A future conversation?

[roseofshannon]

From Dymphna’s Road:
A FUTURE CONVERSATION?

"Mama, what does pastoral mean?
It means, Child, that when your father and his new “wife” go to church the priest has to pretend that I’m dead.”

Unfortunately, this is not a FUTURE conversation, but a present one.

Here is the “Pastoral guidance” that was given to my Dad:

My Dad had affairs and left my Mom after more than 40 years of marriage.

He lives on a golf course and she lives in a mobile home…you do the math. (He told her she wouldn’t get a dime!)

My Mom applied for an annulment but it was denied.

After seeing him and his girlfriend (the one he met in an “anointed moment”, not the earlier one which was “sent by God”) frequently at daily Mass, his pastor told them that since they are clearly in love he would marry them.

So the pastor performed a “Catholic wedding” for them at morning mass–without an annulment.

My Dad has been a leader in the Church for many, many years and has photos of himself kissing Pope JPII’s ring and standing with Cardinal Ratzinger which he loves to share.

He leads a Catholic Men’s Bible Study, in his parish, gives retreats and brings communion to the sick.

As the patriarch of our family with many grandchildren, he is bringing scandal to my kids as well as many others.

I have written to him imploring him to please repent before it is too late. He is now 80 and has cancer. He responds that I am judging him and haven’t forgiven him.

I shared with him what the Catechism says, that no repentance means no mercy:

136 There are no limits to the mercy of God, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept his mercy by repenting, rejects the forgiveness of his sins and the salvation offered by the Holy Spirit.137 Such hardness of heart can lead to final impenitence and eternal loss.

I tell him that I love him, forgive him, and I don’t want any harm to come to him. I want to be in Heaven with him!

I don’t think this new development from Pope Francis will help very much.

Please friends, if you see this say a prayer for my Dad that he might have the grace to repent before he dies, and also for the priest that “married” them.

Also pray for our Dear Pope Francis, the Bishops and all the priests.

 

[Beryllos]

It is a sad story. As a general rule, I try not to assess whether someone merits salvation, or speculate on how God will judge him, but I certainly will pray for him and for all whom he may have harmed.

 

[GEddie]

It is a sad story. As a general rule, I try not to assess whether someone merits salvation, or speculate on how God will judge him, but I certainly will pray for him and for all whom he may have harmed.

It would be so much easier if we all were still taught that nobody “merits salvation”, but like a Protestant buddy once said, “we think we deserve good coffee, but all anybody really **deserves **is to go to Hell.”

And like our LORD said, Repent and sin no more!!!

Unfortunately, in this confusing “age of nuance,” possibly no-one will get the message.

ICXC NIKA

 

[roseofshannon]

It is a sad story. As a general rule, I try not to assess whether someone merits salvation, or speculate on how God will judge him, but I certainly will pray for him and for all whom he may have harmed.

Thank you, Beryllos!

No, I don’t claim to know how Jesus will judge my Dad, but I do know that some actions are dangerous to the soul and I do hope that he prepares the very best he can for the next life.

 

[roseofshannon]

It would be so much easier if we all were still taught that nobody “merits salvation”, but like a Protestant buddy once said, “we think we deserve good coffee, but all anybody really **deserves **is to go to Hell.”

And like our LORD said, Repent and sin no more!!!

Unfortunately, in this confusing “age of nuance,” possibly no-one will get the message.

ICXC NIKA

Yes, we should become as holy as possible out of humility, love for God and proper fear and reverence, rather than looking for loopholes.