Invalidly receiving Eucharist...advice needed!

[gez722]

I would appreciate any advice involving this unusual situation. My sister in law (who is divorced with no annulment) got married" (not in the Church) to a Catholic priest (who was never laicized…I don’t know know all of the details, but he said the Holy Father wasn’t granting any more laicizations due to the priest shortage). They still continue to receive Holy Communion and to make matters worse, they have moved back into the neighborhood where he served as a priest.

They have since adopted children and they really are wonderful and caring people, but I’m really concerned about their salvation. They have been married for 10 years and the topic is almost never discussed. My mother in law has tried to bring it up and they don’t feel that they are doing anything wrong. They have said that the Church teaches that in order for something to be a mortal sin, you have to believe that it’s wrong. Since they don’t think it’s a sin, there’s no problem.

My question is… can someone give me advice on how I can educate them to the truth. One thing my wife and I do is to never wish them “Happy Anniversary” or send an Anniversary card because we don’t want to acknowledge an invalid wedding. As I learn more about my faith, I feel that I need to do more to help them. I tend to be blunt about things so I’m very afraid to bring up the subject, fearing that I may cause hard feelings. My wife is equally concerned, but she also doesn’t no how to bring it up.

 

[Christy_Beth]

A person has to KNOW it’s wrong, not BELIEVE it’s wrong for it to be a mortal sin. And it sounds like these two know that it’s a sin. But they want to skirt the issue by saying that they are not doing anything wrong. This is the sort of attitude that Luther took when he broke away from the church. He wanted his way, period. When the church tried to correct him, he decided that the church didn’t have the authority to do so. Which isn’t true.

Yes, this couple is living in sin, mortal sin. They shouldn’t be receiving communion. According to one “Examination of Conscience” I’ve read, to take communion while in a state of mortal sin, is a mortal sin. So they are only adding to their sin by receiving.

I don’t know if there is any way for you to get through to these two. You may want to contact your bishop about this issue. Point out to him the problem AND let him know the damaging affect it’s having on your family. If there are others that know of this problem, then it’s damaging their faith as well. If he is in line with the church, which I hope he is, then he will address the issue. Also, the priest of that church needs to be reminded of what the church teaches about this.

It will take a group effort. And a lot of prayer. Don’t give up on them. Tell them how you feel and that you don’t want anything to do with them while they are in this sin. Then stay out of their way. If the family backs off, then maybe they will review their situation.

 

[Deacon_Tony560]

gez722:

I would appreciate any advice involving this unusual situation. My sister in law (who is divorced with no annulment) got married" (not in the Church) to a Catholic priest (who was never laicized…I don’t know know all of the details,

This sounds like a sad situation. However since you don’t know all of the details, you can hope and pray that God will touch their lives with a desire to make things right. Bishop may know more than you think. One Sat evening before I was a deacon, I was lectoring at a Mass at the local hospital chapel. The Catholic chaplain, who was a nun, told me that there were 3 ex-priests in the pews that night.

God bless you and your family,
Deacon Tony SFO