ASK
A PRIEST
MAY 2010
FATHER WILLIAM G. MENZEL
FATHER KEVIN BATES, SM
FATHER AMARO SAUMELL
CATHOLICVIEW STAFF
FATHER WILLIAM G. MENZEL
“How does the Church view implanting a birth control
device into a mentally incompetent woman?” - Dean
Father
Bill:
How
would the Church view a mentally incompetent woman being implanted with a birth control
device? The mental condition with which the
woman is afflicted disrupts her cognitive abilities and lowers her inhibitions. Complete surveillance and supervision are cost
prohibitive and impractical. - Dean
Dear Dean:
First of all, I feel it’s necessary to
clarify the question. This is more about de facto
sterilization than it is about contraception. The idea is to somehow render a mentally
incompetent woman incapable of conceiving a child. The method or means of doing that is
not really relevant, as there are a number of ways it could be done. All of them would be
contrary to the Church’s interpretation of the natural law.
Even civil society outside the purview of
Catholic or Christian moral concerns is uncomfortably ambivalent about forced
sterilization. It opens up all sorts of
questions like: Who decides? What criteria
are used to make the decision? What does this
say about how our society values individual rights? It
also raises the ugly specter of eugenics, with all the political, moral and scientific
baggage that carries.
If it’s permitted to do this to a mentally
incompetent woman, what about a mentally incompetent man?
Forced castration? Forced
vasectomy? The ethical scenario gets pretty
murky.
I’m not trying to ignore the very human
dimensions of your question and the problem it poses, Dean.
These are not easy matters for society or for individuals looking for a
compassionate solution to a matter of great concern.
It’s just that what in this case looks like a compassionate solution
actually becomes a matter of even greater concern about the rights of individual human
beings versus the purported best interests of society.
The Church does not find that the best
interests of society are well served by the deprivation of basic human rights.
You ruled out one obvious solution to this
dilemma. Perhaps it needs to be reconsidered
or other solutions sought.
Thank you for asking the question, Dean, and
may God guide those who must find a way to help the woman of whom you write. - Father
Bill
“What is the difference between confessing your sins to
a priest and confessing your sins directly to God?”
- Aileen
Father
Bill:
Good
day. I just would like to ask what is the
difference between confessing your sins to God in a prayer and confessing to the priest at
Church? If you ask forgiveness of your sins
and felt sorry about it in a prayer, is it forgiven by God?
And do you still need to say those sins it in the sacrament of confession?
I'm
really confused. My first and last confession
was when I was still in grade school. I'm now
in college. It's been 10 years already. I've
been longing to go to a confession but the priest for confession in church nearby our
house is not always in and I'm also hesitant because I don't know what to say and how to
say it. I'm also afraid of how the priest
will react.
I've
been yearning to go to the confession but still up to now, I still haven't confessed. I've been praying about this to Jesus Christ. I hope and pray that Jesus Christ will use you to
help me. Thanks and God bless. Aileen
Dear Aileen,
You are not alone! There are many Catholics who have been away from
the Sacrament of Penance for a long time. Like
you, they want to go back to it, but their anxieties tend to overpower the desire of their
heart and soul. I hope that I can make you—and
maybe some other readers—less anxious.
However, let me begin by pointing out that you
yourself have already answered the questions you posed in your first paragraph. You
answered them in the paragraphs that followed. You know
that there is something special about the Church’s sacraments that make them a big
step beyond ordinary prayer. They’re both good and holy, but they are different. And,
yes, God graciously forgives our sins as soon as we express contrition and a firm purpose
to avoid sin in the future.
The Sacrament of Penance (Confession) is
important, not because it is the only way that our sins can be forgiven, but because, like
all the sacraments of the Church, it is a way that Jesus is present in a special way. Jesus gave His disciples a very specific command
that they were to forgive peoples’ sins. The Church continues to carry out this
command in the Sacrament of Penance. There the priest represents both the Church and
the person of Jesus, and it is Jesus who reconciles us with the Father and with the
Church. You recognize these truths; that is
why you hunger for the sacrament. You are
longing to encounter the real and healing presence of Jesus in this reconciling sacrament
that He gave to his Church.
To put you at ease, I can assure you that the
vast majority of priests will gladly help you make your confession. If possible, try to ask around about what priests
in your area are known to be compassionate confessors.
When you go, just explain to the priest right away that you haven’t
done this since you were a child, and that you’re not even sure how to go about it. He will welcome you, and give you all the help he
can.
It’s also important to do a good
examination of conscience ahead of time. You’ll
want to try your best, with God’s help, to remember the sins for which you seek
forgiveness—especially any serious ones. No
one can remember everything, but be honest with yourself and with God. Don’t worry about how the priest will react;
if he’s a good confessor, he knows that he’s a sinner too. He’s not going to get angry with you or shout
out, “You did WHAT?”
You’ll also be expected to pray an act of
contrition so that the priest can hear you pray it. Since
many people don’t have one memorized, most priests will have a copy of an act of
contrition that you can read from. You can
also just pray one in your own words. Something
as simple as, “My God, be merciful to me a sinner” is as good an act of
contrition as any.
So don’t be afraid, Aileen. Jesus is
calling you, and you’re hearing him. Get
going. God bless you. - Father Bill
“Is the existence of God simply a tool to make
us feel better?” - Tom
Father
Bill:
I am 32
years old and been overcome by fear of our inevitable fate. I have studied many religious
texts, read many books, and of course there is no good solution. Each religion offers an
answer that, if true, would satisfy any human, but it requires belief. My mother taught me
to question and investigate everything. I cannot rely on faith because I do not have it.
How can you believe in something that could very well be a book written to make people
feel better in a time of terrible pain. Is the existence of God simply a tool to help us
feel better and cope with the inevitable? - Tom
Dear Tom,
Your question and observations are truly
profound. Your mother taught you well and obviously helped you to develop an inquiring
mind and a thirst for knowledge. Somewhere in that process of intellectual growth, you
also acquired a strong need for certainty, and that is where I would like to begin to
address your concerns. I think you might be closer to having faith than you actually
realize.
As much as we might wish for certainty, the
fact is that life is filled with uncertainties. People often fill those uncertainties with
some kind of belief, whether you are a person of faith or not. We might begin with what
may be the biggest uncertainty of all: How do I know
that what I know is real? Some great movies have
explored this theme from different perspectives. The
Matrix and The Truman Show come to mind.
Stories like these make an interesting point—one that you allude to in your question:
Maybe the reality that we perceive and think we know has been constructed for us. Or—just
maybe—we humans began with an erroneous assumption about reality and have made all
our observations fit into it.
It has happened before—in primitive
astronomy, for example, which assumed that the earth was the center of the universe. All sorts of theories were formulated that helped
to explain the motions of the sun, moon and planets, and those theories worked! It wasn’t until new instruments of discovery
were invented and put into use that the earth-centered, and later the sun-centered,
explanations of the universe were put to rest, along with the theories that had made them
plausible. What if modern astronomy is still
in a primitive state and we’re missing or awaiting some huge discovery that will
drastically change how we view the universe? We
take it on faith that modern astronomers have made the correct assumptions and that their
proven theories are accurate. But can we be
certain?
My point is this: Whether a person believes in
a God or not, he still takes many things on faith and builds his life accordingly. We take it on faith that our senses are accurate
windows into the material world and that our brains are successful in interpreting the
messages from our senses. We know, too, that
sometimes this intimate association between our senses and our brains can break down, a
disassociation or disease that we call “mental illness”. Many people with severe mental illness believe
that they are perceiving the world as it is and believe that they are right and the rest
of us are wrong. Those of us who are not
severely mentally ill take it on faith that it’s the other way around.
Maybe I’m playing a bit loose with the
word “faith”, Tom, but I think that the intellectual sidetracks of history
should make us at least a little wary of being too certain—and at least a little bit
open to the fact that there are actually many things that we do believe—call it “faith” if you
will—unless and until we have a better explanation.
So, is it possible that those of us who believe
in God have, as you suggest, “simply [embraced] a tool to help us feel better and
cope with the inevitable?” Sure, that’s possible. After all, it’s nice and
comforting to believe in a just and benevolent God (Dorothy and her companions in the Wizard of Oz come to mind). It’s nice and
comforting to believe in the possibility of an after-life where we will live in an eternal
state of happiness. I’m not so sure about all of this as to totally eliminate the
possibility of being wrong. However—and
this may surprise you—I’m more sure of this than I am that the scientific method
always begins with the correct premises and comes to the correct conclusions. This is not
a put-down of the scientific method by any means. Its
rigorous methods are well tested and I have no reason to doubt that the scientific
analysis of our world is proceeding along the correct lines. It’s just that I’m more sure of what I
believe about God.
Your inquiry is so profound that I cannot hope
to address everything contained in it. However,
I would like to conclude by addressing the concern you express in your first sentence. You say that you have “been overcome by fear
of our inevitable fate.” I can’t
help but wonder if your fear could possibly be God’s way of inviting you to take a
deeper look at life and its meaning. Your
fear might actually be an emptiness that God is just waiting to fill. One of the mantras of the Twelve Step Programs
like Alcoholics Anonymous is, “Let go, and let God.” Maybe God is inviting you to let go of your fears
and accept a different kind of certainty than you’re accustomed to.
With a quick Google search, I found that the
phrase “be not afraid” occurs 23 times in the King James Version of the bible. I’m sure that variations of that same phrase
would add quite a few more instances to the count. Even
most of us believers would have to admit to having some fears of “our inevitable fate”. I know that I do.
Most of us tend to fear the unknown. However,
I do believe that there is a God who created this universe and created you and me, and I
believe that this God loves us very much and that our “inevitable fate” is in
His hands. I believe that this is why “be
not afraid” and its variations are found so often in the bible. God wants to reassure us that our fate is in His
hands, and those are the hands of love, not fear. I
fully understand if you can’t be as content with that as I am…but maybe you
could give it a try. If not, I’ll understand. -
Father Bill
FATHER KEVIN BATES, SM
“Does it matter which bible translation I use?”
- Daliya
Father Kevin:
I like to use
different Bible translations when I want to study a particular chapter or verse. For example, I like to use an ESV study Bible
often. But my father seems to think that only
Catholic translations should be used. Does
it even matter what translations we use? Daliya
Hi Daliya:
I wouldn't get too
excited about the translation questions. Obviously our Catholic versions have been
approved by the Church, but much Protestant Biblical scholarship is excellent and scholars
work together across the traditions. The RSV and the NRSV are very good - I use
them myself quite often. The NRSV especially is good as its language is more
inclusive. Our translators don't have a mortgage on the truth! Good wishes. - Father Kevin
“With all the scandals and cover-ups, should I join the
Antiochian Orthodox Church?” - Nick
Father Kevin:
It is difficult to
remain a Roman Catholic with the revelations of sex abuse cover ups, and the Pope's
involvement and his Nazi past. I'd like to
remain Catholic. Should I join the Antiochian Orthodox Church? - Nick
Hi Nick:
The choice is completely yours.
Certainly the scandals in the Church are very dispiriting for us all and we have to
work hard to eliminate them, heal what wounds we can and become perhaps a smaller and
certainly humbler church. Leaving the Church, of course, is one option.
That happens in lots of families. However in lots of families, people stick
together, work through the issues and grow through the pain of their family's
imperfections. Like any other human community, our Church is full of imperfections
just as each of us has our fair share of them. Lots of us are working very hard to
bring about healing and justice from within the Church. It would be great if you
could join us in this endeavor for the sake of all God's people and for the sake of the
Gospel. No other Church you might choose to join, should you choose to leave us,
would be free from its own faults so you may be faced with the same dilemma once more. Good wishes.
- Father Kevin
“God wants me to forgive but I do not feel it in my
heart. How can I change this? – Sue
Father Kevin:
God wants me to love and forgive. I
profess it aloud but I don’t feel it in my heart.
Is there a way to change the way I feel?
- Sue
Hi Sue:
We can't force our feelings to change, but
we can change our attitudes and behaviors, and often enough after practicing more
forgiving behaviors for instance, our feelings don't want to miss out
and they will probably come along for the ride. So I can act in a
forgiving way and wait for my feelings to catch up. Sometimes our feelings won't change of
course, but often enough they will. Professing
it out aloud is one thing, living it is where the real action is. Every blessing to you, Sue. - Father
Kevin
FATHER AMARO SAUMELL
"I suffer panic attacks when I attend Sunday Mass.
Is it a sin to watch Mass on my computer?" – Pam
Father Amaro:
I suffer from panic attacks at Sunday mass and
am unable to concentrate on mass. I have been attending mass during the week and am able
to fully concentrate on the mass. I say my prayers daily and the rosary. My question is,
Is it ok to attend mass during the week and watch mass on the computer on Sunday? I am
afraid to receive communion because I don't want to commit a sin. – Pam
Dear Pam,
Well, first things first! You didn’t say
if you’ve seen a doctor about this problem. This
is important and you have a responsibility to cover all the bases. Whether you’re able to "fully
concentrate" on the mass is no problem as long as you know that you are really and
earnestly doing the best you can. God
understands what you are going through.
Many times these panic attacks can be
alleviated by just sitting in an isolated part of the Church. Talk to your pastor about this, so he doesn’t
think you’re just being unsociable. Then,
receive the Blessed Sacrament in good conscience. Hope
this helps you. - God bless, Father
Amaro
"Were the Nephilim (Genesis 6) offspring of angels
or men?" - Michelle
Father Amaro:
Were the Nephilim (Genesis 6) offspring of
angels or men? I read a novel Angelology by Trussoni and it peaked my interest. Thanks.
Michelle
Dear Michelle,
Be careful of novels. Look at all the confusion
of the "Da Vinci Code." Novels are just that... novels, full of fiction and
mythology. You’ll find through research and just plan common sense that the Nephilim
were rather large people. They were warriors and very strong. The term "sons of
god" were a colloquialism just as we might use today. It doesn’t mean sons of
the Living God as we know Him.
The same goes for reading various theologies. To be a "theologian" does not require
faith. I could be a Buddhist theologian and
not believe in the religion.
The Holy Spirit doesn’t teach through
novels or theologies. He teaches through the faith. Stick with the Catechism and the
Sacraments. That will lead you spiritually to where you need to go. As St. Paul says,
there will always be those things that "tickle the ears." Those are some of
Satan’s greatest tools to distract someone from salvation. God bless, Father Amaro
"My boyfriend wants his pastor from his Church
to be a part of my Catholic wedding. How can
I compromise?" - Stephanie
Father Amaro:
I love my Catholic Church and want to be
married there, but my boyfriend wants his pastor from his Christian Church to be part of
our marriage. What can I do to compromise? – Stephanie
Dear Stephanie,
It is very common to have the pastor from
another church be part of a wedding ceremony. Please
consider though, what it will be like when children come along and wonder why your husband
goes to a different church.
Interfaith marriages can often create a very
confusing environment for children. If this
is a problem now, it could be very detrimental toward the future if you’re serious
about how children are to be raised. Think
carefully. No matter how much you love someone, is God coming first? God bless, Father Amaro
"My Catholic wife never had her first marriage
annulled.
How can I receive communion?" Mauricio
Father Amaro:
I was away from the Holy Church for more than
20 years. In the meantime I married a Catholic who never had her first marriage annulled
by the Church. I have been regularly attending mass every Sunday for almost a year now. My
wife has stopped going to Church and is for all intents and purposes non-practicing. How
can I receive communion? - Mauricio
Dear Mauricio,
If your wife’s first marriage has not been
annulled, it means that she is still married to her first husband. An annulment means that
a marriage never took place in the first place. There might have been a
"ceremony," but it was never representative of a reality.
In the meantime, you obtained a "civil
contract" having nothing to do with our relationship with God. It isn’t real marriage because there are also
human laws to dissolve a marriage. Real
marriage, as God has provided, is permanent.
Sadly, because you have entered into this civil
arrangement with a married woman, you have placed yourselves in a state of adultery, a
very serious sin. You should not receive the Body and Blood of Christ until this is
resolved. Your wife needs to speak to the
priest about getting an annulment from her first marriage and have yours blessed by the
Church.
We suggest that you and your wife go speak to
the priest as soon as possible about resolving this issue so you both can move forward in
your faith. God bless you. - Father Amaro
"I’m in love with a Muslim girl. How can I get
her
to see the truth of the Catholic Church?" - Patrick
Father Amaro:
I'm in love with a liberal almost no practicing
Muslim girl and I’m not willing to convert to Islam, because I know my religion and
I’m proud, happy and confident about the Catholic faith. What is the best way to
convince her about the truth of Catholic Church? What should I say to her? - Patrick
Dear Patrick:
People often fall in love. That does not mean
that one always falls in love with one whom pleases God.
People fall in love many times during their lives.
You need to think about this very carefully. As in another question above, you will likely have
children. This creates a very confusing
environment for children. Interfaith
marriages are a very delicate situation and often end in tragedy because the children
cling to no faith eventually. (What’s ok
for mom is ok with me.)
There is no "best way" to convert
anyone. Conversion takes place in the heart
after being exposed to the truth. You might
suggest that she participate in the Inquiry stage of RCIA, which does not obligate anyone
to convert, but simply states our case. If
that doesn’t work, I would consider if this is truly who God intends for you,
regardless of your emotional attachment. Going
into a relationship that could fail is a declaration that you will eventually want someone
else to raise your children because if divorce is in the future, that is what will happen. You are talking about an event that will impact
the rest of your life. Pray heavily on it. God bless, Father Amaro
CATHOLICVIEW STAFF
“Why do some
Catholics think it is the Church that
saves them?” - Linda
CatholicView
Staff:
I just
want to know why some Catholics feel it is the Church that saves when we know Jesus Christ
is our Savior? Thank you for your time. - Linda
Dear
Linda:
Linda,
you are absolutely right! The Catholic Church
does not save anyone. The testimony of
the Gospels makes it quite clear that only through Jesus Christ can a person enter the
Kingdom of Heaven. The Church is instrumental in teaching us the way,
giving us the sacraments, and keeping us on God’s path. It is through the Church that we are taught God's Word.
It is through the Church that we share the Body and Blood of our Savior Jesus
Christ, and all the sacraments that sustain our Christian life. The Church is a family of believers
who share with each other in fellowship, finding a special comfort when we come together
on the Sabbath and share the body of Christ.
In John 10:7-9, Jesus tells us, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep.
All who came [before Me] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I
am the gate. Whoever enters through Me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find
pasture. . . .” And in John 14:6 it reads, “”I
am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” The bible also
states, Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be
condemned. - Mark 16:16
And so, it is the belief in Jesus Christ as our
Lord and Savior Who alone can save. No
person, living or dead can do this.
Hope
this helps you. Keep moving on God’s
path, praying for God to keep you searching for truth.
God bless you. – CatholicView
Staff
“How do I know I am saved when I die?”
- Robert
CatholicView Staff:
What must I do in order to know that I will go
to Heaven/be saved when I die? Thank you. -
Robert
Robert:
CatholicView received a similar question last
month concerning salvation. On Sunday,
February 21, 2010 in the second reading at Mass, Romans 10:8-13 clarifies and
answers your question concerning salvation:
It reads, “The message is very close at
hand; it is on your lips and in your heart. And
that message is the very message about faith that we preach: If you confess
with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the
dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with
God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved. As the Scriptures tell
us, “Anyone who trusts in Him will never be disgraced.
Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect.They have the same Lord, who
gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the
Lord will be saved.” And so, Martin, there you have your assurance. Your place in heaven is assured by faith and by
the death and resurrection of the Lord. The Lord Jesus didn't die and rise in vain. He is taking you with him.
But, along with this good news for those who
profess their faith, we must also remember scriptures that warn:
Mark 13:33 states, “And since you don’t
know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert.” St. Mark is warning us that we must repent of any
sin we commit, and ask and receive forgiveness immediately, and with confidence.
Continue to go forward in your faith, knowing
that no man is perfect. God knows this and made away for us when we stumble into sin. We,
as Christians, have on our side the most important antidote for sin; it is the grace God
gives us to constantly to renew our faith in Jesus Christ by seeking forgiveness. His
promises are eternal, and through His Son, we can remain on God's path to eternal life. And His promises to me will be kept to the
full. I have no doubt and I am ready to see my "mansion" in heaven (John14:1-2).
And I am quite sure that I see your mansion with your name on it! We shall see you in heaven, my friend. - CatholicView
Staff
“Is there a
midpoint between Mortal and venial sin?”
- Liz
CatholicView
Staff:
My
teacher told me there is a midpoint between mortal and venial sin. I don't understand what it would be, such as what
defines this 'midpoint?' If there are any
examples or definition that would help me further understand this concept I would greatly
appreciate it! Thank you!! - Liz
Liz:
There is
an Featured Answer to mortal sin in CatholicView entitled “Mortal Sin” .
Please use this preceding link to find your answer. You can also access this answer on Mortal Sin at the beginning page of the site: catholicview.org .
God bless you in your quest for truth.
– CatholicView Staff
I am thinking of
playing a game called Oujia Board.
Is this dangerous?” - Onfire
CatholicView
Staff:
I
was thinking of playing this game called a oujia board and I was wondering if it bad to
believe and or play this game and is it dangerous? Thank you. - Onfire
Hello Onfire:
A believing Christian
must never use them. Make no mistake about
Ouija Boards. Those who do use
them show a total lack of trust in God by turning to the occult through the use of the
Ouija board for answers. As Christians we
must understand that the Ouija board comes from the sources of evil. When a person tries to receive answers to life
through means not associated with our faith in Jesus Christ, we open ourselves to the
intervention of evil. This is why divination
is sinful. We are, in truth calling upon the
demons of Satan to supply answers to our problems, and are deliberately choosing the
forces of hell that will harm our friendship with God.
Jesus tells us not to worry about our future
but to place ourselves in His care. Using a Ouija board opens us up to a world of spirits we cannot see and whose
origin we don't know about. There are only
two places spirits come from and that is either from heaven or hell. We know God speaks to the heart through the Holy
Spirit. Even though one considers it a harmless
game, it can open the door to demonic invasion and the malicious influences of evil
spirits and should be avoided at all costs.
Contacting spirits through methods other
than prayer to God removes us from His protection. Without God, we are left completely
unprepared for what can happen to us because of dabbling in the occult.
Scriptural passages that specifically
condemn or denigrate divination and related occultic activities include 1 Samuel 15:23-2,
Kings 17:17, 2 Chronicles. 33:6, Isaiah 8:19-20, Jeremiah.14:14, 27:9-10; 29:8-9,
Ezekiel.12:24; and Galatians 5:19-21.Deuteronomy 18:10, Jeremiah 29:8, and Leviticus
19:26-31;20:6-27).
Our loving Father in heaven warns us of
these dangers for our protection and well being, both spiritual and physical. Let us pray
that those who, unaware of the dangers, are involved with divination will soon realize
that this "mere game" can be the gravest risk and the greatest gamble of their
lives. –CatholicView Staff
“I want to
take communion but my husband needs an
annulment from his first wife. Can you help
me?” - Pura
CatholicView
Staff:
I have
been married for over 15 years and before I got married I went to church and received Holy
Communion regularly. Now we still go to
church but I could not receive communion because we were not married in a Catholic church. Reason for that is because my husband was married
before and filed for divorce in 1982. How can
I go back to receiving holy communion every Sunday and during holidays? Please help me Father. Thank you and God Bless you always! - Pura
Dear
Pura:
I am
sorry to learn that you married your husband without his receiving an annulment from his
first marriage.
There is
a way that this can be changed and will allow you to receive communion. Your husband must talk to the parish priest about
getting an annulment because your husband is still married to his first wife in the eyes
of the Church. And so, you and your husband
are living in adultery until this document is obtained.
Please
go to see your parish priest and remember to bring any papers pertaining to the marriage,
etc. This way the priest can apply for the
annulment and you will be on your way to gaining it.
Once all details are taken care of, you will be able to receive communion and be
re-instated as part of the Church family.
Have
courage. There is light at the end of this
tunnel. God bless you. – CatholicView Staff
“Is there hoodoo or
voodoo in my home?” - Lavada
CatholicView
Staff:
I've
recently moved into a new home, over the door sills are crosses painted with dark red
polish or blood. Looks like it was
finger painted on. What does this mean? I don't sense any evil presence, nor are there any
odd activities here. Is this a blessing or
curse, or some Wicca rite? I’m a
Christian, contacted several churches and so far have not received a response. Could it be based on passover? I don't want any hoo-doo or voo-doo in my home. Please help with this it just upsets me to think
it may not be based on Christ. They are
painted upright not upside down, if that helps...
Thanks for your time. Lavada
Dear Lavada:
I am so sorry that
you are anxious concerning the crosses on the doorsills of your new home. I am assuming the markings were not there when you
looked at the house.
There are many
possibilities. The first that comes to mind
is perhaps some teenagers may have gained entry and thought it was a good joke to
play. Nevertheless, my suggestion is that you
replace the sills, or less expensively remove the drawings with paint remover or some
other solvent. A sanding machine will also
work just as well.
You are a Christian
woman. No evil is bigger or more powerful
than the God you serve. He wants you to enjoy
your new home and not live in a fear and anxiety.
Please ask your
pastor to come and bless your new home. In the meantime, when you
are nervous and uneasy, walk through each room and say a small prayer,
asking God to cleanse the room of all iniquities, to send His angels of mercy to
protect you, and that He, in His loving mercy, restore your peace.
Do not be afraid. May God keep you in the palm of His Hand, bringing
the peace only He can give.
- CatholicView
Staff
“I get
attacked in Chat Rooms for not defending the
Church. What should I say?” - Pam
CatholicView
Staff:
In a
chat room some Catholics try to force Church on others, then some attack the Church, some
one brings up Mary... I say "this is not about Church ..this is about God, and Jesus,
and Him crucified for us, rose and ascended into Heaven", and I get attacked by the
Catholics for not defending our Church or Mary . Please
pray for me if you can’t answer this, and send the Pope lol. thanks Pam... born and
raised Catholic.
Dear
Pam:
You are
absolutely right. Your faith is about our
Lord, Jesus Christ and our heavenly Father. You
do not need a defense for those who cannot understand what it is to be a true Christian
Catholic. No one can force a person to
believe. They must sincerely want to have God
in their lives and willingly accept the gift of salvation that Jesus Christ died to give
us all.
Pam, I
know that the Lord is well pleased with you. Keep
moving forward in your faith. Let His
light shine through your actions and your belief in Christ.
I will pray that the Lord continues to strengthen your faith and give you
His peace. God bless you. - CatholicView Staff
“I am
concerned that I have not been forgiven though
I went to confession. What shall I
do?” - Jim
CatholicView
Staff:
I
committed sins as a teen and did not confess them during reconciliation but confessed them
as an adult a number of times. I am worried
that I have not confessed them fully or been forgiven.
– Jim
Jim:
Do not be concerned. God knows everything you do and He knows you
have sought forgiveness. He knows you are
trying to do the right thing. Please pray,
asking the Lord to forgive you for any past sin that is bothering you. He hears each
and every prayer. God wants you to move
forward now with faith, knowing this burden of sin has already been lifted from your
shoulders. Yes, He has already forgiven you.
Stay away from sin in the future, and be at
peace, going forth to love and serve the Lord. God
bless you. - CatholicView Staff
“What happens to babies or aborted babies who
die?”
- Michelle
CatholicView Staff:
What happens to babies or aborted babies who
die? Are they adults in heaven? Do they
become cherubs? – Michelle
Michelle:
There is no official Church teaching of this
matter. Although
the Church has made no formal pronouncement on the subject, it is generally believed that
the unborn or aborted souls rest in the mercy of God.
Because God is a loving Father, it is my belief that these babies,
unborn without the stain of sin, are too young to choose for themselves. They are therefore innocent of earthly sin
and will live with God in the after life. God
is loving, merciful, and just. I can't imagine him banishing innocent babies from His
kingdom. - CatholicView Staff
"My mother spent the weekend with an ex-priest.
How is this okay?” - Susan
CatholicView Staff:
My mother and father were married 40 years. Recently my mom went away for a weekend with an
ex-priest and they slept together. She
said everything was ok because they weren't having sex.
How is that ok? - Susan
Susan:
You are absolutely right in saying that these
actions are not okay. You mother has
set a very poor example for her children.
You neglect to say if your mother is still
married. Nonetheless, spending the weekend
with any man is wrong and certainly the ex-priest would know this. The impropriety of their actions is an occasion of
sin.
Hope this helps.
- CatholicView Staff
“Why do I get the opposite of what I ask God for?”
- Kelly
CatholicView Staff:
I’m always asking God for things but its
almost like I get the opposite of what I ask for...where is God When I desperately need
Him? Am I doing something wrong when praying?
Do I have to pray the rosary but can I speak directly to Him? Please help me. I'm feeling very depressed. Thanks. - Kelly
Dear Kelly:
I am so sorry to hear that you are depressed.
Realize is that God has a reason for not giving
the things you ask for. You must trust His
wisdom and have patience. God answers ALL prayer, but sometimes the answer is
"no", sometimes it is "not yet", and other times the answer is
"yes".
We do
not know why God answers prayers in different ways except that He, being all all-wise and
all-knowing, is aware of what is the best for us – and sometimes that is to answer a
prayer in the negative. But He hears
each and every prayer.
You ask if you can pray directly to God. Of course you can pray directly to Him. He wants to hear about anything that is troubling
you. In John 14:13, Jesus Christ tells us “You can ask for
anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the
Father”.
God does not always grant what you think you
want or need. Let that judgment be made by
Him, for some things are not good for us. Our faith grows by being exercised, and faith is not
exercised when we receive everything we want (or think we need). What faith is required
when God becomes a Santa Claus – giving presents to all? It takes no faith to simply
receive presents (“miracles”) but it takes great faith to believe when you
don’t get everything you want, when you trust God completely knowing He is doing the
very best for you in all areas of your life. That is what strengthens faith.
Kelly, you are loved. Know that the Lord is with you, and whatever it is
that you want will be granted if He thinks it is right for you. Have patience and wait upon the Lord. Keep praying and moving forward in faith. Hope this helps a bit. – CatholicView
Staff
“Am I doing the wrong thing by living with my girlfriend?”
- Neil
CatholicView Staff:
My girlfriend is moving in with me very
shortly, I planned to at least be engaged before living with my partner. I haven’t had a chance to find the
right situation yet. Does this mean that I am
doing the wrong thing by living with her? -
Neil
Dear Neil:
I think you know already that you would be
living in the sin of fornication. If you do,
you are not entitled to the Sacraments of the Church.
See your priest to discuss this fully.
– CatholicView Staff
“I am pregnant but do not feel bonded to my baby.
Why doesn’t God help me?” - Me
CatholicView Staff:
I am 28 weeks pregnant; a result from my
honeymoon. My problem is, I do not feel
connected or bonded to this baby at all. To
be honest, I really do not want the baby. I feel like a horrible person. I pray to God everyday to help me but nothing
changes. I am terribly depressed and seeing a
therapist (not much help). My question is, why doesn't God help me at all with my
fears/depression etc. Most women do not feel
this way when pregnant. I dread giving birth
and taking care of a screaming baby who I secretly do not want. It’s horrible having to fake being excited to
others about this. I truly feel like this is
a nightmare I am living in. Why doesn't God
help me? - Me
Me:
I am so sorry to hear
that you are depressed about your pregnancy. And,
for some it is scary, but I praise you for asking for God’s help through prayer. Know that the Lord Who loves you understands and
is even now with you, strengthening and urging you to get more help on this issue.
God knows all
you are facing and He does hear your plea for help.
When you pray, ask Him to give you the courage to overcome your depression. Sit silently and listen for His Voice granting you
fortitude to move ahead to that beautiful child and the joy it will bring into your
life. You will find that the rewards of
undeniable love and pride will be so great it will overshadow all pain and
sacrifice.
You are a believing
Christian Catholic. Through the grace of God,
you are strong. You are not alone in this for
Jesus Christ Whom you worship is walking right along with you today and always, helping
you carry the load of fears and depression. He
promised never to leave you stranded and afraid. He
does not lie.
I am going to pray
for you now and I ask that you say a simple prayer each time you feel isolated, depressed,
and fearful. Watch the Lord come through for
you as no one else can, for He is your Heavenly Father Who loves you, Who wants you to be
happy and accepting of that little human being He is giving to your care:
“Dear God in heaven, I implore You to open Me’s
heart. Let her depression flee from her. Replace it with anticipation for the days
ahead. Let her see the gift of new life you
have chosen to give and let her be at peace with this honor. Touch her spirit and lift her up. Put joy in her heart for the here and now. Let her remember Mary, the mother of Jesus who
accepted God’s decree for her life, even though she was unmarried at that time. She, too, was afraid but she moved forward in
faith. Let Me see ahead to the moment when
her beautiful child will be placed within her arms. God,
You have a plan for Me's life, and You will make known that plan in Your own time. Let her continue in hope, let her know that You
will never leave her to despair, for You love her. I
pray that You will show her Your love and compassion, because she desperately needs
to feel it is there. We ask all this in the
name of Your Son, Jesus Christ.”
Now Me, I want you to
try to get a professional Catholic Psychiatrist to help you. Someone who believes in God as you do and will be
able to help you with experienced and Christ like understanding . Your priest will be able to help you
find someone. I will pray for you, knowing
that the God you and I serve will NEVER let you down. And so, when doubts and fears set in, say this
simple prayer or one of your choosing:
“Dear God, I
ask you to help me accept this precious gift of life You have chosen to give to me. I am so afraid and depressed. Give me the peace that only You can give. I offer this prayer in the name of Your Son Jesus
Christ. Amen”.
I will continue to
add my prayers to yours for God’s healing. God
bless you. - CatholicView Staff
"Is
there no such thing as shame anymore?
What are we to do?” - Beverly
Dear
Catholic View Staff,
I
didn't know how to post the following in the "Ask A Priest" segment and I
couldn't find if this subject had been asked or not. When I grew
up, I was very sheltered (innocent), thanks be to God and my parents. I recently
viewed Christina Aguilera's newest video "Not Myself Tonight" on the
computer the other day to see what all the hype was about. OMGosh, it was like a
porn musical. It was all about bondage (same sex, sex), a part where she
says, "I'm not the same girl and if you don't like it, f**k you" with
a hand gesture. There was also a part near the end that was so sacrilegious because
even though the dancers were dressed, it looked like an orgie in a church (or at least it
gave the appearence of one with stained glass windows.) Does she not realize
that children might be able to see this? This really upset me. Is
there no such thing as shame anymore? What are we to do? Thank you for
any help with this.
Sincerely,
Beverly
Dear Beverly:
Talk to the young in your family. Spread the news if you can about this video by
Christina Aquilera. Pray that God will
intervene.
Unfortunately the world has changed and some
things are moving rapidly and fulfilling bible prophecy.
This DOES NOT mean the end is near, for only God knows this. Jesus Christ Himself told us in the scriptures
that no one but the Father know when the end will come.
All we can do is pray that God changes the
hearts of those who sin against Him. – CatholicView Staff
"I told my husband if I die first not to marry a
certain
woman. Have I sinned?" - Jessica
CatholicView Staff:
I love my husband very much and he loves me as
well. One day I asked him that if I ever die,
I don’t want him to remarry a certain woman who dislikes me and has treated me bad. I asked this as a favor of him and he said yes and
that it wouldn’t be a problem. Have I
sinned with this request? I know this is a
very strange question but I need an answer in order to relieve my conscience. – Jessica
Dear Jessica:
No, Jessica, you have
not sinned with this request. And I can
certainly understand your human feelings. And
perhaps you feel this strongly because of how you say this woman treated you.
You do not make clear
whether this lady was your husband’s first wife or just a woman your husband knows
and admires. But be aware that if
this person is his ex-wife she may feel badly that the husband she loved at one time (or
still does) and maybe even had children together, would have strong feelings against her
replacement. This is a human response to the
pain of loss. However, if the woman is simply
someone whom you both know and you see that she has feelings for your husband and is
perhaps envious of your position as wife, then it is natural for you to feel possessive
and protective. Sadly, your letter does
not explain many things.
Those who marry will
usually not want their mates to live in sadness but hope they will find happiness once
again. Once we die, we throw off the mantle
of such feeling you are experiencing. These
things are no longer of consequence, for they are earthly.
If you know your husband is a good and faithful spouse, feel secure in this
for you are bound to each other in this life with love.
Your husband has
honored your promise. The future remains the
future and only God knows it. The Lord
understands. You did not sin. Be very happy for the love of your husband. Go forth in peace and love. – CatholicView Staff
“If God forgave me for sins committed against my
friends,
do I have to make amends to those friends too?” - Erich
CatholicView Staff:
If I go to confession and confess my sins for
those committed against my friends is it wrong for me to view my friends as un-christian
for expecting me to make amends with them if God has already forgiven me? – Erich
Erich:
Thank you for your interesting email.
As a Christian, you are expected to forgive
those who have hurt you in the past. As God
as forgiven you, you must forgive them. Read Matthew 6: 14 - 15 that reads: “If
you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your
Father will not forgive your sins."
This is your answer. Hope this helps. God
go with you, Erich. – CatholicView
Staff
“I smoke and
snus because I have a minor case of ADD.
Is this s sin?” John
CatholicView
Staff:
I smoke
and snus because I have a minor case of ADD and it allows me to put my more theoretical
thoughts into words, is it a sin? - John
John:
As I
understand it, snus is a moist powder
tobacco product originated from a variant of dry snuff in the early 19th century in
Sweden, consumed by placing it under the lip for extended periods.
John,
it isn’t a sin per se, but overindulgence in anything that is harmful to your body is
frowned upon. The reason? God has asked us to take care of our
bodies, always knowing that it is a temple for the soul.
Your body is given to you for safekeeping, not for purposely destroying it. If you know a habit is destructive to your body,
give it up. It is better that you give it up
than suffer the pains of cancer or lung disease.
You say you have a minor case of Attention
Deficit Disorder or ADD. Are you under the
supervision of a doctor? This is important! God knows what you are going through with your
health. At the same time, you must take care
of your body. I would advise that you stop
your habit of using snus to put theoretical thoughts into words.
Please consult with your priest and ask him to
advise you. God bless. – CatholicView
Staff
“Is it true
that the New Testament is the property of
the Catholic Church?” - Howard
CatholicView
Staff:
A
Methodist pastor stated that the New Testament was the property of the Catholic church,
and therefore the Catholic Church has sole authority to interpret that book. Is the New
Testament the property of the Catholic Church? -
Howard
Howard:
This
Methodist minister is wrong. The New
Testament is not the sole property of the Catholic Church.
The New Testament was written for every person for it is the account
of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and those apostles and believers who came after Him. It is open to any race, creed, or religion and all
people who want to read about the salvation Jesus Christ is offering even today as a free
gift, and what God wants us to know. The New
Testament is built on the foundation of the Old Testament where it is foretold that Christ
would come. (read Isaiah 53 for starters)
No man
owns truth. Truth is for all believers
regardless of denomination. The
Methodist minister is wrong. God go with you. – CatholicView Staff
“I was betrayed by two people and cannot get past
this.
What shall I do?” - Jeffrey
CatholicView Staff:
A little over a year ago, I was in a situation
where I was essentially betrayed by a couple of individuals whose opinions actually meant
something to me. The situation has left me
hurt, humiliated, angry and, lately, wishing to exact some sort of revenge. The thoughts of revenge are something that I will
most likely not pursue (Never say “never”), but it occupies my thoughts
constantly in increasing intervals.
The problem is that I want to forgive, forget
and move on, yet my thoughts will not let me. I
pray morning and evening (Liturgy of the Hours), read “inspirational” books and,
recently, Bernadette Soubirous has replaced Francis of Assisi as my hero because of her
passive attitude toward suffering and humiliation.
As it is, while thoughts of
suicide no longer dominate my thinking, I am constantly a very angry man and my wife is
feeling the effects of this. I need to
“get over it” and move on, but this is easier said than done. Not to mention the fact that, as a Christian, I
need to forgive. Suggestions? Jeffrey
Jeffrey:
I am so sorry to hear
that you are suffering from the betrayal of your friends.
And I am assuming that these people who hurt you are not a physical danger
for you. This is a very important point that
you must consider.
Betrayal is
something that is very hard to get past because your trust has been violated. But now it is time to move on with your life. Your friends’ actions must not dictate who
you are, and you must not let their betrayal shape your life or your marriage. As painful as it is, you must get out of this web.
Remember the betrayal
of Jesus Christ by Judas who led the soldiers to Jesus.
Sadly, Judas had been one of His own.
You must move forward
now. You have suffered because of these two
people whom you held in high regard, and whose opinions you accepted. You have over-rated their value to the point where
you have permitted their summations and their belief to overshadow the most important
point: the worth that God and His Son
Jesus Christ have placed in you.
In God’s eyes,
no man is more valuable than you. Every
person that the Lord has created is important.
God tells us to love our neighbors and our friends. These people who hurt you broke this
commandment. Those who hurt others will have
to stand in judgment someday.
But now is the time
to look ahead and not let other human beings stand taller than you. You are God’s precious and valuable commodity
just like them, so much so that you, as a Christian, will one day be accepted into eternal
heaven. And this will be the ultimate joy. In the meantime, God wants you to find peace. He wants you to turn life’s pages
and "finish the book" in peace.
Resist the need for
revenge, as it will avail you NOTHING. Satan
would like that. Yes, this is a tough
situation, yes, it is a hurtful and mean thing to be betrayed by those you trust, but
there is a way to cleanse yourself by doing the very thing that will make those
who persecuted you feel ashamed. FORGIVE
THEM! Tell them you forgive them and then
free yourself into the waiting and loving arms of our Savior, Jesus Christ. He will wipe away all your tears and you will be
the one to stand tall because you will have done the very thing God commanded, “Forgave
those who trespassed against you.”
Do not carry this
heavy burden any longer. Release it by doing
this one thing those who hurt you will not expect:
FORGIVENESS! Asking Jesus
Christ for courage, say to them “I forgive you for the hurt you have caused
me” and walk away with your head held high.
You must not expect ANYTHING in return; no apology and no words. But God, Who sees all things will be standing by
seeing it all and will bless you abundantly.
Be confident!
Give this hurt to the
Lord. Nothing is insurmountable for our
Father. Be patient and go forth now, knowing
that the Lord will heal all your wounds in His own time.
Please know that CatholicView will be praying for you. – CatholicView Staff
“I have never been baptized, attended mass, but consider
myself a Catholic. What should I do and would
clergy judge me?” - Josh
CatholicView Staff:
I have never been a spiritual person, but have
always considered myself a Catholic. I have
not been baptized or ever actually been to a Catholic service, that would include things
like confession, communion, etc.... I am
always ashamed to admit this others, for fear of judgment.
What steps do I need to take in order to actually become a better Catholic,
and would a local clergy judge me? - Josh
Dear Josh:
Sadly you are not a Catholic. Being Catholic means you have accepted and been
baptized into the faith. You would then be
able to attend mass and participate in the sacraments of the Church.
A priest would not judge you. He would invite you to take steps to become a
full fledged Catholic in good standing by attending RCIA,(Rite of Christian Initiation For
Adults) a program which introduces you to the Catholic Church and its family.
I urge you to follow through and talk to a
priest about this. You will then enjoy not
only the sacraments but you will be part of the Church membership. You will be welcomed. God bless you always. – CatholicView Staff
“For 47
years my husband abuse and cheated on me. I
feel
I am having a breakdown. Help me?” -
Kit
CatholicView
Staff:
I was 16
and he 18 when my husband and I married. We
have been married 47 yrs. He is still abusive
and has cheated twice, but he wants forgiveness. I just found out about the 2nd affair
which was 30 yrs ago. It feels like it just happened.
Our kids are grown. I feel almost hate towards him.
I know its wrong. When I look at him I can't stand him. He worked with both these women and I trusted him.
I adored him. Even with the abuse; slappings, etc..over the years. Not severe just humiliating abuse. He begs for
forgiveness now. He said the 2nd time he
couldn't tell me because I would have left. He
is from abusive home also. I feel I am having breakdown. I have been to ER a lot these
last 4 months.
Financially I can't make it alone. What can I
do?? Please, help me...thanks - Kit
Dear
Kit:
I am so
sorry to hear of your troubled marriage. It
is a terrible situation that you have endured these 47 years of your marriage. On one hand, you are miserable with your husband
and on the other, you financially cannot afford to leave him.
Have you
thought of perhaps getting a job so that you can support yourself? Or asked your grown children to intervene? Think about this possibility of living with one of
your children until you decide what you would like to do with your life. If you tell them what you have faced and
are still facing, they will open their arms to you.
Very likely they already know, but do not want to interfere.
Do not
allow your husband to continue abusing you.
I must
advise you to see your parish priest. He will
talk to you about the options you have and advise you what to do. He may also suggest a way that you can get the
professional help that you need to live a normal and peaceful life.
We will
pray that the Lord will provide the peace you seek. Our
prayers will be with you. – CatholicView
Staff
“Because Mary was a virgin, does this mean she did
not
have a vaginal birth with Jesus?” - Tenny
CatholicView Staff:
Does the belief that Mary was always a virgin
mean that she did not experience a vaginal birth with Jesus? This has been a discussion in our Bible study
group, so I want to clear it up. – Tenny
Dear Tenney:
A virgin is a female who has not known a man sexually. Any one who has not known a
man in an intimate way is a virgin. This was foretold in the bible. Please
read Matthew 1: 18-25. And yes, Jesus Christ was born in a natural way. I hope
this clears things up for you. May the Lord bless you. - CatholicView
Staff
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