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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Catholic evangalizing for Non-Catholics	Chas	Monday, March 9, 2009
Question: Dear Bro. What do you tell a young person to has grown up Catholilc, still attends the Catholic Church every Sunday and goes to communion however, he also attends worship services at a non-denominatiional church because he likes their bible studies? He also goes out with friends from that church to the streets and talks to people about Jesus, which in itself it not wrong, however, he invites people to go visit that particular non-denominational Church. He said that the CC should have more door-to-door evangelizing, as that is what the disciples of Jesus did, instead of just from the pulpit. He started attending FCA meetings in college, found a girlfriend who was not catholic and would take her to Sunday Mass but then would go to her church. I have explained to him the danger he is putting himself in if he ever stops attending Mass and going to non-denominational services. He also believes that there is no need for people to get married in a church because he cites "...wherever two are more are gathered, there I am in the midst of them" and he feels that is all that necessary for two people to make a commitment to marriage. Thanks and God Bless.
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Chas: Sorry for the delay in responding. Well, I am not sure you can tell a "young person" anything The one thing that this person needs to know, beyond what you have already told him is that if he does not believe in the Sacrament of Marriage (that is, marriage in Church), then he has placed himself outside the communion of the Catholic Church. He should, therefore, not be receiving the Eucharist. Receiving communion means that a person is "in communion" with the Church. That means that the person believes all that the Church proposes to the faithful as required for belief. Sacramental Marriage (in Church) is one of those requirements. If he does not believe that then he needs to have the integrity to stop receiving the Eucharist. For him to receive the Eucharist when he has these sorts of view constitutes a lie. He is a liar. By receiving the Eucharist he is attesting to his assent to Catholic teaching. Since he is not assenting to Catholic Teaching on Marriage, it is a lie to pretend to be in communion by receiving the Eucharist when he is not in fact in communion. More than that, to receive our Lord in the Eucharist when we are lying about our assent to Catholic teaching is to abuse our Lord. St. Paul said that some people get sick and some even die when they receive the Eucharist unworthily (1 Cor 11:27-30). If he wishes to disagree with the Church, that is his business and his choice. But, he needs to be a man and take responsibility for his choices and the consequences of his choices -- and that means he needs to stop receiving the Eucharist until such time as he can reconcile himself to the Church's teaching on Marriage (and on any other issue he rejects or doubts). God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Catholic evangalizing for Non-Catholics

Chas

Monday, March 9, 2009

Question:

Dear Bro. What do you tell a young person to has grown up Catholilc, still attends the Catholic Church every Sunday and goes to communion however, he also attends worship services at a non-denominatiional church because he likes their bible studies? He also goes out with friends from that church to the streets and talks to people about Jesus, which in itself it not wrong, however, he invites people to go visit that particular non-denominational Church. He said that the CC should have more door-to-door evangelizing, as that is what the disciples of Jesus did, instead of just from the pulpit.

He started attending FCA meetings in college, found a girlfriend who was not catholic and would take her to Sunday Mass but then would go to her church.

I have explained to him the danger he is putting himself in if he ever stops attending Mass and going to non-denominational services. He also believes that there is no need for people to get married in a church because he cites "...wherever two are more are gathered, there I am in the midst of them" and he feels that is all that necessary for two people to make a commitment to marriage.

Thanks and God Bless.

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Chas:

Sorry for the delay in responding.

Well, I am not sure you can tell a "young person" anything

The one thing that this person needs to know, beyond what you have already told him is that if he does not believe in the Sacrament of Marriage (that is, marriage in Church), then he has placed himself outside the communion of the Catholic Church. He should, therefore, not be receiving the Eucharist.

Receiving communion means that a person is "in communion" with the Church. That means that the person believes all that the Church proposes to the faithful as required for belief. Sacramental Marriage (in Church) is one of those requirements.

If he does not believe that then he needs to have the integrity to stop receiving the Eucharist. For him to receive the Eucharist when he has these sorts of view constitutes a lie. He is a liar. By receiving the Eucharist he is attesting to his assent to Catholic teaching. Since he is not assenting to Catholic Teaching on Marriage, it is a lie to pretend to be in communion by receiving the Eucharist when he is not in fact in communion.

More than that, to receive our Lord in the Eucharist when we are lying about our assent to Catholic teaching is to abuse our Lord. St. Paul said that some people get sick and some even die when they receive the Eucharist unworthily (1 Cor 11:27-30).

If he wishes to disagree with the Church, that is his business and his choice. But, he needs to be a man and take responsibility for his choices and the consequences of his choices -- and that means he needs to stop receiving the Eucharist until such time as he can reconcile himself to the Church's teaching on Marriage (and on any other issue he rejects or doubts).

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum