I am not divorced and will have been married for 45 years in November. My husband is not religious but has always supported me in the practise of my faith and our child was raised as a Catholic. However we have been on the brink of divorce 3 times, and there are times when I regret standing firm in my faith and doing my best to keep us together. He left for another woman 3 times – 3 different women, and I often wonder whether he regrets not doing so. He says not, but … I know I have regrets. My parish priest the first time it happened told me that he had nothing to say to me, but would pray for me. I was grateful for that, but never asked for help from the church again. I have many friends who have suffered terribly because their spouses left and obtained a civil divorce, and then they were cut off from the sustenance of the Mass. I felt that that was so wrong and unjust. Having ‘celibate’ male priests only is not a good idea at all.{jcomments on}
The People Speak Out
Local voices connecting globally
This is important: to get to know people, listen, expand the circle of ideas. The world is crisscrossed by roads that come closer together and move apart, but the important thing is that they lead towards the Good. (Pope Francis) |
|
Canon Law 212 calls upon the laity to speak up:2 - The Christian faithful are free to make known to the pastors of the Church their needs, especially spiritual ones, and their desires.§3. - According to the knowledge, competence, and prestige which they possess, they have the right and even at times the duty to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church and to make their opinion known to the rest of the Christian faithful, without prejudice to the integrity of faith and morals, with reverence toward their pastors, and attentive to common advantage and the dignity of persons. |