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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Thanks	Al	Thursday, June 7, 2007
Question: Dear Bro., I just wanted to give you a BIG THANK YOU you for your answer regarding my previous question as to whether a rape is a sin or not. In addition, I did not realize that Maria Goretti's sainthood was also due to the fact that she forgave her murderer. Al is my acronym, but I'm a woman who was scared that I committed a sin in the eyes of the Church or that if I shared my secret, even with a Catholic counselor, that I would've been judged as caving somehow. I tried to sound as objective as possible in my question so that you didn't tailor your answer to me. It's okay if you don't post this. I know it doesn't contain a question. Your answer was not what I expected and I am happy for that. I found the courage to share the experience with a counselor after I read your answer with less fear of being judged. Healing comes in unexpected ways sometimes. :) Thanks, Al
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Al: You are most welcome. I am sorry for your experience, but as I mentioned it is not the victim who sins. God loves you and the hurt from what has happened can be healed. By the way, I edited the previous post. There was one point that I needed to clarify a little, and another point where I misspoke and didn't say want I meant. I said that if St. Goretti had been raped she would not have sinned, but may not have been made saint. That was wrong. St. Goretti was a saint because she protected her consecrated virginity even to give her life. In doing that she still could have been raped by the man overcoming her. That does not depreciate that she sought and attempted to offer her life for God's consecrated virginity. The Saintly thing was that she was willing to give her life, not for herself as a woman, but for God. In addition, she forgave her murderer. So, I reworded that section. Anyway, there is no such thing a victim of rape sinning because she (or he) was raped. The responsibility is solely to the rapist. And while we are at it, there are people who sometimes say that "she deserved it" because of her behavior or dress. This is evil nonsense. Even if a woman walked down a alley in the bad part of town completely naked, that does not excuse anyone assaulting her. There is NO EXCUSE for rape EVER under any circumstances whatsoever. And that applies to stranger rape, acquaintance rape, date rape, or even a husband forcing sex upon his wife (it is still rape). We will certainly pray for you and all victims and that you (and they) may find healing and peace. And, pray for all rapists not only be held accountable, but that they will be healed of their perversion and evil. 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

Thanks

Thursday, June 7, 2007

Question:

Dear Bro.,

I just wanted to give you a BIG THANK YOU you for your answer regarding my previous question as to whether a rape is a sin or not. In addition, I did not realize that Maria Goretti's sainthood was also due to the fact that she forgave her murderer.

Al is my acronym, but I'm a woman who was scared that I committed a sin in the eyes of the Church or that if I shared my secret, even with a Catholic counselor, that I would've been judged as caving somehow. I tried to sound as objective as possible in my question so that you didn't tailor your answer to me.

It's okay if you don't post this. I know it doesn't contain a question. Your answer was not what I expected and I am happy for that. I found the courage to share the experience with a counselor after I read your answer with less fear of being judged. Healing comes in unexpected ways sometimes. :)

Thanks,
Al

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Al:

You are most welcome. I am sorry for your experience, but as I mentioned it is not the victim who sins. God loves you and the hurt from what has happened can be healed.

By the way, I edited the previous post. There was one point that I needed to clarify a little, and another point where I misspoke and didn't say want I meant.

I said that if St. Goretti had been raped she would not have sinned, but may not have been made saint. That was wrong. St. Goretti was a saint because she protected her consecrated virginity even to give her life. In doing that she still could have been raped by the man overcoming her. That does not depreciate that she sought and attempted to offer her life for God's consecrated virginity. The Saintly thing was that she was willing to give her life, not for herself as a woman, but for God. In addition, she forgave her murderer. So, I reworded that section.

Anyway, there is no such thing a victim of rape sinning because she (or he) was raped. The responsibility is solely to the rapist.

And while we are at it, there are people who sometimes say that "she deserved it" because of her behavior or dress. This is evil nonsense.

Even if a woman walked down a alley in the bad part of town completely naked, that does not excuse anyone assaulting her. There is NO EXCUSE for rape EVER under any circumstances whatsoever. And that applies to stranger rape, acquaintance rape, date rape, or even a husband forcing sex upon his wife (it is still rape).

We will certainly pray for you and all victims and that you (and they) may find healing and peace. And, pray for all rapists not only be held accountable, but that they will be healed of their perversion and evil.

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