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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Can dissenting Catholics still receive graces at Holy Mass?	Carol	Monday, January 19, 2009
Question: I recently watched a televised lecture by Fr. John Corapi on Spiritual Warfare in which the priest discussed ways Satan tries to disable the faithful, take them out of the war. Fr. Corapi discussed how Catholics automatically excommunicate themselves, lose sanctifying grace, when they reject essential Church teachings. I've seen polls suggesting that up to 75% of Catholics who attend weekly Mass report that they do not accept Church teachings on birth control, abortion, and other serious matters. I know and love so many seemingly devout Catholics who fall into this catagory, and it is very upsetting to think that they could be spiritually dead despite how often they pray, talk about their faith, and go to Mass. I suppose only God knows for sure if they really are excommunicated, but it is awful to even consider. Even though these Catholics do say they go to reconcilliation, they persist in saying they don't agree with the Church on certain points. What if they are so blinded by pride that they don't think to confess their rebellion? Can going to reconcilliation still help them? And what happens to Catholics who are, indeed, spiritually dead and devoid of sanctifying grace when they attend Mass? Do they receive any spiritual graces or benefits at all from going to Mass or participating in other aspects of the Catholic faith, such as making the sign of the cross or using sacramentals?
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Carol: If a person obstinately doubts or rejects a dogma required for belief as a Catholic they are then heretics and are automatically excommunicated. Other automatic excommunications are applied for schism, apostasy, procured abortion, sacrilege of the Blessed Sacrament, and a few others. There are other teachings, such as on birth control, fornication, remarriage without an annulment, that are not heresies and do not suffer automatic excommunication, but do command assent of faith. When people reject these teachings they may not be excommunicatred, but they are barred from the Sacraments. If a person refuses to conform to teachings of the Church, then they must stop receiving the Eucharist. Reconciliation is only valid if they confess all their sins and are willing to repent of those sins. If they are not willing to conform to teachings on such things like abortion, birth control, fornication, etc. then their confessions are not valid and they remain in sin. They might be able to fool the priest, but they cannot fool God. If a priest knows about the refusal to repent then he is required withhold absolution. Those who persist in their sin and rebellion, flipping their nose at God, will not receive any sanctifying grace at Mass or ordinary grace. They have shut themselves off to God's grace. They can rectify that by submitting their pride to God and His Church and making a good confession. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

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Can dissenting Catholics still receive graces at Holy Mass?

Carol

Monday, January 19, 2009

Question:

I recently watched a televised lecture by Fr. John Corapi on Spiritual Warfare in which the priest discussed ways Satan tries to disable the faithful, take them out of the war. Fr. Corapi discussed how Catholics automatically excommunicate themselves, lose sanctifying grace, when they reject essential Church teachings.

I've seen polls suggesting that up to 75% of Catholics who attend weekly Mass report that they do not accept Church teachings on birth control, abortion, and other serious matters. I know and love so many seemingly devout Catholics who fall into this catagory, and it is very upsetting to think that they could be spiritually dead despite how often they pray, talk about their faith, and go to Mass. I suppose only God knows for sure if they really are excommunicated, but it is awful to even consider.

Even though these Catholics do say they go to reconcilliation, they persist in saying they don't agree with the Church on certain points. What if they are so blinded by pride that they don't think to confess their rebellion? Can going to reconcilliation still help them?

And what happens to Catholics who are, indeed, spiritually dead and devoid of sanctifying grace when they attend Mass? Do they receive any spiritual graces or benefits at all from going to Mass or participating in other aspects of the Catholic faith, such as making the sign of the cross or using sacramentals?

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Carol:

If a person obstinately doubts or rejects a dogma required for belief as a Catholic they are then heretics and are automatically excommunicated. Other automatic excommunications are applied for schism, apostasy, procured abortion, sacrilege of the Blessed Sacrament, and a few others.

There are other teachings, such as on birth control, fornication, remarriage without an annulment, that are not heresies and do not suffer automatic excommunication, but do command assent of faith. When people reject these teachings they may not be excommunicatred, but they are barred from the Sacraments.

If a person refuses to conform to teachings of the Church, then they must stop receiving the Eucharist. Reconciliation is only valid if they confess all their sins and are willing to repent of those sins. If they are not willing to conform to teachings on such things like abortion, birth control, fornication, etc. then their confessions are not valid and they remain in sin. They might be able to fool the priest, but they cannot fool God.

If a priest knows about the refusal to repent then he is required withhold absolution.

Those who persist in their sin and rebellion, flipping their nose at God, will not receive any sanctifying grace at Mass or ordinary grace. They have shut themselves off to God's grace. They can rectify that by submitting their pride to God and His Church and making a good confession.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.