Courage
Dear Catholic Exchange:
There is an answer to the homosexual priest scandals in the Church and it is called “Courage“. Courage is 100% Church-sanctioned. Please consider its usefulness at this crossroad of history.
It would be wonderful if Our Lord would at this time inspire our nation's Bishops to promote Fr. John Harvey's Organization, “Courage”, that he has put so much blood, sweat, and tears into!
Joy Vonkalen
Dear Ms. Vonkalen,
We are well aware of this fine organization and thank you for pointing out its special relevance at this time.
In JMJ,
Tom Allen
Editor & President
Catholic Exchange
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Towards a Healthy Sexuality
Dear Catholic Exchange:
I just wanted to comment concerning the article “A Business Called Home – The Poison of Contraception”. I have witnessed first-hand the effects of contraception in my siblings' and friend's marriages. It is a poison that stops the flow of God's grace in their lives. I pray that more will be said about the truth the Catholic Church teaches concerning contraception and that people's hearts will be open to the truth. Thank you for this wonderful illustration.
Diane Holub
Dear Mrs. Holub:
Thank you for your feedback. We're pleased to be able to open people's minds to the beauty and truth of the Catholic Church's teaching on human sexuality. We're fortunate to have talented writers like Christy Wall to help communicate these truths.
In Christ,
Tom Allen
Editor & President
Catholic Exchange
Discerning Conversion
Dear Catholic Exchange:
I need some advice. I know I need to see a priest, but I am having car problems, so that is difficult to do right now. I am dissatisfied with the mainline Protestant church I am attending now, as is my husband. He has suggested either moving our membership to another church in the same denomination, or going to either a large or small non-denominational church. Personally, I'd rather go to a Catholic Church, but he's not interested and our marriage is the biggest obstacle to my conversion.
Our current church sometimes substitutes skits or music for a sermon (even a 5 minute sermon would satisfy me). At our local parish I sometimes have trouble with the sermon, due to being tired after working all day (on Saturday) and the priest's accent (he was born in India and is sometimes hard to understand). But I know it's a real sermon and even though I can't go to communion I know it's there.
I feel a peace kneeling in the pew that is not there while sitting in a Protestant church. I am tempted to say that I will go to X church with him on Sunday if I can go to Mass on Saturday, but I don't know if that's a good idea.
I will continue to pray about this, and maybe you could offer some suggestions.
Thanks.
Kathy
Dear Kathy:
The best thing would be to proceed slowly, but to proceed. If you choose to become Catholic, you will be asked, when you are received, to make the following oath: “I believe all that the Catholic Church believes, teaches, and proclaims is revealed by God.” In order to do that honestly (and God will be your witness) you have to educate yourself in the Faith so that you can make that profession with conviction.
As a convert myself, I know that this can be done and am persuaded that the Catholic Church does in fact believe, teach and proclaim what is revealed by God. But typically, converts have to work through their questions and difficulties too. So I would suggest you contact Catholic Answers and see if they can recommend a good RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) program in your area.
Of course, all this presupposes that you will be discussing this with your husband and working out whatever arrangement between you two is to your liking. Ideally, you both would investigate the Church together. But if not, I hope he will not object to your investigating it on your own. Both of you are, of course, bound to follow your consciences.
Oh, and one last thing: be sure you are going to the Catholic Church and not simply running away from what's wrong with your current church. The goal is to approach the Church with a teachable heart, not with a bunch of complaints about your last church. Some converts don't figure this one out and, when they discover the Catholic Church is not perfect, simply transfer their old grievances to their new circumstances. It makes for a most unhappy life.
Blessings on your search! May God guide you and your husband by the power of the Holy Spirit!
Mark Shea
Senior Content Editor
Catholic Exchange
