|
Hi, Clinton —
Thanks for the question.
You said:
The best answer is it depends, based on whether she was catechized correctly or not.
If she has been catechized correctly
on what marriage is, in the Catholic
sense, yet refuses to follow the
Church's teachings, then it would
appear she has decided to renounce
Christ and the Teachings of His Church.
As a baptized Catholic with free
will, she has the right to do this,
but it's not what is best for her
or you. I would say she is no more
Catholic than Nancy Pelosi and other
pro-abortion advocates are.
If she has not been catechized appropriately,
it's another issue.
In this situation, I would encourage
both of you to make an appointment
with a priest or the pastor at a
local Catholic parish in order to
rectify the situation. (Talking with
a priest will give you a better understanding
of what marriage is from a Catholic viewpoint and what it entails.)
Having doubts on teachings is OK
and natural; nevertheless we strive
to correctly understand, comprehend and follow, by
our actions, the teachings.
Ultimately, even if we have doubts
on certain teachings, we trust the
Church because we trust Jesus! — True God and True Man, who can neither
deceive nor be deceived.
You said:
- If so, what would she need to do to get back into the Church and do I need to join the Catholic Church so that she can receive Holy Communion?
I have considered becoming
Catholic but I must admit I have
my reservations, being raised in
a slightly different faith.
No, you don't need to join the Church
so she can receive Holy Communion. If you wish to get your marriage convalidated or blessed by the Church, you would have to agree not to interfere with the obligation of your Catholic spouse to raise the children of your love as Catholics. She should make an appointment
with the pastor to talk about your
situation and at
least go to Confession,
mentioning any previous and current lifestyle situations in contrast with the Church teachings as well as any
other mortal sins, before receiving
Holy Communion.
If you are from a non-denominational
church background Clinton, I would
encourage you to study what the Catholic
Church teaches and believes. You
will also be able to verify that
we are the only Church that can trace
it's roots back to 33 A.D.
I have a great team here who know far more than I do. I just bring their answers to one central location. We have answered over 5,952 questions
about the Catholic faith and have won 4 awards for our work in over 20 years.
I encourage you to search our knowledge base for any questions you have.
Any questions you can't find, just ask us. That is why we are here!
If you wish to go deeper, I would encourage you to consider buying a cheap copy of the Catechism of the Catholic Church to learn everything we believe as Catholics.
Hope this helps,
Take care my brother Christian!
Mike
|
