Abortion vs. War: How Should I Vote?

[LittleSoldier]

To all thread participants:

I appreciate all your efforts to help me, but I haven’t seen any links or other references to official Church teaching.

I need to know what the Church teaches.

Thank you.

I am having serious computer problems and don’t know if I will be able to access the Internet (it took me an hour today). I will be back but I don’t know if I can be back later today or tomorrow. I may need a new modem. Sorry.

 

[lufty]

Not according to Church teaching. The five issues that I mentioned previously ([1] embryonic stem cell research, [2] same-sex marriages, [3] euthanasia, [4] human cloning and [5] ABORTION) are Non-Negotiable for Catholic voters.

Please provide an official Church law that specifically states that Church teaching demands specific Democratic voting behavior.

 

[mary_bobo]

Please provide an official Church law that specifically states that Church teaching demands specific Democratic voting behavior.

Don’t think the Church mentions Democrats at all in their pronouncements of Church teachings.

 

[mary_bobo]

I remember the first time I ever heard Catholics saying moral issues are not “black and white”. What followed was a lot more black than white.

The above is the same stuff we heard before the election from the DNC “Catholic operatives”. (They actually had an organization to mislead prolife Catholics) Bush actually did reverse a lot of the “march toward abortion” path this country was on. But it was like turning the Queen Mary around through a sand dune, so pervasive was the abortion mindset. Had a prolife president been elected in 2008, there would now be a prolife majority on the Court. But Obama was elected, so we now still have a pro-abortion majority on the Court. I’m not sure how more clear that could be, realizing as I do that Democrats like to argue that, e.g., Alito or Roberts or Scalia is “not reallyl prolife”, and twist and turn to make it seem plausible.

I’m not a Republican. Been a Democrat all my life, but I’m not going to self-induce moral blindness for partisan reasons. Nor am I going to pretend the Democrat party of my youth is the same as the Democrat party now. It isn’t even close. The Democrat party is “living off its patrimony” of having crafted social and economic policies that were pragmatic and actually made some difference years ago. The Democrat party now does nothing for “the poor” (Where is the Democrat bill to raise SSI benefits; the miserable $600/month the disabled needy have to try to live on? Nowhere. Not even in Obama’s speeches.) Oh yes, there is that healthcare debacle whose end product no one knows; an attempt at a middle class welfare program. (and not even for all of them) The Democrat party of today stands for nothing but wealth transfers (chiefly to the government) and abortion. I’ll grant, some few like Blanche Lincoln, are now starting to rebel rather timorously from the first, and that’s a good thing. But they aren’t retreating from the second.

So, the Republicans have come tardily to a realization that the voters want at least some curbs on abortion-on-demand? Well then, condemn them for not having the right policy in 1973. Condemn the Democrat party for not having the right policy in 2010.

Yes, yes, we all know the DNC mantra that the Repubs are “using” the faithful Catholics and fundamentalists (though some argue it’s the other way around, interestingly enough) but are cynical about abortion themselves. But we also know the Democrat party is utterly wedded to abortion on demand. It’s in the party platform, and their leader is totally supportive of abortion-on-demand. Totally.

It may be taken as instructive that NARAL gives high marks to Democrats, including to Obama, and gives low marks to Republicans in general. Abortion is NARAL’s business; it’s their bread and butter, and they spend all their time figuring out who supports abortion and who opposes it. It’s difficult to imagine better evidence than that.

When it comes to “black and white”, it’s time for prolife people to ignore those who argue that black is white and white is black. Illusory talk about 'helping the poor" is a poor whitewash for the blackness of heart that favors abortion on demand and embryonic stem cell research.

:clapping::clapping::clapping: Extremely well put, Ridge.

 

[lufty]

Don’t think the Church mentions Democrats at all in their pronouncements of Church teachings.

OK, so you are saying that the Church has specific laws on how Catholics are to vote? Please provide me this law.

 

[Ridgerunner]

OK, so you are saying that the Church has specific laws on how Catholics are to vote? Please provide me this law.

I’m not sure what you’re asking. Are you thinking the Church has some law saying “vote Democrat” or “Vote Republican” or something like that? It doesn’t have anything like that.

I almost hesitate to post at all because, during and after the election this was massively and repeatedly documented, and I didn’t copy and paste it to storage, so it would take a great deal of research to retrieve all of those citations; most of which were not provided by me in the first place.

Having said that, and hoping perhaps that someone will have kept all that (it would take pages on here to cite it all), what the Church really says about voting is this:

1. We have a moral duty to do it.
2. In doing it, we have a duty to become as well informed as we can, and to act morally.
3. In voting, we must avoid supporting evils and must, in fact, oppose them.
4. Among the evils which will confront us in doing so are the inherent evils of abortion and embryonic stem cell research, resulting, as they do, in the deliberate and in no way self-defensive termination of innocent human life.
5. We cannot vote for a supporter of those things without acting immorally, unless there is a proportionate reason for doing so. “Proportionate” means something of greater inherent moral gravity.
6. Pope Benedict and Pope John Paul II both gave examples where there is no proportionality, but did not apply it to U.S. elections specifically.
7. Numerous bishops and priests have applied it to the 2008 presidential election and found all other then-current issues not to be proportionate.

It isn’t as simple as a straight up decree that one could not vote for, e.g., Obama in good conscience. But applying the Church’s teachings, many, including many bishops and me, concluded that one could not. No U.S. bishop of whom I am aware, concluded otherwise.

That’s my statement about it. If you’re looking for the deluge of supporting documentation, I expect someone else will have to provide it. As I mentioned before, I did not save it out. Having said that, one could always review the Catechism of the Catholic Church online. One will find there that the Church defines abortion as a grave evil. (Section 2271, I think, but you can search for it if I’m wrong) One will also find that in exercising one’s civic duties one must not support evils but must oppose them.

 

[Jermosh]

Please provide an official Church law that specifically states that Church teaching demands specific Democratic voting behavior.

There is none that I know of, IMHO abortion is only a political platform for politicians to gain votes anymore anyways.

“Vote for me, I am anti-abortion, you need to follow your conscience, vote for me”. While they seem to do this or that, make some headlines, in reality they do squat and even make it worse. Makes you almost feel dirty almost. This is was one of the attractions of Hillary in that she was not afraid of telling what she was for, and instead of skeletons in her closet she had dinner with them.

 

[Sir_Knight]

Thank you for your response. I appreciate the first part. Would you please provide a reference for this teaching? Thank you…

Please provide an official Church law that specifically states that Church teaching demands specific Democratic voting behavior.

This has been covered during the 2008 election, 2004 election, etc. To summarize …
The Second Vatican Council affirmed the Church’s traditional teaching on abortion and made the Catholic position abundantly clear: “From the moment of its conception, life must be guarded with the greatest care, while abortion and infanticide are unspeakable crimes” (Gaudium et Spes 51). Pope John Paul II similarly emphasized: “The moral gravity of procured abortion is apparent in all its truth if we recognize that we are dealing with murder” (Evangelium Vitae 58).
He went on to state: “I declare that direct abortion, that is, abortion willed as an end or as a means, always constitutes a grave moral disorder, since it is the deliberate killing of an innocent human being . . . No circumstance, no purpose, no law whatsoever can ever make licit an act that is intrinsically illicit, since it is contrary to the law of God, which is written in every human heart, knowable by reason itself, and proclaimed by the Church.” (ibid., 62).

The Catechism of the Catholic Church notes: “Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable” (CCC 2271). In the face of such declarations, people who advocate abortion cannot portray themselves as Catholics in good standing, for they are denying a teaching of basic Christian morality that the Church has held since the very beginning.

This is not an optional matter, nor is it open to debate in the Catholic Church.

The Church regards abortion as such a serious crime that the Code of Canon Law imposes the penalty of excommunication on those who procure an abortion: “A person who procures a completed abortion incurs a latae sententiae [automatic] excommunication” (CIC 1398). The same penalty is applied to accomplices whose cooperation was essential in procuring the abortion (cf. CIC 1329). This includes doctors, nurses, and family membes who were involved in the abortion.

In Evangelium Vitae, John Paul II explained that “the excommunication affects all those who commit this crime with knowledge of the penalty attached and thus includes those accomplices without whose help the crime would not have been committed” (EV 62). While excommunication does not mean that one is no longer a member of the Catholic Church, these individuals committed a grave sin and must be dealt with in confession.

The Catholic Church takes seriously the right of the faithful to receive Holy Communion. The Code of Canon Law states: "Any baptized person not prohibited by law can and must be admitted to Holy Communion (CIC 912). There are individuals who are prohibited by law from receiving Communion. For example, non-Catholics generally cannot receive; neither can those who have not observed the Eucharistic fast or those who have unconfessed mortal sins (cf. CIC 844, 919, 916).

In a 2004 statement entitled Catholics in Political Life, the U.S. bishops wrote: "We need to do more to persuade all people that human life is precious and human dignity must defended. This requires more effective dialogue and engagement with all public officials, especially Catholics public officials.

As Catholic abortion advocates – particularly politicians – have gained prominence in the press, American bishops have been forceful in speaking out. Archbishop Raymond Burke, issued a notification to those in his diocese in which he stated: “A Catholic legislator who supports procured abortion or euthanasia, after knowing the teaching of the Church, commits a manifestly grave sin that is a most serious cause of scandal to others.”

… Continued in NEXT Post ***

 

[Sir_Knight]

*** Continued from PREVIOUS Post …
Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs issued a pastoral letter in which he stated: “There must be no confusion in these matters. Any Catholic politicians who advocate for abortion, for illicit stem cell research, or for any form of euthanasia ipso facto place themselves outside full communion with the Church and so jeopardize their salvation.”

Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo warned during a recent homily: “One day all of us will have to stand before the judgment seat of God. Our God will not be interested in if we were a Republican, an independent or a Democrat. He will not even be interested in what occupation we had in life. What he will be most interested in is our faithfulness to him and our faithfulness to his Son.”

Bishop Thomas Wenski, coadjutor of the diocese of Orlando, wrote a column in which he warned: “Today, some self-identified Catholic politicians prefer to emulate Pontius Pilate’s personally opposed but unwilling to impose’ stance – you can not have your ‘waffle’ and your ‘wafer’ too.”

In a confidential memorandum on the situation, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, the head of the Holy See’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, wrote: “There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty, but NOT however with regard to abortion and euthanasia. Regarding the grave sin of abortion or euthanasia, when a person’s formal cooperation becomes manifest (understood, in the case of a Catholic politician, as his consistently campaigning and voting for permissive abortion and euthanasia laws), his pastor should meet with him, instructing him about Church’s teaching, informing him that he is not to present himself for Holy Communion until he brings to an end the objective situation of sin, and warning him that he will otherwise be denied the Eucharist.”

As Catholics we have a moral responsibility to protect the lives of the unborn even though we may say personally “I am against abortion.” Our actions at the polls need to reflect our beliefs. To support an individual with our vote who is pro-choice, is to support what is against the moral teachings of our Catholic Faith and against the Commandment “Thou shall not kill.” Therefore, by voting for candidates that say they are pro-choice but personally against abortion is a contradiction and we need to be clear on this. If we support any candidate who is pro-choice, then we can become an accomplices in this grave sin of keeping abortion legal by failing to do as our Catholic Faith teaches [sin of omission].

To be a Catholic Christian is to be pro-life in all that we say & do and we as Catholic Christians should always want to do what pleases God first and above all else. May we all pray for the strength & courage to stand up for the Truth of the Gospel that our Catholic Faith professes.

 

[Sir_Knight]

Also, speaking to soldiers who have been in any particular war (which I have believed to be unjust) does not give me all the information I need. No soldier can explain to my satisfaction whether or not a war is just and that is because no soldier has all the information that is required.

They may not have ALL of the information that is required but having actual personal experience with it, they are more qualified than those who have no personal experience in the matter.

 

[LittleSoldier]

I’m not sure what you’re asking. Are you thinking the Church has some law saying “vote Democrat” or “Vote Republican” or something like that? It doesn’t have anything like that.

I almost hesitate to post at all because, during and after the election this was massively and repeatedly documented, and I didn’t copy and paste it to storage, so it would take a great deal of research to retrieve all of those citations; most of which were not provided by me in the first place.

Having said that, and hoping perhaps that someone will have kept all that (it would take pages on here to cite it all), what the Church really says about voting is this:

1. We have a moral duty to do it.
2. In doing it, we have a duty to become as well informed as we can, and to act morally.
3. In voting, we must avoid supporting evils and must, in fact, oppose them.
4. Among the evils which will confront us in doing so are the inherent evils of abortion and embryonic stem cell research, resulting, as they do, in the deliberate and in no way self-defensive termination of innocent human life.
5. We cannot vote for a supporter of those things without acting immorally, unless there is a proportionate reason for doing so. “Proportionate” means something of greater inherent moral gravity.
6. Pope Benedict and Pope John Paul II both gave examples where there is no proportionality, but did not apply it to U.S. elections specifically.
7. Numerous bishops and priests have applied it to the 2008 presidential election and found all other then-current issues not to be proportionate.

It isn’t as simple as a straight up decree that one could not vote for, e.g., Obama in good conscience. But applying the Church’s teachings, many, including many bishops and me, concluded that one could not. No U.S. bishop of whom I am aware, concluded otherwise.

That’s my statement about it. If you’re looking for the deluge of supporting documentation, I expect someone else will have to provide it. As I mentioned before, I did not save it out. Having said that, one could always review the Catechism of the Catholic Church online. One will find there that the Church defines abortion as a grave evil. (Section 2271, I think, but you can search for it if I’m wrong) One will also find that in exercising one’s civic duties one must not support evils but must oppose them.

I think you have put it very well. Maybe there isn’t a specific Church teaching when it comes to a situation like this. I know that during the last presidential election there was a lot of pressure on me (from Catholics) to vote against Obama. When I mentioned PBA to a few (nonCatholic) people, they told me that Obama could not possible endorse such a thing, as he is much too intelligent. I took my Obama pin and threw it away.

Now I have a bumper sticker on my car which states: “Pro-life, Pro-family, Anti-Obama.”

 

[LittleSoldier]

*** Continued from PREVIOUS Post …
Bishop Michael Sheridan of Colorado Springs issued a pastoral letter in which he stated: “There must be no confusion in these matters. Any Catholic politicians who advocate for abortion, for illicit stem cell research, or for any form of euthanasia ipso facto place themselves outside full communion with the Church and so jeopardize their salvation.”

Bishop Samuel Aquila of Fargo warned during a recent homily: “One day all of us will have to stand before the judgment seat of God. Our God will not be interested in if we were a Republican, an independent or a Democrat. He will not even be interested in what occupation we had in life. What he will be most interested in is our faithfulness to him and our faithfulness to his Son.”

Bishop Thomas Wenski, coadjutor of the diocese of Orlando, wrote a column in which he warned: “Today, some self-identified Catholic politicians prefer to emulate Pontius Pilate’s personally opposed but unwilling to impose’ stance – you can not have your ‘waffle’ and your ‘wafer’ too.”

In a confidential memorandum on the situation, Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, the head of the Holy See’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, wrote: “There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty, but NOT however with regard to abortion and euthanasia. Regarding the grave sin of abortion or euthanasia, when a person’s formal cooperation becomes manifest (understood, in the case of a Catholic politician, as his consistently campaigning and voting for permissive abortion and euthanasia laws), his pastor should meet with him, instructing him about Church’s teaching, informing him that he is not to present himself for Holy Communion until he brings to an end the objective situation of sin, and warning him that he will otherwise be denied the Eucharist.”

As Catholics we have a moral responsibility to protect the lives of the unborn even though we may say personally “I am against abortion.” Our actions at the polls need to reflect our beliefs. To support an individual with our vote who is pro-choice, is to support what is against the moral teachings of our Catholic Faith and against the Commandment “Thou shall not kill.” Therefore, by voting for candidates that say they are pro-choice but personally against abortion is a contradiction and we need to be clear on this. If we support any candidate who is pro-choice, then we can become an accomplices in this grave sin of keeping abortion legal by failing to do as our Catholic Faith teaches [sin of omission].

To be a Catholic Christian is to be pro-life in all that we say & do and we as Catholic Christians should always want to do what pleases God first and above all else. May we all pray for the strength & courage to stand up for the Truth of the Gospel that our Catholic Faith professes.

Wow. Thank you. Awesome post!! It has made what my action will be if I ever find myself in that situation (again) much clearer. I’ve been wrestling with this dilemma for years and finally decided to just ask.

Thank you!!

 

[LittleSoldier]

Most in this thread are on track. If however you disagree with the Magestarium, then you are wrong. It is truly that simple.

Have you ever noticed how much longer a post has to be to rationalize a position?

I want to always submit to the Magisterium. It’s very important to me. I agree - if you disagree with the Magisterium, you are wrong.

 

[BVM_1221]

There have been some heated discussions on CAF about the voting responsibilities of Catholics. It is my understanding that when a pro-life candidate is running against a pro-abortion candidate, as Catholics we are to vote for the pro-life candidate.

I have no problem with that teaching. My problem is that I don’t know how to vote when one candidate is pro-life but also supports an unjust war in which our country is involved, and the other candidate is pro-abortion but doesn’t support the same unjust war.

People are going to be murdered, no matter which candidate is elected. I am adamantly pro-life and I take this issue very seriously. To me, being pro-life means believing in the sanctity and protection of all human life from birth to death. I honestly do not know what to do if faced with candidates as described above. And I haven’t been able to find out what the Church teaches about this.

Does anyone have any information about Church teaching in a case like this??

I am honestly confused.

Sigh…here we go again

Well, the Bishops DID issue a statement, and here is a link to it.

usccb.org/bishops/FCBullInsert.pdf

The trouble is, what did the Bishops say, and what did they mean?

Well a majority of Catholics who read this, and/or heard homilies about this, and/or had other (name removed by moderator)ut from Catholic sources, voted Democrat in 2008. This upset a HUGE number in the Catholic Forums, who went on the warpath against anyone who suggested that it was OK to vote for the Democrats.:slapfight::whackadoo:

Summery, the Republicans supported a number of intrensic evils, except abortion. We are to believe that one internsic evil trumps all other intrensic evils, no matter how many. :banghead:

I MIGHT suggest you vote your well formed conscious, except that the vocal minoriety cannot believe a well formed conscious would vote Democrat. If you voted Democrat, that was proof you did not have a well formed conscious.:whackadoo:

Leaving you with what? Threats to burn in hell if you vote Democrat, or be vomited out Jesus’s mouth for being lukewarm, etc etc etc.:stretcher:

I am not making any of this up, Go bhck to the archives of 2008. :nope:

In the end, I would suggest you talk it over with your Priest, and/or spiritual director, and or others you trust. If you join the majority of catholics and vote Democrat, then I suggest for your own safety and sanity not to mention this in these forums:tsktsk:.

 

[Jermosh]

Wow. Thank you. Awesome post!! It has made what my action will be if I ever find myself in that situation (again) much clearer. I’ve been wrestling with this dilemma for years and finally decided to just ask.

Thank you!!

Not sure seeing the clarity there actually, in fact using those as a guide we should not vote at all. Sure you can use the “lesser evil” but what has that really gotten us? As again “abortion” has been made into a political platform, one to make people vote for or against. Once we really get beyond that word, we really see that both sides are pro-abortion on some level, so do we vote to lessen abortions or just ignore it?

 

[d97c]

The Pope wrote a letter in 2004 which states that abortion was very different from “just war” (and death penalty) in considering support or non support for a candidate. That’s why I support the death penalty and would not vote for a person who was against the death penalty. Here is the quote and link:
“3. Not all moral issues have the same moral weight as abortion and euthanasia. For example, if a Catholic were to be at odds with the Holy Father on the application of capital punishment or on the decision to wage war, he would not for that reason be considered unworthy to present himself to receive Holy Communion. While the Church exhorts civil authorities to seek peace, not war, and to exercise discretion and mercy in imposing punishment on criminals, it may still be permissible to take up arms to repel an aggressor or to have recourse to capital punishment. There may be a legitimate diversity of opinion even among Catholics about waging war and applying the death penalty, but not however with regard to abortion and euthanasia”

tldm.org/news7/Ratzinger.htm

 

[LittleSoldier]

Sigh…here we go again

Well, the Bishops DID issue a statement, and here is a link to it.

usccb.org/bishops/FCBullInsert.pdf

The trouble is, what did the Bishops say, and what did they mean?

Well a majority of Catholics who read this, and/or heard homilies about this, and/or had other (name removed by moderator)ut from Catholic sources, voted Democrat in 2008. This upset a HUGE number in the Catholic Forums, who went on the warpath against anyone who suggested that it was OK to vote for the Democrats.:slapfight::whackadoo:

Summery, the Republicans supported a number of intrensic evils, except abortion. We are to believe that one internsic evil trumps all other intrensic evils, no matter how many. :banghead:

I MIGHT suggest you vote your well formed conscious, except that the vocal minoriety cannot believe a well formed conscious would vote Democrat. If you voted Democrat, that was proof you did not have a well formed conscious.:whackadoo:

Leaving you with what? Threats to burn in hell if you vote Democrat, or be vomited out Jesus’s mouth for being lukewarm, etc etc etc.:stretcher:

I am not making any of this up, Go bhck to the archives of 2008. :nope:

In the end, I would suggest you talk it over with your Priest, and/or spiritual director, and or others you trust. If you join the majority of catholics and vote Democrat, then I suggest for your own safety and sanity not to mention this in these forums:tsktsk:.

I missed all that, darn it!! (actually, I know it must have been horrible). I’ll check out the link - thank you for providing it. And I will looks at the older threads.

I don’t believe in being a Republican or a Democrat. I never have. I don’t even know what party I’m affiliated with. I change it to suit my needs. I vote the candidate and I vote the issue - never the party. It’s the same with “conservative” and “liberal.” I’m neither or I’m both, depending on how one looks at it. When it comes to environmentalism I’m probably labeled as liberal; when it comes to abortion I’m probably labeled as conservative (although I believe my views on abortion are radical).

One problem I have with knowing what the Church teaches is that my parish has 1/2 priest. We share our priest (who is the only priest in the parish) with another parish (and he is the only priest there, too). We have one Mass on Saturday and one on Sunday, some days of the week we have a Mass and some days we don’t. Our priest has so little time and although the parish I belong to has a lot of people willing and able to help him, the other parish is composed mostly of less wealthy people who work a lot and can’t help as much.

I can’t have a spiritual director. My priest doesn’t have the time. I asked about it and was told that it couldn’t possibly be done. The nearest parish (except for the parish which shares our priest) is fifty miles away. I can’t legally drive there because of medication I take. So I try to leave our poor priest alone, which is a horrible thing to have to do. I do go to Confession privately by making an appointment with him, but he does not have enough hours in the day to talk to me outside of Confession, although I might be able to talk with him a bit about voting. It’s not his fault. What can he do? There isn’t enough time.

That’s why I come here to learn about Church teaching and although I’ve received absolutely
100% incorrect info at times, I’m learning to be able to pick out what is actually Church teaching. Thanks so much for your post. It has helped me very much.

 

[Jermosh]

I missed all that, darn it!! (actually, I know it must have been horrible). I’ll check out the link - thank you for providing it. And I will looks at the older threads.

I don’t believe in being a Republican or a Democrat. I never have. I don’t even know what party I’m affiliated with. I change it to suit my needs. I vote the candidate and I vote the issue - never the party. It’s the same with “conservative” and “liberal.” I’m neither or I’m both, depending on how one looks at it. When it comes to environmentalism I’m probably labeled as liberal; when it comes to abortion I’m probably labeled as conservative (although I believe my views on abortion are radical).

One problem I have with knowing what the Church teaches is that my parish has 1/2 priest. We share our priest (who is the only priest in the parish) with another parish (and he is the only priest there, too). We have one Mass on Saturday and one on Sunday, some days of the week we have a Mass and some days we don’t. Our priest has so little time and although the parish I belong to has a lot of people willing and able to help him, the other parish is composed mostly of less wealthy people who work a lot and can’t help as much.

I can’t have a spiritual director. My priest doesn’t have the time. I asked about it and was told that it couldn’t possibly be done. The nearest parish (except for the parish which shares our priest) is fifty miles away. I can’t legally drive there because of medication I take. So I try to leave our poor priest alone, which is a horrible thing to have to do. I do go to Confession privately by making an appointment with him, but he does not have enough hours in the day to talk to me outside of Confession, although I might be able to talk with him a bit about voting. It’s not his fault. What can he do? There isn’t enough time.

That’s why I come here to learn about Church teaching and although I’ve received absolutely
100% incorrect info at times, I’m learning to be able to pick out what is actually Church teaching. Thanks so much for your post. It has helped me very much.

I am not sure where you live, but here is a good website. Remember that not all priests have a parish, there are many in colleges, and religous communities. sdiworld.org/find_a_spiritual_director.html
Also, dont be afraid to get a eastern rite, they can offer a wealth of history and diversity.

 

[MoonChild02]

I think that this link may have the information you’re all looking for:
origin.ewtn.com/vote/index.htm

 

[LittleSoldier]

I am not sure where you live, but here is a good website. Remember that not all priests have a parish, there are many in colleges, and religous communities. sdiworld.org/find_a_spiritual_director.html
Also, dont be afraid to get a eastern rite, they can offer a wealth of history and diversity.

Great link!! Thank you!!

My sister asked me to speak to a monk she knew, as a birthday present for her. I did go see him; as far as I know he did not belong to any parish. He was in a monastery. It’s because of my sister and the monk that I came back home to the Church.

Right now I live in a little town on the coast of Oregon. Although its geographical location limits resources, the parish I belong to is wonderful. Our last priest had the same two parishes that our current priest has but he applied for (and received) two extensions to allow him to stay here, even with all the work and lack of time.

I’m going to be moving to the Phoenix area. I’m sure there will be more resources there.

I hadn’t thought about checking for a spiritual director online. I always thought I needed to be face-to-face with whoever became my spiritual director. Obviously there are more resources than I thought there were.

Thanks!!