Can someone help me on whether I sinned or not?

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Hello,

I have a certain friend who is taking interest in the Catholic Bible. His mother, however, is against him reading the books in the Catholic Bible which are not found in most non-Catholic Bibles. I thought it would be good for him to take interest in the Catholic Church and wanted to let him borrow my Catholic Bible so that he can read the deuterocanonical books. He wants to read them too so that’s why I want to allow him the oppourtunity. The problem is, since his mom does not want him reading the deuterocanonical books, would I lead him to sin by allowing him to go against his mother’s wishes and read a Catholic Bible? He even wants to make his own choices on this matter, even though he has a bad feeling about reading these books because they were discouraged by his mother. Today at school, I let him borrow it for the school day, not really thinking about this matter. I realized it but thought it was o.k. since he was reading the Bible. I ended up not letting him borrow it for a long term until I could get this situation straightened out. So did I sin by letting him read my Catholic Bible? Did he sin? Should I let him read my Catholic Bible?

Your answers are appreciated.
Thank you
 
My first thoughts would be to have your friend square things with his parents. This way there would be no issue of him not honoring his parents.

How old is your friend?
 
Hi

My first response is that Gods Laws will always trump man’s rules.

But here are a couple of things he might keep in mind to help his decision regarding this:

Your friend can read God’s word while still being honorable to His parents, just by being polite but firm that this concerns his soul. Tell your friend that God may be using him to save them, since only God knows what is truly in their hearts.

Jesus himself said that “I come not to bring peace but a sword, I will set mother against daughter, son against father, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law…” (paraphrased)

Above all - if your friend believes in God already, and it sounds as though that’s the case, tell him he should pray concerning this. Maybe pursuing his questioning outside of home for now is what God wishes - these things only God knows. I say this because sure as grass is green - his parents will have questions that he will need to have answers for, especially concerning what Catholics really believe.

For your question - no. I don’t believe you did. We are always given to spread the Truth - regardless of what happens after that. Because the results of what we do, when we follow God’s will, are up to Him. If you believe you should give Him your Bible to read - and it sounds like that is what you were meant to do - then the results are up to God.

Hope this didn’t confuse things even more.

Peace

John
 
He needs to be open with his parents about his interest in the Catholic faith, but this is his issue; not yours. He also needs to discuss the issue of what he is or is not allowed to read with his mother. It may be that, for a time, he needs to respect her wishes not to read the Catholic Bible. If he proves himself trustworthy, she may allow it later on, with benefit to everyone, in the end.

You are doing nothing wrong by answering his honest questions in an honest way, though. 🙂
 
The answer is very simple. Look at the example of Francis of Assisi. His father did not want him to read the Gospel, much less follow it so literally. Francis did so anyway. To this day the Church praises him as the perfect Christian.

A parent does not have the right to set up a block between their child and God. When a parent does this, the parent’s rights on this point are null and invalid. That’s why Francis of Assisi said to his father, “I no longer call you father.”.

Pietro Bernadone tried to come between his son and God. Francis was very clear that parents do not have this right. The Church supported Francis.

You did the right thing.

Fraternally,

JR 🙂
 
LanD said:
Hello,

I have a certain friend who is taking interest in the Catholic Bible. His mother, however, is against him reading the books in the Catholic Bible which are not found in most non-Catholic Bibles. I thought it would be good for him to take interest in the Catholic Church and wanted to let him borrow my Catholic Bible so that he can read the deuterocanonical books. He wants to read them too so that’s why I want to allow him the oppourtunity. The problem is, since his mom does not want him reading the deuterocanonical books, would I lead him to sin by allowing him to go against his mother’s wishes and read a Catholic Bible? He even wants to make his own choices on this matter, even though he has a bad feeling about reading these books because they were discouraged by his mother. Today at school, I let him borrow it for the school day, not really thinking about this matter. I realized it but thought it was o.k. since he was reading the Bible. I ended up not letting him borrow it for a long term until I could get this situation straightened out. So did I sin by letting him read my Catholic Bible? Did he sin? Should I let him read my Catholic Bible?

Your answers are appreciated.
Thank you
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Not in the least.

You are giving him the true Bible, the one approved for 2000 years by the Catholic Church.

He has the obligation to follow God, not his mother’s rules. God is the primary parent of us all. Thus, to “honor our father and mother” while denying our Father is not really honoring them at all.
 
Hello everyone,

Thank you for your answers! They are very helpful and educating.

I also thank JReducation for the information on St. Francis of Assisi. I had no idea that he had to go through what he did. He is definitely someone that I need to do some research on.

To BayernAnhaenger, you are right. God is our Father and ultimate parent to whom our ultimate honor goes to. Thank you.

Again, thank you everyone. This IS something that he should take up to his parents if he plans on becoming Catholic.
 
LanD said:
Hello everyone,

Thank you for your answers! They are very helpful and educating.

I also thank JReducation for the information on St. Francis of Assisi. I had no idea that he had to go through what he did. He is definitely someone that I need to do some research on.

To BayernAnhaenger, you are right. God is our Father and ultimate parent to whom our ultimate honor goes to. Thank you.

Again, thank you everyone. This IS something that he should take up to his parents if he plans on becoming Catholic.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I actually got that thought/idea from John Martignoni on his weekly EWTN Open Line progarm (Mondays). Highly recommended!
 
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