What do Catholics mean when they say

[guno]

I've never heard a Catholic say that, and I come from a family of Catholics.

https://www.ewtn.com/library/YOUTH/CONFESS.TXT

 

[Mudda]

A good confession is one where the priest ends up with a chubby.
Now a GREAT confession is on a whole other level!

 

[zaangalewa]

Are there different grades of sin in the catholic church?

Catholic thought distinguishes between mortal sin and venial sin. Serious sin (murder, robbery, adultery are examples) when done with the intent of knowing it is against the will of God, knowing it places one's soul in danger of hell, knowing one is offending God but one is determined to go through with the act despite this, qualifies as Mortal Sin.

Lying might be a good example of a sin that could be either moral or venial. If one knowingly lies is court and helps convict an innocent man, that is much more serious than telling a friend you are keeping to an agreed upon diet, but are not.

Not to forget the worst form of sins: sins against the holy spirit or a "peccatum clamans". Lots of people for example think not to pay a salary is a kind of venial sin - but indeed this behavior is able to be a very heavy mortal sin, a "peccatum clamans" and sins against the holy spirit are not able to be forgiven at all.

Specially in this context I'm worried for the Clerics themselve. I am a remarried Catholic. So maybe I see the problem "remarriage" in a wrong way - but on the other side I'm not able to see it in any other way than my own way. It was one of the best decisions in my life to marry again and from my point of view and experience I'm only able to give everyone the advice to marry again. To marry again after my first partnership failed was not only very good for me but also very good for lots of other people. There's nothing wrong to be remarried - absolutelly nothing.

I fear on the other side that some Clerics make a very heavy mistake, if they are propagating an everlasting excommunication of remarried Catholics. It could be the behavior of this Clerics is indeed a sin against the holy spirit, because our Clerics are the only people, who are not able to be remarried. If Clerics should misuse the sacraments "marriage" and "eucharist" for to maximize the might of the Clerics within' the catholic church and to minimize in this way the might of the laymen in the catholic church then I fear this Clerics did not read what Jesus said in Matthew chapter 23 about scribes.

Sorry and forgive me - but I don't see any other way than to say what I think what the truth is. If our holy catholic church likes to survive than only the truth is able to save us. Hopefully I'm wrong with this what I said here - nevertheless I fear I'm not completly wrong in this question. But I'm convinced the gates of hell will not prevail against us.

 

[zaangalewa]

I've never heard a Catholic say that, and I come from a family of Catholics.

https://www.ewtn.com/library/YOUTH/CONFESS.TXT

I also never heard a Catholic says so. But let me ask something else. Why did you ask if you had such a great answer?

-----
CALIFORNIA YOUTH GRATEFUL TO THE POPE
350 7th Avenue, Suite 116
San Francisco, CA 94118


California Youth Grateful to the Pope has given permission to reprint the
following pamphlet. Copies can be obtained by writing to the address above.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Gift to the Holy Father on His Visit to California
September 1987

A GOOD CONFESSION

It was with great joy that I received the news that the Irish Bishops had
asked all the faithful to go to Confession as part of a great spiritual
preparation for my visit to Ireland. You could not have given me a greater
gift. And if today there is someone who is still hesitating, for one reason
or another, please remember this: the person who knows how to acknowledge the
truth of guilt, and asks Christ for forgiveness, enhances his own human
dignity and manifests spiritual greatness.

Because of Christ's love and mercy, there is no sin that is too great to
be forgiven; there is no sinner who will be rejected. Every person who
repents will be received by Jesus Christ with forgiveness and immense love.

Pope John Paul II
Ireland, September 29, 1979

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

STEPS TO A GOOD CONFESSION

1. Examine Our Conscience
2. Be Sorry For Our Sins
3. Make A Firm Purpose Of Amendment
4. Confess Our Sins To A Priest
5. Perform Our Penance

For an examination of conscience, go to main menu, select "F" and download
the file "CONFESS.1".


AN EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE

(The following questions are adapted from "The Rites of the Catholic Church,
Rite of Penance, Appendix III")

(Begin by praying to God for his light and grace)

Some preliminary questions

* Am I determined to courageously call good and evil by their proper name?
Do I sincerely want to be set free from sin, to turn again to God, to
begin a new life, and to enter into a deeper friendship with God through
this confession?

* In past confessions, did I forget to mention, or deliberately conceal,
any grave sins?

* Have I received Holy Communion while conscious of having committed a
mortal sin but not having gone to confession?

* Did I perform the penance I was given in my last confession? Did I make
reparation for any injury to others? Have I been sincere in my efforts to
lead a better life in keeping with the Gospel?

Questions related to the greatest commandment:
"You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart."

* Is my heart set on God, so that I really love him above all things and am
faithful to his commandments, as a child loves and obeys its father? Or
am I more concerned about the things of this world? Have I a right
intention in what I do, seeking above all to fulfill the will of God?

* God spoke to us in his Son. Is my faith in God firm and secure? Am I
wholehearted in accepting the Church's teaching? Have I been careful to
grow in my understanding of the faith, to hear God's word, to study the
doctrine of the Church, to avoid dangers to faith? Have I been strong
and fearless in professing my faith in God and the Church? Am I
consistent with the faith in public and private life?

* Have I prayed morning and evening? When I pray, do I really raise my mind
and heart to God or is it a matter of words only? Do I offer God my
difficulties, my joys, and my sorrows? Do I turn to God in time of
temptation? Do I thank him often for his many favors?

* Do I have love and reverence for God's name? Have I offended him by
blasphemy, swearing falsely, or taking his name in vain? Have I shown
disrespect for the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints?

* Have I missed Mass on Sundays or Holy Days--or caused others to do so--
through my own fault? Have I participated in Mass with attention and
devotion? Have I fulfilled the precept of annual confession and of
communion during the Easter season?

* Are there "false gods" in my life: superstition, spiritism or other
occult practices; money or other things, human ambitions or even persons
that mean more to me than God does?

Questions related to the commandment of
a right love of self and the love of neighbor:
"You shall love your neighbor as yourself"

* Where is my life leading me? Is the hope of eternal life my
inspiration? Am I really trying to grow in a spiritual life through
prayer, reading the word of God and meditating on it, receiving the
sacraments, self-denial and acceptance of the sorrows and
disappointments of life for the love of Christ? Have I kept the
precept of fasting and abstinence? Have I strived to control my
vices, my bad inclinations and passions, e.g. envy, love of food and
drink? Have I fought especially against self-love or have I been
proud and boastful, thinking myself better in the sight of God and
despising others as less important than myself? Have I imposed my own
will on others, without respecting their freedom and rights?

* What use have I made of time, of health and strength, of the gifts God
has given me, like the talents of the Gospel? Do I use them for the
glory of God and the good of others and my true good? Do I use them
fully, or have I been lazy and too much given to leisure?

* Do I have a genuine love for my neighbors? Or do I use others for my own
ends, or do to them what I would not want done to myself? Have I given
grave scandal by my words or actions?

* In my family life, have I contributed to the well-being and
happiness of the others by patience and genuine love? Have I been
obedient to parents, showing them proper respect and giving them help
in their spiritual and material needs? Have I been careful to give a
Christian upbringing to my children, and to help them by good example
and by exercising authority as a parent? Have I been faithful to my
husband (wife) in my heart and in my relations with others?

* Do I share my possessions with the less fortunate? Do I do my best to
help the victims of oppression, misfortune, and poverty? Or do I look
down on my neighbor, especially the poor, the sick, the elderly,
strangers, and people of other races?

* Does my life reflect the mission I received in confirmation? Do I
share in the apostolic and charitable works of the Church and in the
life of my parish? Have I helped to meet the needs of the Church and
of the world and prayed for them: for unity in the Church, for the
spread of the Gospel among nations, for peace and justice, etc.?

* Am I concerned for the good and prosperity of the human community in
which I live, or do I spend my life caring only for myself? Do I
share to the best of my ability in the work of promoting justice,
morality, harmony, and love in human relations? Have I done my duty
as a citizen? Have I paid my taxes?

* In my work or profession am I just, hardworking, honest, serving society
out of love of others? Have I paid a fair wage to my employees? Have I
been faithful to my promises and contracts?

* Have I obeyed legitimate authority and given it due respect?

* If I am in a position of responsibility or authority, do I use this
for my own advantage or for the good of others, in a spirit of
service?

* Have I done violence to others by damage to life or limb, reputation,
honor or material possessions? Have I been responsible for advising an
abortion or procuring one? Have I been involved in permitting or
encouraging the breakdown of matrimony and its integrity through
artificial fertilization? Have I kept up hatred for others? Am I
estranged from others through quarrels, enmity, insults, anger? Have I
been guilty of refusing to testify to the innocence of another because of
selfishness?

* Have I kept my senses and my whole body pure and chaste as a temple
of the Holy Spirit, consecrated for resurrection and glory, and in
order to have the self-mastery and selfless love required to live out
my vocation in life? Have I dishonored my body by fornication,
impurity, unworthy conversation or thoughts, evil desires, or actions?
Have I given in to sensuality? Have I indulged in reading,
conversation, shows, and entertainments that offend against Christian
and human decency? Have I encouraged others to sin by my own failure
to maintain these standards? Have I been faithful to the moral law in
my married life? Am I guilty of the sin of contraception?

* Have I been truthful and fair, or have I injured others by deceit,
calumny, detraction, rash judgment, or violation of a secret?

* Have I stolen the property of others? Have I desired it unjustly and
inordinately? Have I damaged it? Have I made restitution of other
people's property and made good their loss?

* If I have been injured, have I been ready to make peace for the love of
Christ and to forgive, or do I harbor hatred and the desire for revenge?


OUR PURPOSE OF AMENDMENT

True sorrow for sins includes the firm resolve not to sin again and to
avoid the near occasions of sin. The Christian vocation, however, is
essentially a call to growth, in fact, to holiness itself. Our purpose of
amendment should include a resolve to advance, not only to avoid sin. It is
very appropriate to make resolutions to pray more, to study or work better, to
do more for others, God and the Church.

Some typical resolutions of spiritual growth:

- Make a daily examination of conscience.
- Read and reflect on Scripture for 5 minutes each day.
- Study a book of Christian Doctrine for one-half hour each week.
- Strive to have more order in the way I work or study.
- Smile more around the home.
- Get to know better the people I study, work and socialize with.
- Perform one act of self-denial each day for the love of God.
- Spend some time each week doing some act of service to those most in
need.
- Attend Mass one extra day during the week.
- Go to confession once a month.


SOME ACTS OF CONTRITION

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my
sins, because of Your just punishments, but most of all because they offend
You, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve
with the help of Your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of
sin.

My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong
and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all
things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and
to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died
for us. In his name, my God, have mercy.


CALIFORNIA YOUTH GRATEFUL TO THE POPE
350 7th Avenue, Suite 116
San Francisco, CA 94118

Catholic Information Network, electronic form, all rights reserved

Provided courtesy of:

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[zaangalewa]

Buddhist confession works so much better for me than Catholic confession ever did. No priest is necessary. You apply the Four Opponent Powers yourself.

A man from Tibet needs 30 years to become a doctor and a man in the West learns 3 months and thinks he's more perfect - specially if he is a Westerner without contact to other Buddhists but read some pages in a book of someone who also never was a Buddhist. Boy oh Boy: Anticatholicism is not Buddhism. Atheism is also not Buddhism.

 

[Meriweather]

Not to forget the worst form of sins: sins against the holy spirit or a "peccatum clamans". Lots of people for example think not to pay a salary is a kind of venial sin - but indeed this behavior is able to be a very heavy mortal sin, a "peccatum clamans" and sins against the holy spirit are not able to be forgiven at all.

Specially in this context I'm worried for the Clerics themselve. I am a remarried Catholic. So maybe I see the problem "remarriage" in a wrong way - but on the other side I'm not able to see it in any other way than my own way. It was one of the best decisions in my life to marry again and from my point of view and experience I'm only able to give everyone the advice to marry again. To marry again after my first partnership failed was not only very good for me but also very good for lots of other people. There's nothing wrong to be remarried - absolutelly nothing.

I fear on the other side that some Clerics make a very heavy mistake, if they are propagating an everlasting excommunication of remarried Catholics. It could be the behavior of this Clerics is indeed a sin against the holy spirit, because our Clerics are the only people, who are not able to be remarried. If Clerics should misuse the sacraments "marriage" and "eucharist" for to maximize the might of the Clerics within' the catholic church and to minimize in this way the might of the laymen in the catholic church then I fear this Clerics did not read what Jesus said in Matthew chapter 23 about scribes.

Sorry and forgive me - but I don't see any other way than to say what I think what the truth is. If our holy catholic church likes to survive than only the truth is able to save us. Hopefully I'm wrong with this what I said here - nevertheless I fear I'm not completly wrong in this question. But I'm convinced the gates of hell will not prevail against us.

It is true, Catholics who remarry may not receive the sacraments. However, I understand this stops short of excommunication. A classmate of mine had a mother who remarried, but she faithfully attended Mass and raised her children in the Church.

The problem with remarriage is that the Church does not join two people in marriage, it is the witness of the marriage of two people. The Church believes it is God who joins the two together, and it cannot set aside a valid marriage. It can investigate a marriage to judge whether it was indeed a valid marriage from the beginning, but if it was a valid marriage, then the Church has no authority to split what God joined. In your first marriage, was it you who desired a Catholic marriage, or were either of you under pressure to marry in the Church? Did anyone make promises they had no intention of keeping?

Throughout the Old Testament, despite the fact that God's plan was for one woman and one man to be joined in marriage, we do see God blessing the unions of men with more than one wife. There has been conversation within the Church whether--after a lengthy penance--remarried Catholics should be able to once again receive and be blessed by the sacraments. While Christ did set the standards for marriage, and the Church indeed has a responsibility to point to and uphold the standard that Christ set, I do hear the plea of remarried Catholics to take part in the sacraments. Do look at the other side of the coin, however. From the very beginning, Christians were cautioned and warned against receiving the Sacraments unworthily while in the state of sin. How can priests urge anyone to take part in that which may harm them spiritually? I pray the Holy Spirit sees the Church through this dilemma.

 

[zaangalewa]

Not to forget the worst form of sins: sins against the holy spirit or a "peccatum clamans". Lots of people for example think not to pay a salary is a kind of venial sin - but indeed this behavior is able to be a very heavy mortal sin, a "peccatum clamans" and sins against the holy spirit are not able to be forgiven at all.

Specially in this context I'm worried for the Clerics themselve. I am a remarried Catholic. So maybe I see the problem "remarriage" in a wrong way - but on the other side I'm not able to see it in any other way than my own way. It was one of the best decisions in my life to marry again and from my point of view and experience I'm only able to give everyone the advice to marry again. To marry again after my first partnership failed was not only very good for me but also very good for lots of other people. There's nothing wrong to be remarried - absolutelly nothing.

I fear on the other side that some Clerics make a very heavy mistake, if they are propagating an everlasting excommunication of remarried Catholics. It could be the behavior of this Clerics is indeed a sin against the holy spirit, because our Clerics are the only people, who are not able to be remarried. If Clerics should misuse the sacraments "marriage" and "eucharist" for to maximize the might of the Clerics within' the catholic church and to minimize in this way the might of the laymen in the catholic church then I fear this Clerics did not read what Jesus said in Matthew chapter 23 about scribes.

Sorry and forgive me - but I don't see any other way than to say what I think what the truth is. If our holy catholic church likes to survive than only the truth is able to save us. Hopefully I'm wrong with this what I said here - nevertheless I fear I'm not completly wrong in this question. But I'm convinced the gates of hell will not prevail against us.

It is true, Catholics who remarry may not receive the sacraments. However, I understand this stops short of excommunication. A classmate of mine had a mother who remarried, but she faithfully attended Mass and raised her children in the Church.

The problem with remarriage is that the Church does not join two people in marriage, it is the witness of the marriage of two people. The Church believes it is God who joins the two together, and it cannot set aside a valid marriage. It can investigate a marriage to judge whether it was indeed a valid marriage from the beginning, but if it was a valid marriage, then the Church has no authority to split what God joined. In your first marriage, was it you who desired a Catholic marriage, or were either of you under pressure to marry in the Church? Did anyone make promises they had no intention of keeping?

Throughout the Old Testament, despite the fact that God's plan was for one woman and one man to be joined in marriage, we do see God blessing the unions of men with more than one wife. There has been conversation within the Church whether--after a lengthy penance--remarried Catholics should be able to once again receive and be blessed by the sacraments. While Christ did set the standards for marriage, and the Church indeed has a responsibility to point to and uphold the standard that Christ set, I do hear the plea of remarried Catholics to take part in the sacraments.

No - not any longer. I never will celebrate Eucharist anymore - completly independent from anything else than this decision. With me will die a man without being able to believe in the weapon eucharist any longer. I have by the way christian ancestors since more than 1500 years and jewish ancestors since about 6000 years.

Do look at the other side of the coin, however. From the very beginning, Christians were cautioned and warned against receiving the Sacraments unworthily while in the state of sin. How can priests urge anyone to take part in that which may harm them spiritually? I pray the Holy Spirit sees the Church through this dilemma.

When I grew up no one ever knew anything about the problem "remarriage". This discussion is a very modern conservative revolution in the church without any tradition. But you are right: Only the spirit will help the church to minimize this lack of logic in the church. For me personally is this problem not very important - I'm old and the world all around me reorganized my problems and me in other ways - but a lack of logic is maybe also always a distance from god. I don't know what's exactly wrong but I know there's something wrong. As you said the holy spirit might enlighten us to find the best ways - and I say: also if this way means to marry again. Someone has also to know when it is necessary to break the rules.

 

[Dhara]

I think batcrap suffers from mental illness. He hates G-d because he wants to be G-d. But in real life he is a loser on all levels.

I suspect something similar. I think he was probably raised as a Catholic, had good Christian values instilled in him as a child, but has chosen to rebel against these values, and to willfully lead a life of wickedness. I think he knows that what he does is wrong, and is wracked with guilt over it, and blames Christianity in general, and Catholicism in particular, for the guilt and associated misery.

It may depend on what generation of Catholic you are or were. I certainly heard "make a good confession" as a kid. It was what was needed if you wanted to receive communion.
Nah, he's just a hateful old loon seeking attention. I've never heard the term "good confession", you go in, fess up and take your medicine

 

[Dhara]

Not to forget the worst form of sins: sins against the holy spirit or a "peccatum clamans". Lots of people for example think not to pay a salary is a kind of venial sin - but indeed this behavior is able to be a very heavy mortal sin, a "peccatum clamans" and sins against the holy spirit are not able to be forgiven at all.

Specially in this context I'm worried for the Clerics themselve. I am a remarried Catholic. So maybe I see the problem "remarriage" in a wrong way - but on the other side I'm not able to see it in any other way than my own way. It was one of the best decisions in my life to marry again and from my point of view and experience I'm only able to give everyone the advice to marry again. To marry again after my first partnership failed was not only very good for me but also very good for lots of other people. There's nothing wrong to be remarried - absolutelly nothing.

I fear on the other side that some Clerics make a very heavy mistake, if they are propagating an everlasting excommunication of remarried Catholics. It could be the behavior of this Clerics is indeed a sin against the holy spirit, because our Clerics are the only people, who are not able to be remarried. If Clerics should misuse the sacraments "marriage" and "eucharist" for to maximize the might of the Clerics within' the catholic church and to minimize in this way the might of the laymen in the catholic church then I fear this Clerics did not read what Jesus said in Matthew chapter 23 about scribes.

Sorry and forgive me - but I don't see any other way than to say what I think what the truth is. If our holy catholic church likes to survive than only the truth is able to save us. Hopefully I'm wrong with this what I said here - nevertheless I fear I'm not completly wrong in this question. But I'm convinced the gates of hell will not prevail against us.

It is true, Catholics who remarry may not receive the sacraments. However, I understand this stops short of excommunication. A classmate of mine had a mother who remarried, but she faithfully attended Mass and raised her children in the Church.

The problem with remarriage is that the Church does not join two people in marriage, it is the witness of the marriage of two people. The Church believes it is God who joins the two together, and it cannot set aside a valid marriage. It can investigate a marriage to judge whether it was indeed a valid marriage from the beginning, but if it was a valid marriage, then the Church has no authority to split what God joined. In your first marriage, was it you who desired a Catholic marriage, or were either of you under pressure to marry in the Church? Did anyone make promises they had no intention of keeping?

Throughout the Old Testament, despite the fact that God's plan was for one woman and one man to be joined in marriage, we do see God blessing the unions of men with more than one wife. There has been conversation within the Church whether--after a lengthy penance--remarried Catholics should be able to once again receive and be blessed by the sacraments. While Christ did set the standards for marriage, and the Church indeed has a responsibility to point to and uphold the standard that Christ set, I do hear the plea of remarried Catholics to take part in the sacraments. Do look at the other side of the coin, however. From the very beginning, Christians were cautioned and warned against receiving the Sacraments unworthily while in the state of sin. How can priests urge anyone to take part in that which may harm them spiritually? I pray the Holy Spirit sees the Church through this dilemma.

The fact that the RCC ex-communicated people who committed suicide was hard for me to understand.

 

[Meriweather]

The fact that the RCC ex-communicated people who committed suicide was hard for me to understand.

As far as I know the Catholic Church has never excommunicated anyone posthumously. Are you speaking of a time when suicides were not buried in Christian cemeteries?

Keep in mind, the Catholic Church has never said that anyone (including Judas) is in hell. Excommunication is simply notice that one is outside the teachings of the Church. So yes, anyone who attempts suicide has excommunicated themselves (sin of murder).

Also keep in mind for any sin to be mortal, the individual must know the sin is serious, knows that it will offend God, and knowing it will offend God and cause separation from Him, will for this offense and this eternal separation. If someone is not in his/her right mind, the criteria for mortal sin is usually not met.

 

[LilyWhite]

It means you confessed all your sins, are truly sorry for them, and intend to reform.

 

[Dhara]

The fact that the RCC ex-communicated people who committed suicide was hard for me to understand.

As far as I know the Catholic Church has never excommunicated anyone posthumously. Are you speaking of a time when suicides were not buried in Christian cemeteries?

Keep in mind, the Catholic Church has never said that anyone (including Judas) is in hell. Excommunication is simply notice that one is outside the teachings of the Church. So yes, anyone who attempts suicide has excommunicated themselves (sin of murder).

Also keep in mind for any sin to be mortal, the individual must know the sin is serious, knows that it will offend God, and knowing it will offend God and cause separation from Him, will for this offense and this eternal separation. If someone is not in his/her right mind, the criteria for mortal sin is usually not met.

My father committed suicide. It was after that I put the RCC behind me.

 

[OZman]

My father committed suicide. It was after that I put the RCC behind me.

That was a very wise decision Dhara.

 

[Meriweather]

My father committed suicide. It was after that I put the RCC behind me.

So you left rather than elect to become a part of a Catholic ministries that help family and friends deal with suicide?

 

[Meriweather]

Correct. The RCC did NOTHING for me or my Dad.

What did you want the Church to do? Who did you speak with, and what did they say?

 

[Dhara]

My father committed suicide. It was after that I put the RCC behind me.

So you left rather than elect to become a part of a Catholic ministries that help family and friends deal with suicide?

Yes, I sure did. I knew the teaching on suicide condeming my father to eternal hell was wrong. His suicide is the reason I found Buddhism.

 

[Meriweather]

Yes, I sure did. I knew the teaching on suicide condeming my father to eternal hell was wrong. His suicide is the reason I found Buddhism.

1. The Church cannot condemn anyone to hell--including Judas. The Church does point out the types of sins that puts one in danger of hell, but the Church has always recognized it has no authority to state who, if anyone, is in hell. Instead, the soul (even those in danger of hell) is entrusted to the mercy and kindness of God.

2. The Church teaches that a soul may still be purified after death (purgatory). The entire month of November is devoted to praying for the deceased--no matter how they died. Since 1048, November 2 is the day the Church especially honor souls being purified.

3. The Church has ministries specifically designed to help those after the loss of a loved one, and the loss via suicide is included in this ministry.

 

[Dhara]

That wasn't the case for me in 1981, when my father died. The RCC has made many improvements but they came too little to late for me and my dad.

 

[Dhara]

Looking back at my whole relationship with the RCC, and how it was practiced so rigidly and so shame-based in my family, I realize that being Catholic isn't a uniform experience.

The good that came out of my father's suicide was leaving my dysfunctional family of origin and religion of origin for good.

 

[Meriweather]

That wasn't the case for me in 1981, when my father died. The RCC has made many improvements but they came too little to late for me and my dad.

In 1981 I was alternating between two Catholic parishes in the town in which I lived. It had been the case in both these parishes for quite some time, and I'm speaking of over a decade. I do understand that it one town, and smaller towns may not have all the ministries available in larger ones.

I was ten years old when we were taught about God's mercy and All Souls Day--and that was quite awhile before 1981. Remember, Judas is thought to have committed suicide, and the Church doesn't teach Judas is in hell.