Croatian church to discourage Irish weddings

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Croatian church to discourage Irish weddings

From:ireland.com
Thursday, 15th February, 2007

The Irish Bishops’ Conference is to discuss a strongly-worded letter from church leaders in Croatia which criticises the behaviour of Irish “wedding tourists” to the country and suggests such weddings be discouraged.

The letter from the diocese of Dubrovnik states that most weddings of foreign nationals there are of Irish couples. But a number of couples and their invited guests do not go to Confession at all “and still go to receive Holy Communion,” it says.

“Many of them do not observe an appropriate dress code, especially ladies,” it continues.

continued: home.eircom.net/content/irelandcom/topstories/9867448?view=Eircomnet
 
Unfortunately this is a reflection on the state of catechesis in this country.

The PP in my parish every week tells us we’re good people, that God loves us with all our failings etc.etc. etc. Even one of my kids asked me one week how do we know we are good if we’re not taught how. We have become rude, loud, arrogant and vain. A lot of people only use the Church for the sacraments i.e. Baptism, Marriage, Funerals and don’t come in except maybe when they are at home for Christmas or Easter. They don’t know how to behave and don’t have a sense of sin.
 
This is a shame. Ireland used to have such a strong faith. Pray for the conversion of the world.
 
Unfortunately, you almost describe many of the churches in the US as well. However, there are many faithful Catholics who have stepped up the plate and are becoming catechists who study the guidelines of the magisterium.

With all things, keep praying! Croatia probably attracts many tourists because they have a beautiful country, but when couples come for marriage, they should include some marriage prep as well…including the need for reconciliation.

We do marriage prep here in Illinois and that is one key point we stress! It is sacramental prep, marriage prep, not just wedding day prep. All we can do is plant seeds and hopefully some will land on fertile soil. But don’t keep trying and keep on praying! After all, God is still in charge!
 
More news. The Church authorities in Florence, Italy have written to our Bishops with much the same. I hope our Bishops are getting the message. During their Ad limina visit, Pope Benedict told them to ensure any educational programmes are based on the catechism.
 
Here in Australia we have quite a few Croatian Churches. I have been to 3 funerals (in Croatian Churches) and right before Communion the priest ALWAYS says to the people “If you have not been to confession recently, not in a state of Grace or if you are not Catholic, please do not come up to receive Holy Communion”. I was shocked at first but thought it was great.
 
Unfortunately this is a reflection on the state of catechesis in this country.

The PP in my parish every week tells us we’re good people, that God loves us with all our failings etc.etc. etc. Even one of my kids asked me one week how do we know we are good if we’re not taught how. We have become rude, loud, arrogant and vain. A lot of people only use the Church for the sacraments i.e. Baptism, Marriage, Funerals and don’t come in except maybe when they are at home for Christmas or Easter. They don’t know how to behave and don’t have a sense of sin.
Are you sure you are not from the Arch-Diocese of Chicago?😃
 
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