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Hi Gina,
Thanks for the question.
- Yes, you are still a Catholic, and
- Yes, you may still get married in the Church, assuming neither you nor your husband had been previously married.
If either of you were, the Church would have to see whether either of you had entered into a previously valid marriage so you may have to petition for an annulment. Your pastor can help you.
While what you were told about receiving Holy Communion was correct, no one is culpable for something they were not aware of, so don't worry about it. Talk to your pastor and, assuming your husband is willing to go along, ask to have your marriage convalidated in the Church. The pastor or priest will be able to guide you appropriately. Once this is done, you will be able to receive Holy Communion at Mass with a clean conscience.
God does not hate anyone; He loves everyone. He only hates sin because of how it hurts us, the ones He loves so much. He also understands our inclination to evil due to the remnants of our Baptism. Going to the Sacrament of Confession on a regular basis is the best way to keep any inclination to evil in check.
You said:
- Am I still a Catholic or am I going to Hell?
St. Teresa of Avila tells us: There is no love in Hell. so if there is a continuing love for God in your heart, you can have a moral certainty, as opposed to an absolute certainty, you won't go to Hell.
Nevertheless, as Catholic Christians we have to strive to persevere to the end and this can be tough especially in this anti-Christian, sex-saturated culture.
I hope this helps,
Mike
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