Zone1 Are you now the person you thought you would be?

[Meriweather]

So are you saying you have personal knowledge of the situation with Care4All?

No. I am saying such things are personal matters.

 

[Care4all]

I did see what she wrote, and she may have felt she may as well have been excommunicated if she couldn't receive the sacraments. She didn't say whether or not she had pursued an annulment with her Pastor. It's a personal matter. My classmate's mother made no secret of her status, and it was well known in the parish. Most admired her for her faith and good heart.

Ex communion, without communion, is excommunicated....

I still attend Mass, with Matt, when visiting my family and even sometimes with Matt alone... He's fine going with me from time to time, but it is no longer my church....my faith still...perhaps, but not my church....

 

[Ace Nova]

Ex communion, without communion, is excommunicated....

I still attend Mass, with Matt, when visiting my family and even sometimes with Matt alone... He's fine going with me from time to time, but it is no longer my church....my faith still...perhaps, but not my church....

Pope Francis has worked to make the Catholic Church more accepting of divorced Catholics and their remarriages:

• Amoris Laetitia
  In his 2016 apostolic exhortation, Amoris Laetitia, or "The Joy of Love", Pope Francis called for a more pastoral approach to divorced and remarried Catholics. He asked clergy to consider each situation individually, and to help people discern God's will for their lives.
  
  
  
• Treatment of divorced Catholics
  Pope Francis has said that divorced Catholics and their children should be treated with compassion and not excommunicated. He has also said that "Catholic divorce" doesn't exist, and that nullity is only granted if the union never existed.
  
  
  
  
  
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• Changes to how priests approach divorced Catholics
  Pope Francis has endorsed changes to how priests approach divorced and remarried Catholics, including offering communion in some cases and offering sacraments to Catholics in "irregular family situations".
  
  
  
  
  Have you tried to talk to your local pastor about it? Do you have children from your first marriage? If not - and the fact that you were young - only married for 3 years - and 30+ years has gone by - there is a chance they could nullify it. And if you don't get anywhere with your pastor, try contacting your Bishop directly - if he aligns with Francis, chances are he would consider it.
• 
  
• Won't hurt to try. Good luck.

 

[buttercup]

Nope. In the past, I never in a million years thought I would be a Christian, ever. Yet here I am. Best decision I ever made.

And I NEVER, ever, ever in a million years thought I would be vegan someday. In fact, as I've mentioned before, I distinctly remember declaring one time, years ago: "I will NEVER be a vegan or vegetarian." Yet here I am. 2nd best decision ever.

And there's lots of other things I could bring up that I never thought I would do or be involved with.

Life is weird... you just never know what's in store. Or as Forrest put it, "...you never know what you're gonna get."

 

[Ace Nova]

Nope. In the past, I never in a million years thought I would be a Christian, ever. Yet here I am. Best decision I ever made.

And I NEVER, ever, ever in a million years thought I would be vegan someday. In fact, as I've mentioned before, I distinctly remember declaring one time, years ago: "I will NEVER be a vegan or vegetarian." Yet here I am. 2nd best decision ever.

And there's lots of other things I could bring up that I never thought I would do or be involved with.

Life is weird... you just never know what's in store. Or as Forrest would put it, "...you never know what you're gonna get."

What appeals you the most about being Christian?

 

[buttercup]

What appeals you the most about being Christian?

Wow, haha. There's a lot, but first I would say getting to know and being known and loved immeasurably by the Creator of the universe, and walking with God... which as I'm sure you know, just means the whole journey. It's a continual process of learning, growing, maturing, gaining wisdom, using my God-given gifts to serve, etc. It's definitely not always easy, and it's not always a bed of roses. But we know that with God, all things work together for good, for those who love Him. So even the bad stuff? What the enemy meant for evil, God will turn it around and use it for good. How about you?

 

[Ace Nova]

Wow, haha. There's a lot, but first I would say getting to know and being known and loved immeasurably by the Creator of the universe, and walking with God... which as I'm sure you know, just means the whole journey. It's a continual process of learning, growing, maturing, gaining wisdom, using my God-given gifts to serve, etc. It's definitely not always easy, and it's not always a bed of roses. But we know that with God, all things work together for good, for those who love Him. So even the bad stuff? What the enemy meant for evil, God will turn it around and use it for good. How about you?

I like that. I've been Roman Catholic my entire life so it's a part of me - not sure how life is without faith/spirituality. Life can be challenging at times and it's easy to get sidetracked - but God has always been there for me and I am grateful.