Chad Riddle
wrote:
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Hi, guys —
My name is Chad Riddle. I was raised Protestant but am feeling
strongly drawn to the Catholic faith and have been going
to Mass. Perhaps I should address this question to my local
priest, however, he has:
- a heavy load at the Catholic School
- a large parish
- health problems, etc.
Here's some background:
My wife is, somewhat, not fully, resistant to our joining
the Church. My first wife died at age 24 due to cancer. My
current wife is divorced and has to write a sort of essay
concerning her first marriage in order for us to be married
in the Church and receive Communion.
I love her dearly and could not
divorce her. I just do not think the Lord would approve of such a
horrible action on my part just to receive Communion. We are
older and only have sex a few times a year — less than once
a month. I don't want to join the Church without her but neither do
I wish to remain outside the Church.
- If I agreed to abstain from sex, could I be admitted to the Church
and receive Communion?
I believe my wife could accept this
without feeling that, somehow, I did not love her. I think
she would understand that I must love God first, and that
only by placing God first, can I truly love her.
- Am I just stuck or is there a way I can join the Church and receive the sacraments?
Thanks, and
Vaya con Dios
Chad
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{
If I agreed to abstain from sex, could I be admitted to the Church
and receive Communion? }
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Eric replied:
Hi Chad,
There should be a way with abstinence to be received into the Church, if your
wife is unable to receive an annulment, but you will have to talk to your
priest about it.
Your situation can only be handled by him.
Eric
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John replied:
Hi Chad,
It's wonderful that the Holy Spirit is calling you to the fullness of the
faith found only in the Catholic Church.
Rather than address your question directly, I'd rather understand your
wife's hesitation.
In addition, becoming a Catholic is not just a matter
of receiving Communion. For one thing,
the Eucharist is none other than
the Person of Jesus Christ: His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity
under the appearance of Bread and Wine. It is not just a symbolic representation.
Secondly,
one becomes a Catholic because they have come to believe the Catholic
Church is the Church founded by Christ on the Apostles, with Peter as the
Chief Apostle. When one enters the Church, one professes the One Faith
handed down by Christ through the Apostles and their successors.
So my advice to you is, to continue to seek to enter the Church together,
for the sake
of both of you.
I would agree that there might be an allowance if you both agree to practice
abstinence,
but if your wife is granted an annulment, that won't be
necessary.
John
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Fr. Jonathan replied:
Mike —
Tell Chad I would:
- Go to the priest — or another priest
- If his wife is not baptized this would be easier — is that the case?
The answer to his question about whether or not he can come in with that is an internal forum question, meaning it is not something we can answer but something he needs to speak about with the priest — so, once again, go to the priest.
Fr. Jonathan
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