Not sure about anything right now

[Iceeblue]

I was not allowed to be baptized and confirmed with the rest of my RCIA class tonight because my prior marriges annulments have not come through. I thought I was ok with it but at the Easter Vigil service that I attended it became not alright. Tell me what gives the church the right to keep me from Christ. Tell me what teaching of Christ there is that would have kept him from letting me be baptized. Even Judas was allowed to take his blood and body. What gives the church the right to judge only Jesus/God has that right or so we are taught. I do not feel that I am bad person, but I guess I am in some way more of a sinner then the rest in my class because I went through everything with them and only missed one class but still was not “allowed” ??? I thought baptism was to come unto Christ to be washed of my sins and what did he die for ??? I thought it was for my sins. This is the worst easter I have ever known!!! I thought it would be the best… Please help me…

 

[puzzleannie]

it is not a matter of one-time sin, or repented sin, or forgiven sin, it is presumably, since there is no way here anyone can know the condition of your soul, except the objective circumstance you relate, of continuing sin, objectively. A person who is not validly married and continues living with and having relations with the partner is, objectively, in a state of mortal sin and may not receive the sacraments (other than confession obviously) until that situation is remedied, and may not even confess, or have sins removed in baptism, if the sinful condition persists.

It is very unfortunate that the annulment process does not proceed to the same schedule as your preparation for the sacraments. In this diocese you would not be allowed to proceed with the preparation until you were free to receive the sacraments, simply to avoid such heartbreaking situations as yours. we will continue to pray for you of course, and hope that like others in your situation, you find the waiting and anticipation a hopeful, prayerful and ultimately grace filled time. we also pray for forgiveness for those directing your preparation who evidently failed in their duty to inform you and instruct you properly much earlier in the process.

 

[Iceeblue]

Thank you for your effort, but your answer does not deal with the main substance of my question? What about Mary Magdalene and Judas and all the others that came upon and Christ and were in the state of “mortal sin”. Also what gives the church the right to judge only Jesus/God has that right or so we are taught. And if what you say is true then how will I ever really know if the “situation is remedied” ever, if I am not allowed to confess but only at the time mortal man judges me and says I am allowed to? And then again what did Jesus do for me on that Cross? I do want you to also know that they did duly inform me at the very beginning of my preparation that this was probably going to happen but as I said as I attended the the Easter Vigil It all came over me how what was happening to me seemed so much to be hypocritical to the teaching of my Savior and what he had done for me on the cross. .

 

[bpbasilphx]

Have you tried telling the parish pastor about your feelings?

 

[1ke]

I was not allowed to be baptized and confirmed with the rest of my RCIA class tonight because my prior marriges annulments have not come through.

Be patient. Your marriage situation must be resolved before you can be baptized. I presume you are currently in an invalid marriage or this would not be an issue.

I thought I was ok with it but at the Easter Vigil service that I attended it became not alright. Tell me what gives the church the right to keep me from Christ.

The Church is not keeping you from Christ, you have done that yourself. Not trying to be harsh but your own action of multiple marriages and divorce and remarriage again are keeping you from Christ.

Tell me what teaching of Christ there is that would have kept him from letting me be baptized. Even Judas was allowed to take his blood and body.

The one about not getting divorced and remarried.

What gives the church the right to judge only Jesus/God has that right or so we are taught.

You need to study some more on the Catholic Faith. Christ gave his full authority to the Church to bind and loose.

Christ gives the Church not only the “right” but the **responsibility **of administering the Sacraments as he established them.

I do not feel that I am bad person, but I guess I am in some way more of a sinner then the rest in my class because I went through everything with them and only missed one class but still was not “allowed” ???

As you are well aware, this has nothing to do with missing one class. This has to do with the fact that you are currently committing adultery.

I thought baptism was to come unto Christ to be washed of my sins and what did he die for ???

Yes, baptism remits sins. But, you have to be sorry for your sin and “sin no more”. You cannot do this if you continue to live in an invalid marriage.

If you do not receive a decree of nullity or dissolution of the bond via the Pauline or Petrine Privilege, then what? You will have to choose between staying in your invalid marrriage or coming into the Church. Just as those in countries/religions that allow polygamy must set aside their polygamous wives in order to enter the Church, you may have some hard decisions ahead of you.

Don’t blame the Church for teaching the Truth. Pray that God will give you the fortitude to embrace the Truth and live it.

This is the worst easter I have ever known!!! I thought it would be the best… Please help me…

I am sure it was difficult to see your fellow RCIA participants be baptized. This is an emotional time for you. Next week, make an appointment to talk to your priest and receive counseling. You are angry, but your anger is misplaced if it is directed at the Church.

 

[agangbern]

That is a good way to exercise your patience. You are fortunate that you were put into that situation. Anyway, it is not your fault anymore if you failed to get baptized due to circumstances that are no longer within your control. You already have that desire. Just be more patient and keep on waiting and hoping with prayers for the best.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I was not allowed to be baptized and confirmed with the rest of my RCIA class tonight because my prior marriges annulments have not come through. I thought I was ok with it but at the Easter Vigil service that I attended it became not alright. Tell me what gives the church the right to keep me from Christ. Tell me what teaching of Christ there is that would have kept him from letting me be baptized. Even Judas was allowed to take his blood and body. What gives the church the right to judge only Jesus/God has that right or so we are taught. I do not feel that I am bad person, but I guess I am in some way more of a sinner then the rest in my class because I went through everything with them and only missed one class but still was not “allowed” ??? I thought baptism was to come unto Christ to be washed of my sins and what did he die for ??? I thought it was for my sins. This is the worst easter I have ever known!!! I thought it would be the best… Please help me…

Christ. Christ said that a Christian may not divorce and enter into another Marriage. Until that situation is resolved by the finding that the original Marriage was invalid or the death of the first spouse. You cannot receive any Sacraments including, Baptism, Holy Communion, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, Reconciliation. The Church is preventing you from committing the Grave sin of Sacrilege.

 

[agangbern]

Christ. Christ said that a Christian may not divorce and enter into another Marriage. Until that situation is resolved by the finding that the original Marriage was invalid or the death of the first spouse. You cannot receive any Sacraments including, Baptism, Holy Communion, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, Reconciliation. The Church is preventing you from committing the Grave sin of Sacrilege.

I thought Iceeblue was not talking about divorce of previous marriage. In my country, annullment of marriage has to kinds: One is that which is void from the beginning; and the other is one which is simply voidable. That which is void from the begnning is nothing and therefore there is no marriage bond that ever existed.

 

[Phemie]

I thought Iceeblue was not talking about divorce of previous marriage. In my country, annullment of marriage has to kinds: One is that which is void from the beginning; and the other is one which is simply voidable. That which is void from the begnning is nothing and therefore there is no marriage bond that ever existed.

But he was legally married at some point and divorced since the Church will usually not look at a marriage unless it has already ended in divorce.

The Church doesn’t ‘annul’ a marriage, it rules on whether a marriage was VALID or INVALID. If it was valid then the OP is still married to his first wife (unless she’s dead). If it was invalid then he was never married.

From the original post it looks as though he’s been married & divorced at least twice since he speaks of marriages and annulments, plural. If he needs a decree of nullity to be baptized it means he’s already legally married to another wife.

 

[jpjd]

…

 

[puzzleannie]

Thank you for your effort, but your answer does not deal with the main substance of my question? What about Mary Magdalene and Judas and all the others that came upon and Christ and were in the state of “mortal sin”. Also what gives the church the right to judge only Jesus/God has that right or so we are taught. .

Jesus Christ gives the Catholic Church the right and the authority to judge, when he appeared to the apostles on the night he rose and gave them the power to bind and loose.

Judas, Mary Magdelene, the woman taken in adultery, the woman at the well, Zaccheus and all the numerous people Jesus encountered were given the free gift of forgiveness of sin ON CONDITION that they surrendered their sinful ways, embraced conversion, which means a turning away from sin. Judas refused, the others accepted. You will not find even one instance where Jesus said, I forgive you, go and keep right on doing what you were doing with my blessing, even though it will damage you even unto death.

OP still has the right to hear directly from the pastor why he was allowed to maneuvered into this unfortunate postion without prior warning and admonition, and if indeed he was not told about the pre-condition of annulment before reception into the Church, he has been badly used and deserves explanation and apology from the pastor.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Thank you for your effort, but your answer does not deal with the main substance of my question? What about Mary Magdalene and Judas and all the others that came upon and Christ and were in the state of “mortal sin”. Also what gives the church the right to judge only Jesus/God has that right or so we are taught. And if what you say is true then how will I ever really know if the “situation is remedied” ever, if I am not allowed to confess but only at the time mortal man judges me and says I am allowed to? And then again what did Jesus do for me on that Cross? I do want you to also know that they did duly inform me at the very beginning of my preparation that this was probably going to happen but as I said as I attended the the Easter Vigil It all came over me how what was happening to me seemed so much to be hypocritical to the teaching of my Savior and what he had done for me on the cross. .

Jesus died on the cross to obtain the possibility of forgiveness for your sins, when you are ready to repent of them and turn away from them.

 

[Jimdandy]

if you are not now married, then you may be baptized-if you are married then you must live a chaste life until your anulltment comes through.-

No one is keeping you from Christ. Baptism of desire is possible if you are living a holy life now. do not despair-this too will pass.

Give your pain and anger over to Christ at the next Mass you attend and let His Grace heal you.

 

[Pokedaughter]

“I was not allowed to be baptized and confirmed with the rest of my RCIA class tonight because my prior marriges annulments have not come through. I thought I was ok with it but at the Easter Vigil service that I attended it became not alright. Tell me what gives the church the right to keep me from Christ. Tell me what teaching of Christ there is that would have kept him from letting me be baptized. Even Judas was allowed to take his blood and body. What gives the church the right to judge only Jesus/God has that right or so we are taught. I do not feel that I am bad person, but I guess I am in some way more of a sinner then the rest in my class because I went through everything with them and only missed one class but still was not “allowed” ??? I thought baptism was to come unto Christ to be washed of my sins and what did he die for ??? I thought it was for my sins. This is the worst easter I have ever known!!! I thought it would be the best… Please help me…”

Your questions are valid. No one has the right to keep you from Christ. Jesus turns away no one. Just voice these concerns to God and let Him answer them for you. Read the Scriptures and you will find the Truth. Peace and Blessings.

 

[benedictgal]

“I was not allowed to be baptized and confirmed with the rest of my RCIA class tonight because my prior marriges annulments have not come through. I thought I was ok with it but at the Easter Vigil service that I attended it became not alright. Tell me what gives the church the right to keep me from Christ. Tell me what teaching of Christ there is that would have kept him from letting me be baptized. Even Judas was allowed to take his blood and body. What gives the church the right to judge only Jesus/God has that right or so we are taught. I do not feel that I am bad person, but I guess I am in some way more of a sinner then the rest in my class because I went through everything with them and only missed one class but still was not “allowed” ??? I thought baptism was to come unto Christ to be washed of my sins and what did he die for ??? I thought it was for my sins. This is the worst easter I have ever known!!! I thought it would be the best… Please help me…”

Your questions are valid. No one has the right to keep you from Christ. Jesus turns away no one. Just voice these concerns to God and let Him answer them for you. Read the Scriptures and you will find the Truth. Peace and Blessings.

I am very sorry that the OP is undergoing something very painful when the Church is celebrating the joy of the resurrection. Yes, the OP’s questions are valid; the priest should have been up front about the possibility of the delay.

However, inasmuch as Jesus didn’t turn anyone away, He did set parameters. The common phrase he told everyone whom he healed was “go and sin no more.” Unfortunately, because you are in an invalid marriage, you cannot go through with the sacraments because the Church does not recognize your current union. You ask what or who gives the Church this authority: it comes directly from Jesus. Our Lord gave St. Peter the authority to bind and loose. Jesus spoke explicitly and directly about marriage. The Church cannot change what Jesus said. She has no authority to do so. Because her authority comes directly from Jesus in the person of His Vicar, she can only follow in obedience.

Do not compare yourself to Judas, as Satan had already entered his heart. Your situation is very different. Unfortunately, Satan tempts us with despair and with doubt. Please do not fall victim to that.

 

[thomasf]

Just be patient and accept this trial as God’s will. Use this time of trial to get closer to God and understand what it means to follow His will. He has given this to you for a reason. If you endure it faithfully He will reward you.

I know what I’m talking about, it comes from experience. When I came back to the church last year I was in an invalid marriage that needed to be convalidated. But to do so my first wife’s marriage had to be annuled. And until that happened I couldn’t take part in the sacraments. I waited 5 months through that of not receiving the eucharist or confession. It sucked and I hated it, but I promised God I would obey and endure what He had given me. It helped me to understand following His will better, and helped me become more humble and obedient to Him.

Use this time well. This too will pass and you will be able to enter the church.

Good luck and God bless!

 

[jmcrae]

Thank you for your effort, but your answer does not deal with the main substance of my question? What about Mary Magdalene and Judas and all the others that came upon and Christ and were in the state of “mortal sin”.

Judas had not yet sinned - he did not commit any sin until he actually betrayed Jesus in the Garden. Mary Magdalene made a confession of her sins, received an exorcism (the Scriptures tell us that Jesus released her from seven demons), and did not commit any sin again after that.

Also what gives the church the right to judge only Jesus/God has that right or so we are taught. And if what you say is true then how will I ever really know if the “situation is remedied” ever, if I am not allowed to confess but only at the time mortal man judges me and says I am allowed to? And then again what did Jesus do for me on that Cross? I do want you to also know that they did duly inform me at the very beginning of my preparation that this was probably going to happen but as I said as I attended the the Easter Vigil It all came over me how what was happening to me seemed so much to be hypocritical to the teaching of my Savior and what he had done for me on the cross. .

We have to get ourselves into the position where we are no longer sinning (because Jesus tells us “Go and sin no more”), so that we can begin to participate in the Sacraments.

The divorce (which is in the past) was not the sin; sometimes a divorce is necessary. A divorce cannot cause a marriage to cease to exist, however. All a divorce can do is create a legal situation where the parties to the marriage are no longer bound by each other’s financial obligations - it cannot nullify the marriage vows. You are still married to that person until death you do part: no judge nor any other human being can cause the marriage to cease to exist.

What the Marriage Tribunal is doing is seeing whether you in fact made lawful vows to your previous spouse. If not, then you will be free to marry for the first time, and once you are lawfully married, then you can begin to participate in the Sacraments of the Catholic Church.

Jesus did not take in Mary Magdalene while she was still living unlawfully with men she wasn’t really married to. He required that she stop doing that, before she was allowed to join Him and the other disciples.