Catholic, why would you consent to becoming an ordained minister in another denomination?   No, you cannot have a dual allegiance to two different churches.  If you want to become a ordained minister in another denomination, you will automatically become a member of that church, studying and working toward obtaining your license as an ordained minister.    - CatholicView Staff

 
“How do I keep my spirits up when living
with the enemy? - Josh

CatholicView Staff:

Okay, so I got a couple of things to ask you...I wasn’t one to believe in God and all this but as I lived my life and put the pieces together I can strongly relate all this to the bible now because I went through a time and still kind of am from being I guess you could say vampired on! I believe that people make money off the Lord and find ways to do it and this company has been leeching off my life and all my people for like years. Hard to explain but I know its true... and just by what I’ve seen! Not sure if this is all coincidence or what and know we all have spirits and they are all on a level in short how do I keep mine up even when living with the enemy? – Josh

Dear Josh:

I am sorry to hear that people have treated you and your family wrongly.  The good news is that God sees all things.  If someone has offended you or stolen from you in a dishonest way, God is aware of it.

No sin goes unnoticed by our Lord.  The ones who have taken advantage of you and your family will pay someday for all the hurtful actions you have faced unless they repent.   In the meanwhile, know that God is pleased that you are reading and understanding the bible.    Let God handle the ones who have hurt you.  Ask the Lord to strengthen you and guide you to peace.  – CatholicView Staff


“I don’t feel a passion for God.  Can I still
benefit from participation in confession?” - Jose    

CatholicView Staff:

I was on a mental medication for months, which sort of blunted my emotions. I feel numb and don't feel the passion or love for God.  I used to feel guilty about things. I know what's right and wrong in my head and would like to be in fellowship with God and clean my soul through the sacraments (even if I don't feel anything). Can I still benefit from/participate in confession if I feel numb?

Jose:

I am sorry that you do not feel the passion or love for God.  Many people feel this disconnected when they don’t spend time in prayer with the Lord.  If we want to be close to the Lord, we have to establish a good relationship that comes through prayer, and time spent reading the bible.

Imagine meeting a new friend.  You spend time talking and enjoying being close to that person.  You may even honor them with a birthday card. 

Our relationship with the Lord requires our attention.  If we just go to mass, nod off during the gospel readings, we become alienated from God, and we lose something very valuable and that is closeness.  And if we take communion without truly appreciating why we are taking it, we feel nothing.

This is precisely the right time that you should seek your Church and the sacraments.  And you are trying by attending Church and wanting to partake of the Sacraments.

You have a wonderful start on the road back to feeling the passion you had before.  Now it is time to open your heart and soul to God.  You must do this through prayer, mediation on all the bountiful gifts He has given, and that includes your life and the lives of all those you love.  You are blessed through His love.

I suggest you go and speak to a priest about your dilemma.  Talk honestly and straightforwardly.   Your priest will understand and when your visit is over, you will feel rejuvenated and full of joy once more.  God bless you always.  May He be the force behind your life through your prayers and faithfulness.  – CatholicView Staff

 
“Who decides the beliefs of the Catholic
Church?” - Ian

CatholicView Staff:

Could you please tell me who it is who decides the beliefs of the Catholic Church? For example when a new controversial topic arises, contraception/abortion, who decided where the church officially stands on the matter? I would be very grateful for a reply, Ian.

Dear Ian:

The core tenets of the Christian faith and beliefs of the Church have been revealed by Jesus Christ, the Son of God and through the Holy Spirit, the spirit of truth.

The Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia states that Church doctrines have been defined through various ecumenical councils, following the example set by the first Apostles in the Council of Jerusalem.  On the basis of promises made by Jesus to his apostles, described in the Gospels, the Church believes that it is guided by the Holy Spirit and so protected from falling into doctrinal error.  Although the Church teaches that there is hope of salvation for those who are not visibly a part of the Catholic Church, it also teaches that the Catholic Church is the one and only true Church of Christ.

Catholic beliefs are based on the deposit of faith (containing both the Holy Bible (and Sacred Tradition) handed down from the time of the Apostles, which are interpreted by the Church's teaching authority.   Those beliefs are summarized in the Nicene Creed and formally detailed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.   Formal Catholic worship is termed the liturgy. The Eucharist also called the Mass, and in the East, the Divine Liturgy, is the center of Catholic worship. It is one of seven Church Sacraments which mark key stages in the lives of believers. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church)

I hope this helps a bit. - CatholicView Staff

MORE FOR OCTOBER WILL FOLLOW


TO CONTINUE WITH LAST MONTH'S
"ASK A PRIEST" CLICK HERE

Please use the link at the top left side of this page
to comment or be added to the mailing list.