Melania Trump is the first Catholic first lady since Jackie Kennedy

[Stylteralmaldo]

She attended Easter services at the Episcopal church on Palm Beach. But I don’t know if she took communion there on Easter nor if she also attended a Catholic Mass…

…he is starting in an Episcopal school in MD when the new school yr begins.

Barron Trump, the 11-year-old son of President Trump and first lady Melania Trump, will attend the private St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Potomac, Md., this fall after he moves from New York to Washington with his mother.

Barron Trump is finishing out the current school year at Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

First lady Melania Trump said in a statement:

“We are very excited for our son to attend St. Andrew’s Episcopal School. It is known for its diverse community and commitment to academic excellence. The mission of St. Andrew’s is ‘to know and inspire each child in an inclusive community dedicated to exceptional teaching, learning, and service,’ all of which appealed to our family. We look forward to the coming school years at St. Andrew’s.”

The school’s website says it strives to educate students “in an inclusive environment that embodies the faith and perspective of the Episcopal Church.”

washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/05/15/barron-trump-to-attend-private-st-andrews-episcopal-school-in-maryland-this-fall/?utm_term=.4d12545701e7

A couple points regarding this:

I know that in order the be married in the Catholic Church that there is an understanding that any children from that marriage are to be raised Catholic.

However, what I do not know is if someone converts to the Catholic faith, if that conversion is conditional on whether your children are raised in the Catholic faith. I’m presuming President Trump has some say in their marriage as to whether their children are raised as Catholic or Episcopalian.

My other point is that Melania Trump’s statement mentions nothing regarding faith formation attributes. Sure, the school website mentions it’s Episcopol Christian values. Melania’s statement doesn’t endorse those values.

Still, you make a fair point that she attended the Episcopal Church services on Easter Sunday which does throw doubts on my ‘recent Easter convert’ theory.

 

[Stylteralmaldo]

Why does this make you happy?

I’m hoping that the report is false. I would hate to think that the world views Melania Trump as an example of Catholicism.

I am happy because I find joy in people’s conversion to Jesus Christ within the Church founded by Him.

There is also no evidence that she has scandalized the faith since it has become known that she is Catholic.

 

[PRmerger]

There is also no evidence that she has scandalized the faith since it has become known that she is Catholic.

You don’t think that people will think, “Oh, so the Catholic Church now allows you to divorce and remarry?”

 

[Stylteralmaldo]

You don’t think that people will think, “Oh, so the Catholic Church now allows you to divorce and remarry?”

IMO people will believe what they want regarding what the Church teaches.

I do think the fact that she is a public figure that greater care is necessary from her regarding such matters. With that said, that is my opinion regarding that and am uncertain what the Church actually teaches on the matter (if anything).

 

[Sy_Noe]

It seems to me that this forum has gone from a Catholic forum to a mostly republican conservative forum with sometimes Catholic leanings (there are more forums about Trump this or politician this than actual faith discussion). If the Catholic part has to be twisted to benefit Republican party then it’s okay. Hence we’ll ignore divorce and remarriage (AKA adultery in Catholic teaching) in this issue and minimize a man assaulting a reporter and then lying about the incident and being totally discredited by eye witnesses. BUT remember the reporter deserved it because he was liberal and liberals are worse or something.

The political idolatry on this forum is at an all time high it is not reflective of the gospel, but rather reflective of how in the US we have allowed politics to poison our faith so thoroughly.

Definitely at least this subforum is a mostly Republican conservative forum. No doubt about that. But has been for as long as I’ve been here and for as far back as I’ve looked. There might be more actual faith discussion in some of the other subforums but I have seen politics brought up elsewhere. Sometimes I’ve seen it shutdown though since this news subforum is supposedly the only one for politics.

 

[PRmerger]

IMO people will believe what they want regarding what the Church teaches.

Then what would be an example of “scandal”, in your estimation?

And how would that example not be dismissed with “IMO, people will believe what they want regarding what the Church teaches”?

 

[Sy_Noe]

A couple points regarding this:

I know that in order the be married in the Catholic Church that there is an understanding that any children from that marriage are to be raised Catholic.

However, what I do not know is if someone converts to the Catholic faith, if that conversion is conditional on whether your children are raised in the Catholic faith. I’m presuming President Trump has some say in their marriage as to whether their children are raised as Catholic or Episcopalian.

My other point is that Melania Trump’s statement mentions nothing regarding faith formation attributes. Sure, the school website mentions it’s Episcopol Christian values. Melania’s statement doesn’t endorse those values.

Still, you make a fair point that she attended the Episcopal Church services on Easter Sunday which does throw doubts on my ‘recent Easter convert’ theory.

I have no idea if a Catholic woman marries outside of the Catholic Church or converts afterwards, whether or not any children the couple have are to be raised Catholic or not. My parents married outside the Catholic Church (the reasons don’t need to be gone into here) but my mother raised me and my siblings Catholic. Had the Trumps been married in the Catholic Church, President Trump, a Presbyterian, would not have had a say though as to whether their children were raised Catholic or Presbyterian or Episcopalian from what I gather from your post. So why would it be different if his wife was already Catholic or has since converted? I’m just asking.

The inclusiveness of the Episcopal school is appealing to the family according to Melania in her statement. And the school says it strives to educate students “in an inclusive environment that embodies the faith and perspective of the Episcopal Church.”

It is at least interesting if someone is serious about the Catholic faith that they would also be very excited about sending their child to a school that embodies the faith and perspective of the Episcopal Church and would be looking forward to their child being there for years to come as Melania is.

 

[Sy_Noe]

I am happy because I find joy in people’s conversion to Jesus Christ within the Church founded by Him.

There is also no evidence that she has scandalized the faith since it has become known that she is Catholic.

If she publicly has stated she is very excited about sending her son to a school that embodies the faith and perspective of TEC and looks forward to him being there for years, that doesn’t count as “scandal”?

 

[Faith1960]

Separate bedrooms.

I don’t think anyone needs the Pope’s permission to move in to a house and have separate bedrooms.

Actually,I read a rumor that they do, in fact have separate bedrooms. Why? I don’t know.

 

[7_Sorrows]

Until their son completes his schooling (at the Episcopal school) this semester?

He doesn’t begin his education at the Episcopal school until the fall.

 

[7_Sorrows]

I am happy because I find joy in people’s conversion to Jesus Christ within the Church founded by Him.

There is also no evidence that she has scandalized the faith since it has become known that she is Catholic.

+1

 

[Stylteralmaldo]

Then what would be an example of “scandal”, in your estimation?

If, now that she has come out as a practicing Catholic, lives openly in grave sin for the world to see.

And how would that example not be dismissed with “IMO, people will believe what they want regarding what the Church teaches”?

It shouldn’t be.

 

[Stylteralmaldo]

…Had the Trumps been married in the Catholic Church, President Trump, a Presbyterian, would not have had a say though as to whether their children were raised Catholic or Presbyterian or Episcopalian from what I gather from your post. So why would it be different if his wife was already Catholic or has since converted? I’m just asking.

Had the Trumps been married in a Catholic Church, President Trump would have had a say how the children were raised by his decision to get married in the Catholic Church. His decision to get married in the Catholic Church would have been him saying that he agrees that the children will be raised Catholic.

It would be different in the actual case (they didn’t get married in a Catholic Church) because they got married outside the Catholic Church. Since their marriage, she converted or reverted (speculation on my part). Since then, there is no known agreement to have the children raised Catholic. President Trump never made a decision to raise the children Catholic. It’s prerequisite for a Catholic marriage. The Trumps don’t have a Catholic marriage, so no requirement. Not sure how you could force a non-believer’s spouse to have his children raised differently than his intent just because his wife decided to follow her faith. Again…my opinion, not sure how it actually works in the eyes of the Church.
Sy Noe; 14677731:

It is at least interesting if someone is serious about the Catholic faith that they would also be very excited about sending their child to a school that embodies the faith and perspective of the Episcopal Church and would be looking forward to their child being there for years to come as Melania is.

The Trumps probably compromised since neither are Episcopalians. Seems reasonable given they come from different faiths. In Catholic teaching, the parents are the primary educators in the faith. As for myself, I went to a good public school for my education. It doesn’t mean that my parents intent was for me to embrace the secular mindset of that institution. They embraced what they saw was good in that school.

 

[Stylteralmaldo]

If she publicly has stated she is very excited about sending her son to a school that embodies the faith and perspective of TEC and looks forward to him being there for years, that doesn’t count as “scandal”?

Not at all.

 

[7_Sorrows]

If she publicly has stated she is very excited about sending her son to a school that embodies the faith and perspective of TEC and looks forward to him being there for years, that doesn’t count as “scandal”?

why would it? perhaps it is an excellent school and they feel he will get a good education there. if they are planning to remain in the Episcopal church, it would seem normal for their son to attend an Episcopal school.

 

[DeniseNY]

Indeed

 

[Monte_RCMS]

If she publicly has stated she is very excited about sending her son to a school that embodies the faith and perspective of TEC and looks forward to him being there for years, that doesn’t count as “scandal”?

"scandal"? … I dunno. But some people seem to go excessively overboard looking for trouble and problems … in other people … that don’t exist. There is a thing in the New Testament about planks and motes.]

Matthew 7:3-5King James Version (KJV)

3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye.

 

[Monte_RCMS]

It seems to me that this forum has gone from a Catholic forum to a mostly republican conservative forum with sometimes Catholic leanings (there are more forums about Trump this or politician this than actual faith discussion). If the Catholic part has to be twisted to benefit Republican party then it’s okay. Hence we’ll ignore divorce and remarriage (AKA adultery in Catholic teaching) in this issue and minimize a man assaulting a reporter and then lying about the incident and being totally discredited by eye witnesses. BUT remember the reporter deserved it because he was liberal and liberals are worse or something.

The political idolatry on this forum is at an all time high it is not reflective of the gospel, but rather reflective of how in the US we have allowed politics to poison our faith so thoroughly.

Wow!

“political idolatry”

[At a loss for words.]

[A little over the top, no?]

 

[Sophie_Lawrence]

You don’t think that people will think, “Oh, so the Catholic Church now allows you to divorce and remarry?”

I think the same way normal Catholics might cause scandal by living together without marriage or divorcing and then getting remarried in another church because the Catholic parish won’t marry them, and they want a church wedding so the wedding pics look nice. Those could be scandalous (Church meaning of scandal) if those actions cause someone to believe that a Catholic can do that and remain in good standing.

I have children. My daughter will be a teen in a few days “Mom, I hear the First Lady is Catholic. So is it ok that she married a man twice divorced and doesn’t go to Catholic mass?”

So should my answer be “no The Catholic Church teaches that these actions are not ok.”

Or should it be, “no don’t pay attention to the divorce and remarriage thing and not going to church. Her husband is going to maga, that’s all that matters. And she visited the pope. So that makes it good”

 

[Sophie_Lawrence]

If she publicly has stated she is very excited about sending her son to a school that embodies the faith and perspective of TEC and looks forward to him being there for years, that doesn’t count as “scandal”?

Well Barron was baptized in an Episcopal Church. So it wouldn’t be scandal for him to attend Episcopal school.