Am I still Catholic?

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Ronin

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Baptized and Confirmed a Catholic.

Lost faith in High School, stopped attending mass.

Married by a Presbyterian Minster and Catholic priest (I asked for a priest out of respect for my parents).

Two children born of the marriage, baptized Presbyterian

Attended Presbyterian Church sporatically for 10 years, never officially converted… ummm… that I am aware of (intended on the serious side).

Divorced after 10 years.

Rediscovered faith (rediscovered is probably too strong a word, but I cannot think of another) 20+ years after high school.

Attending Catholic mass every other week - Part of the custody plan is that I have the children every other weekend. I take them to the same Presbyterian Church they have gone to since birth. I do not believe it is right to force competing religions on children.

In a nutshell, what am I (besides dazed and confused)?

A weary,
Ronin
 
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Ronin:
Attending Catholic mass every other week - Part of the custody plan is that I have the children every other weekend. I take them to the same Presbyterian Church they have gone to since birth. I do not believe it is right to force competing religions on children.

In a nutshell, what am I (besides dazed and confused)?
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Sounds Catholic to me.

I can understand your concern about competing churches. How old are your children? If they are mature enough, I would encourage you to share your faith with your children. I don’t see how exposing them to the truth of the Catholic church can be wrong.
 
Go to confession. Problem solved!😃

I also urge you to teach your kids about the Catholic faith. If for no other reason, that they will not think you are come “crazy Catholic” when they are older. Perhaps they will convert on their own. (IMO- if they are under- say- 12, you have every right to bring them back into the church with you. Just explain things to them.)
 
Catholic.
Go to confession so that you can receive the grace of God to help you figure out the rest.
Receive Jesus in the Eucharist to nourish your body and soul.
Make an appointment to sit with the priest to get his advice on where to go from here.
You are not alone.
Welcome home.
 
Catholic.

Now go receive the Sacrament of Reconcilliation (Confession) and start learning all about the Truth again…you’ll LOVE it…
 
No doubt about it…You’re a Catholic…The others have suggested you go to confession, and that’s a good place to start to figure things out…God Bless/
 
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Ronin:
Baptized and Confirmed a Catholic.

Lost faith in High School, stopped attending mass.

Married by a Presbyterian Minster and Catholic priest (I asked for a priest out of respect for my parents).

Two children born of the marriage, baptized Presbyterian

Attended Presbyterian Church sporatically for 10 years, never officially converted… ummm… that I am aware of (intended on the serious side).

Divorced after 10 years.

Rediscovered faith (rediscovered is probably too strong a word, but I cannot think of another) 20+ years after high school.

Attending Catholic mass every other week - Part of the custody plan is that I have the children every other weekend. I take them to the same Presbyterian Church they have gone to since birth. I do not believe it is right to force competing religions on children.

In a nutshell, what am I (besides dazed and confused)?

A weary,
Ronin
Click to expand...
You are Catholic! Please go to confession and make an appointment to meet with a priest to discuss things. One of the priests at my mother’s church once gave a sermon on how much joy it gives him to see someone come back. I imagine most priests feel the same.

If your children are old enough to understand, then I would explain to them and bring them to Mass with you. If they are still very young, then again bring them. I think it is important for them to understand your religion.

Gearoidin
 
Thank you all for your responses.

To answer some quesitons: My relationship with the X is… ok. I am pretty sure that if I start taking the children to a different church they will become… un-ok.

During Seperation and to a lesser extent after the divorce was finalized my X used the children to “get” me.

While I am a big boy and can take whatever she dishes out, the children (ages 9 and 7) are innocent victims and should not be exposed to our conflict nor be used as weapons.

To me, that is part of Children’s Rights.

Unfortunately Courts do not see it that way, but that is not really relevant here.

Thank you all again for your replies.

A less weary (but still dazed and confused),

Ronin
 
I will pray for you. You are in a difficult position. My husband has children from a previous marriage. It was a struggle when they were young. Their mother was unkind, but that was never used as an excuse for us to be unkind to them. Deal with your children in love.
You may try taking your children to the Church that they know and also to your Church. I realize that that is a lot of time in Church but the Lord will bless you for it.
We took the boys with us every other Sunday to Mass with us and this was the only contact that they ever had with any religion. Now that they are older they are showing their own interest in the Catholic Church.
 
Ronin,

You know best how to handle the two-religion issue with your children, but I do have a question. Is there any way you can get to mass, even if it is at an odd time on those weekends? Perhaps there is not, but maybe there is. If your custody switches at 5 pm Sunday, then you could go to a six pm sunday night mass, for example. I would be unhappy not being able to go to mass every other weekend.

What a pickle!
 
Perhaps you can find a Catholic Church with a babysitting/nursery arrangement at a time that does not conflict with the Presbyterian Church service. You could go to Mass & put the kids in the babysitting (which would keep you out of hot water w/the ex) and then take them to their church and either sit with them or drop off/pick up.
 
Please pardon my lateness, but thank you for the responses.

You have all given me much to think about…

Ronin
 
Congratulations!!! You are Catholic.

As others have said, go to confession. It’s the best place to start.

As for taking your kids, that will come with time. Is there somebody who could stay with them so you can go to Mass on Saturday evening, or is there a later Sunday evening Mass near you? Try masstimes.org and find out. Could they go with you in due time on Saturday evening, and you go with them to their church on Sunday morning? It will take time to prepare them for it, but it’s worth the effort, esp. as you say you are not trying to convert them.
 
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