Excerpts of it are provided HERE.
Posted on 02/07/2007 7:07:29 AM PST by Alex Murphy
I pray you return to the Church! One cannot be a "devout Catholic" and not attend Mass weekly brother, just a gentle reminder.
If your wife left you, that sounds like a matter beyond your control. I'm no expert in Canon Law, but it would seem to be a good case for annulment.
Yes, the CINO's make everyone sick, but again this isn't a reason to not go to Mass. By their own actions they have excommunicated themselves, whether they realize it or not, and will have to answer to God one day. Take comfort in that; not everything on this Earth is controllable, least of all blatant sinners with no desire for reconcilliation. One thing my mother always says/said to me was/is, "You can't beat truly evil people", and you can't, if you take the high road, and remain moral.
Truly evil people have no remorse, no compunction, and will do anything to keep their "appearance" up, to keep their social status, and keep their power. They will do things that a moral person CAN'T do, thus, they have more "weapons" than you or I. Their power is temporary though, which is why it's best to leave their situation to God. This doesn't mean we shouldn't resist evil, we should, but it's best to realize that in a fight, evil will probably win, in THIS world.
This isn't a defeatest attitude since this world, is not all there is, or ever will be.
Behold the crisis of the Church! Many of our hierarchy (the archbishop of Los Angeles comes to mind) promote the "social justice" gospel, while picking and choosing what they emphasize and/or downplay.
Certainly there are weak-kneed bishops who have refused to speak out to chastise the rich and powerful. That goes hand in hand with being weak-kneed on everything else, including confession and church doctrine. Pope Benedict is trying to clean house and seems to be doing a good job of rooting out the worst offenders.
There has been a serious discussion in our diocesan newsletter regarding the immigration issue. The archdiocese seems to be open to a frank discussion of all sides of the issue - and our archbishop, while a bit mealy-mouthed (he came from the USCCB, which makes most orthodox look at him a little askance), seems to recognize the problem with an outright "open border" policy, and the difference between aiding the distressed individual and aiding a political policy that just creates more distressed individuals. . .
Anyhow, the way to help fix the problem is to help fix it -- not to stand on the sidelines and complain.
The face-to-face is awful, so touchy-feely. The confessional booth, to me, reminds me that I am confessing to the LORD.
We have the option of the traditional booth, but most people go around to the back of the booth -- besides, it seems ostentatious to kneel out front. At least to me.
Besides, both of our priests know my voice pretty darn well and they know who I am anyway!
Almost all the problems in the American church have stemmed from failure or refusal to follow Church teachings.
If you read the excellent article posted yesterday by Frank Sheed - The State of the Catholic Church in the US - you will find the answer. It all boils down to the local ordinary. If there is support and encouragement for Catholics to practice this Sacrament on a regular basis, the pew sitters will respond. In my diocese, many parishes have dropped weekly Confession and instituted semi-annual Reconciliation services. The more 'orthodox' Catholics still adhere to regular Confession.
Here is a place where you can resolve all the issues posted in your comment. Please take a few minutes to visit the site.
This is an excellent point! It is also beneficial to visit the same Confessor each time. They can then offer, as you noted, spiritual direction of a personalized nature.
Yep, and it is making a comeback.
In all fairness to my parish, it's not a diocesean one. It's a Dominican parish. People from all over the diocese come here. There is a great demand for it.
My church has little rooms in lieu of the older confessionals. That is, Father is in one room, and there are two rooms on either side, with a screen to his. I love it.
I think that the clergy needs to (re)educate the laity about the whole nature of confession. The fact that this is a sacrament that confers grace on a person should make people think twice.
My BF and I are both going through annulments. The fees in my parish are underwritten by the diocese. I belive the grand total comes to less than $300 - and that includes a psychologist's review. Different parishes charge different amounts. I am not suggesting you parish-shop, but I believe that you have more than one choice in jurisdiction. Have you remarried?
If you are devout, you know the place for you is Church. The sins of others do not release you from your responsibility to abide by the Church's (i.e. Christ / Holy Spirit's) guidelines.
The American Bishops are the ones advocating open borders with no punishment for illegal immigration. I think it's out of their jurisdiction, and that there are much more important things to be concerned with in the US.
Please come back, we miss you.
"I was also most intrigued to read that Protestants frequent confession at this Church"
As was I. I had a friend who was in great need of confession (probably still is) who wanted to know if this sacrament would be available to her. In a sense, all properly-baptized (in the name of the Trinity) could perhaps be considered Catholics, but I don't think without a profession of faith or some kind of catechesis they could receive absolution. But, I don't know what the Catholic Church teaches about this. It must be covered in Canon Law or the Catechism. I'll see what I can find.
"I am a devout Catholic, in my head. I do not go to church for many reasons. One being my ex-wife divorced me, not the other way around"
If you are a devout Catholic, you already know that even though the state issues a divorce decree, you are still married in the eyes of God and His Church, and must coninue to live that as a married man and all that that entails. I have had a similar experience, and this has only brought me closer to the Church, and has been a chance for me to witness to the sanctity of marriage. We mst always seek God's will in everything, even tragedies like ours. I could not say it better than Fr. Miller who gives real Catholic teaching on this subject, not the happy-sappy stuff you're likely to enconter these days. Here's the link for anyone interested.
http://www.marysadvocates.org/miller1962.html
I'm not an expert either, but her leaving is not grounds. But there is a lot more openness in terms of mindsets at time of marriage (according to the seminars we've attended in our diocese).
My BF's ex-wife had cheated on him, divorced and remarried (all while being an ECM). It took a LOT to get him to the point that annulments are not about 'blame'.
Actually, I've had friends encounter higher rates!
Excerpts of it are provided HERE.
I practice confession myself but dont see it pushed among evangelicals - what is your experience?
Out of curiosity, did your friends encounter the higher rates in a liberal or an orthodox diocese?
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