I am considering becoming a Catholic but I have fathered a child out of the bounds of marriage. I am living with the child and taking care of her. I am also divorced but the child is not my ex-wifes. Will there be any problems with me joining the Church?

-- Jeff (celticfirestorm@hotmail.com), April 01, 2004

Answers

bump

-- (bump@bump.bump), April 01, 2004.

Noproblem at all. "All have sinned and come short of the Glory of God."

The Church as based upon repentence of sinenrs, jesus said he came for the Lost, not the ones well at home.

The Chruch was formed to help peopel retirn to God, not to hold those who sinned away permenently.

The Churhc, contrary to Popular cultures image, is the most accepting place on earth. The Churhc accepts all people, btu calls them to repentence out of genuine Love for them. You mist know by now how empty a worldly life really is, and how much pain sin can cause. Why else consider becoming Cahtolic? ( Or Christain in general?) You know that soemthign is missing and the way you live just sint right. You feel the need to become righeous, and you have cound a nice way, by joining a Church.

Now you think your past deeds will hamper. However, need I remind you, Augusitine, who was later hailed as a Saint, had numerous sexual conaqueasts before becomign Chrisain. Likewise, Paul the Apostle was a persecutor of the Chruch itsself before he converted, and became the greatest of evangelists.

Their are any numebr of peopel who came form sordid backgrounds. Form prostitutes to Liars to extrotioners to murderers, who nevertheless became great defeners of the Faith, and truely great men and womenof God , in his service, after a sincere repentence and reocnciliation.

So no, your Child who is Illegetemate will nto hamper you, an who knows, theouhg your devotion, he too may be, by your xample, drawn to faith, and lead a better, prurer life, filled with happiness, contentment, and peace of midn that only God can brng.

By the way, welcome back to God's family.

-- ZAROVE (ZAROFF3@JUNO.COM), April 01, 2004.

Jeff,

It is wonderful to hear that you want to become part of God's family. Jesus is the founder of our faith as Christians, and we all follow His example.

See here how he treats a woman who was caught in adultery:
John 8 (New American Bible)
3 Then the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery and made her stand in the middle. 4 They said to him, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. 5 Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. 2 So what do you say?" 6 They said this to test him, so that they could have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. 7 But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, "Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her." 8 Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. 10 Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?" 11 She replied, "No one, sir." Then Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go, (and) from now on do not sin any more."

You see, Jesus showed her love and forgiveness. But he also told her to leave her life of sin. There is hope found in Jesus - freedom from the bondage of sin.

Here is another story about Jesus from Luke 15 (NAB)
1 The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to him, 2 but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." 3 So to them he addressed this parable. 4 "What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? 5 And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy 6 and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, 'Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.' 7 I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.

Again we see that Jesus shows love to everyone. We are all sinners, Jeff. If sinners were not allowed to join the Church, there would be no Church. But the wonder of God's mercy is that He loves us in spite of our sin and wants to make us His children. He wants us to abandon sin and embrace the freedom that He offers in Christ.

Read the rest of Luke 15 for more encouraging stories about sinners coming to God.

For more information about how to grow in your Christian faith, read this: God's Love for You. God bless you, Jeff. I will pray for you and I hope that in your journey you find your way to the Church. Please let us know how it works out.

-- Emily (jesusfollower7@yahoo.com), April 01, 2004.

Zarove and Emily summed it up extremely well. I will pray for you.

-- Andy (aszmere@earthlink.net), April 01, 2004.

Jeff..welcome..How wonderful for you and your child that you are seeking the Church..please come back and let us know when we can truly celebrate with you !!!!!!!!!!

-- lesley (martchas@hotmail.com), April 01, 2004.

God bless you, Jeff. When I read your post, I thought of a quote I saw recently. I cannot remember the author, but this is the quote:

"All saints have a past and all sinners have a future."

May your future in the Catholic Church be a blessed one, filled with all of God's graces.

-- MaryLu (mcl327@juno.com), April 03, 2004.