Posted on 03/30/2019 8:12:59 AM PDT by Salvation
Question: I had reason to hope my niece was going to convert to the Catholic faith. But there were so many obstacles the Church set up that discouraged her. She was asked to go to classes, and they told her that her marriage was not valid and she would need an annulment. Further, it was necessary to wait until Easter, etc. The nearby evangelical church set up no such obstacles, and she was able to join at once and be considered a member. I hear so much talk of evangelization today, but I share my niece’s frustration. Can we not streamline this process?
— Name withheld
Answer: There is a kind of appealing simplicity that you describe in many Protestant denominations. But there are problems with the approach that should give us pause. Ultimately evangelization is more about conversion than mere membership. We are summoned to embrace the saving teaching of the Lord and to walk according to it.
Because adults make informed decisions, the Church considers it important to teach them the fundamentals of the Faith so that they can know what it is they are agreeing to when they enter the Church. Although some of the Scriptures portray an almost instant, on-the-spot baptism, the consensus in the early Church shifted to a lengthy, three-year period of instruction (called the catechumenate) prior to baptism. This likely was because of the insight that quick conversions often led to quick departures or a falling away when the true demands of discipleship became known.
Instructions are most insisted upon for those who are unbaptized. In the case of those who are baptized and come from different Protestant denominations, the length and content of instructions will depend on their background. It is up to the discretion of the pastor who discerns with each individual what is needed. It is certainly not required for those already baptized to “wait until next Easter.”
The concerns about a person’s marital status are rooted in the very words and teachings of Jesus himself. He teaches without ambiguity that for a person to marry, then divorce and enter another marriage, puts them in an ongoing state of adultery in the “new” marriage (cf. Mt 5:32; Mt 19:1-9; Mk 10:11-12; Lk 16:18, etc). He adds rather firmly, “What God has joined together, let no one divide” (Mt 19:9).
It will be further noted that when the Lord was evangelizing the woman at the well, he brought her to a moment of conversion, and she asked for the gift of faith. But the Lord Jesus saw fit to first raise with her the fact that she had been married five times and was now living with a man outside of marriage. Her conversion would not be complete or adequate until she was willing to live chastely. Then the graces could flow.
For reasons of their own, many Protestant denominations have decided to practically overlook such passages. But the Catholic Church takes the Lord’s teaching on these matters rather seriously, as he clearly intended that we should. In some cases, after an investigation based on evidence, the Church may use its power to bind and loose, to indicate that the previous marriage was not “what God has joined,” and it recognizes the first marriage as null. A person’s current marriage then can be blessed and recognized. But we simply cannot set the Lord’s words aside as if they were of little importance.
Thus some conversions to the Catholic faith will take some time to be faithful to the teachings of the Lord and the nature of true conversion. It is worth the diligence required.
There is not one verse of Scripture that ever refers to the concept of an *invalid* marriage.
That is simply a man fabricated idea that turned out to be quite the money maker for Catholicism.
No church ever has, does not now, nor ever will, save a soul. The blood of Christ is the ONLY thing that washes one clean. We are washed in the blood of Christ when we receive him, saved to the uttermost forever.
The added requirement for salvation of joining some church is false doctrine that is twice cursed in Galatians 1:8-9.
Being divorced doesn’t leave anyone out of the church or sacraments. The only thing you can’t do is be married again. Ypu really have erroneous ideaa about all things Catholic
Great story.
I believe I was replying to one of your fellow Catholics who said anullmemts are easy. Take it up with them
Your comment: “Then why does Roman Catholicism grant church sanctioned divorce.”
So you continue to make false statements about the Catholic Church. Jesus warned us about false preachers.
Annulments are not divorces, but a review to determine if the marriage is valid. I do not know, nor do you know the details of these reviews and determinations, even for Kennedy.
It many be appropriate to review the 8th commandment. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”
Perhaps you should discuss your own first marriage and divorce if you so firmly believe in the teachings of Jesus Christ about marriage?
Sure, I'll go there. Jesus is everywhere. Whether or not the monster listens to His whispers or his commands is THE issue in all of this debate.
Every sin ranging from the abhorrent like priests molesting little boys, taking a bite out of the forbidden fruit, televangelists using God as a way of gaining financially, politicians helping themselves to the detriment of those they are supposed to represent, to the small like eating your brother's Halloween candy and lying that you didn't have a beer last night, emanates from a conscious turning away from our Lord. Flip Wilson may have said "The devil made me do it" but we all understand who controls one's own hands, and that freewill is a gift.
When Obama was President, many of us fully understood that the guy running the Executive Branch doesn't ipso facto stand for us or our values or our traditions. He is a man who bleeds red like me and you, and is susceptible to error and good old fashioned stupidity.
Any and every Catholic has the same grounded understanding about the Church, from the Pope all the way down to the choir director. There is a right way and a wrong way. Man has proven himself capable of error, and man will twist The Word to make himself happy...but you cannot ignore the Truth.
When Obama was president for eight years, I didn't move to Canada or Switzerland and revoke my citizenship. I'm an American. Similarly, I am a Catholic regardless of who the Cardinals elected as the Pope or who is serving Mass down the Street. Why? Because my salvation is not negotiable or subject to the whims of this or that guy saying that Global Warming is as important an issue as sin and abortion, or that horribly sinful actions on the part of priests is due to clericalism.
Sure, some people will happily follow any leader, be they Catholic, Protestant, or Druid. But there IS a yuge difference between following the intent of the Constitution and using the Commerce Clause to regulate local matters. Similarly, to assume every Catholic gives a cheery two-thumbs up to error is akin to saying that everyone on FR was perfectly peachy with Obama.
Thanks for listening.
Untrue.
If there marriage never happened in the first place, then Roman Catholicism consigns everyone not married by a Catholic priest to be in the state of adultery.
Their holier-than-thouness is showing.
How odd that they take the moral high ground, from Roman Catholicism, no less.
I think you’re being facetious.
I think you’re being facetious.
The Holy Spirit is present in the Catholic Church.
Have you ever attended a Catholic Mass? The Holy Spirit is called down two times by the priest.
I understand the concept. You would deny those that are divorced often through no fault of their own a chance to have a happy and loving relationship unless your church approves of their divorce. I have seen the injury inflicted on such people by your church. I decry the hypocrisy that divorce and remarriage is ok for some and not others.
I think you’re being facetious.
Specifics?
We are all sinners. Our sins can be forgiven.
As it the Holy Spirit obeys your priests? The Holy Spirit is present where ever believers are gathered in His name not where summoned by a priest.
Some annulments have minimal charges. Please check the facts? Where are you getting this mistaken information?
Apparently by everyone but the Catholic Church if you are divorced and want to remarry
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.