Is it appropriate for a lapsed Catholic to ask a priest for counsel?

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carefullytread

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Is it appropriate for a non-practicing Catholic to ask a priest for family advice? Specifically, not advice about Catholic living per se, but about their wisdom from years of pastoral care, wisdom that may be relevant even for a non-believer. Or is that ‘taking advantage without paying one’s dues’? Certainly there are counsels, therapists, etc. who charge a nice fee for such advice.
 
It is appropriate for anyone to seed counsel from a Catholic priest.
 
I remember someone once called the Catholic Church the ultimate Hotel California: you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.

Maybe I shouldn’t be so flippant, but a lapsed Catholic is still a Catholic. The priests I know would be more than willing to hear your concerns. The truth is, the ones I know would stop and listen to a non-Catholic, too. It only needs to be a lost or hurting soul who needs someone to listen. Yes, when he finds that suggestions about availing yourself of the sacraments aren’t going to gain a footing, he might inquire about bringing you back, but even if you don’t want to come back, he will probably be willing to help you sort out a problem that needs pastoral experience in the listener.

If your means allow it, however, it wouldn’t be out of place for a non-parishioner to offer a bit of something to the parish at some point for this sort of thing, should you take up more than a few minutes of his time. This be anonymous or given without any reference for your reasons, an offering to the parish, not a straight fee-for-service, but they do have to pay to keep the lights on.
 
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