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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Temptation	yvette	Sunday, June 1, 2014
Question: Dear Brother, One time I felt an attraction over a priest. Since I felt that was a sin I confessed it to another priest which told me the feelings I had was a temptation. He said that if I long for him that was the sin. Was this priest right?
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD Dear Yvette: Yes, the priest is correct. A temptation is not in itself a sin. But, if we indulge the temptation then we sin. In the scenario you present a fleeting thought, temptation of attraction is not sinful. But, if you lust after him, which means any one or more of the following such as longing for him, or ruminating about your attraction to him, or fantasizing about him, etc. that is sin—lusting for him in your heart, as Jesus put it. You can resist this temptation because God says you can. God will not allow any temptation to come into your life if it were impossible for you to resist. God will always give you a way to resist the temptation. This is a promise of God, and God keeps his promises, He does not lie. Thus, the follow promise is either true or God is a liar: (1 Cor 10:13) "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it." God keeps this promise. If you are tempted you know for a fact that you can resist it because God says so and God does not lie. It is up to you, however, whether or not you accept God's "way of escape." He will provide you with that way of escape but He will not force you to accept it. You must choose to accept God's escape from temptation. We will be in prayer for you. 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

Temptation

yvette

Sunday, June 1, 2014

Question:

Dear Brother, One time I felt an attraction over a priest. Since I felt that was a sin I confessed it to another priest which told me the feelings I had was a temptation. He said that if I long for him that was the sin. Was this priest right?

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OMSM(r), LTh, DD

Dear Yvette:

Yes, the priest is correct. A temptation is not in itself a sin. But, if we indulge the temptation then we sin. In the scenario you present a fleeting thought, temptation of attraction is not sinful. But, if you lust after him, which means any one or more of the following such as longing for him, or ruminating about your attraction to him, or fantasizing about him, etc. that is sin—lusting for him in your heart, as Jesus put it.

You can resist this temptation because God says you can. God will not allow any temptation to come into your life if it were impossible for you to resist. God will always give you a way to resist the temptation. This is a promise of God, and God keeps his promises, He does not lie. Thus, the follow promise is either true or God is a liar:

(1 Cor 10:13) "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your strength, but with the temptation will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."

God keeps this promise. If you are tempted you know for a fact that you can resist it because God says so and God does not lie. It is up to you, however, whether or not you accept God's "way of escape." He will provide you with that way of escape but He will not force you to accept it. You must choose to accept God's escape from temptation.

We will be in prayer for you.

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