|
|
 |
One of our colleagues, Andrew
wrote:
|
|
Hi, guys —
I am in need of some advice.
I was born into
a Catholic family and baptized at St. John's
in Joliet, Montana. My father and mother divorced
when I was four years old and my family stopped
attending church all together. I knew little
of the faith growing up, but I never got any
further than Baptism.
I joined The Mormon Church in 2001 at the
age of 19 and met my wife soon after. She
is also a convert to the Mormon Church.
God, is calling me back to the Catholic Church;
I want to return and receive the other sacraments I
missed out on, but my wife is not interested
in joining me.
She wants to remain in the CLDS,
church of Latter Day Saints.
- How can we make this work?
- Is it even possible for me to receive
the other sacraments I missed out on in
the Church?
- If so, what would I need to do?
Thanks,
Andrew
|
|
{
What should we do if I want to return to the Church but my wife wants to remain a Mormon? }
|
|
Mike
replied:
|
Hi, Andrew —
Thanks for the question.
If the Lord is calling you home to
the Church you have to follow that
call.
In the same way, you have to respect
your wife's choice to remain with
the LDS church, she has to respect
your desire to pursue full communion
with the Catholic Church.
In your situation, it appears your
parents taught you little to nothing
about the faith.
I used to run a free program that sent Catechisms to seeking Protestants and non-Christians but no longer have the financial or operational means to do this anymore. Nevertheless, if you wish to go deeper, consider buying a cheap copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church to learn everything we believe as Catholics.
It will allow you to learn about what
you missed and, most especially, be able to
share with your wife what you are
learning.
You said:
- Is it even possible
for me to receive the other sacraments
I missed out on in the Church?
Yes!, most definitely. All you have
to do is find a local Catholic parish
near you with a priest known for
his holiness and love for the Church.
He will be able to assist you in
receiving the other sacraments
of the Church. If you sense he doesn't care, just
try to find another priest or parish; pray to the Lord for assistance.
Also ask the priest what ministries
his parish has that you, and maybe
your wife, can participate in.
You said:
- If so, what would
I need to do?
- Make an appointment with him.
- Tell him you are a baptized Catholic
who has been a Mormon for a while
and you want to be a practicing Catholic
in full communion with the Catholic
Church, and
- Bring up any previous marriages that either you or your wife have had.
I will keep you and your wife in
my prayers.
Hope this helps,
Mike
|
Andrew
replied:
|
Hi Mike,
Thanks for all the information! :
)
- Would we have to go through another
marriage ceremony?
We have already been married twice
and don't feel we have to going through
another ceremony.
- Are there any other options?
Thanks,
Anonymous
|
Mary
Ann replied:
|
Hi, Andrew —
You may return to the Church.
Since
you formally joined the Mormons,
your marriage is judged as that of
a non-Catholic, and therefore valid,
as long as neither of you were married
before.
You may certainly return to the faith,
even if your wife doesn't, and you
may receive all your sacraments.
If she refuses to live in peace about
your conversion, the marriage can
be dissolved, if you wish, by something
called the Pauline Privilege, because
life in the Lord supersedes natural
life.
Mary Ann
|
|
|
|
