I am a Baptist, recently engaged to a Catholic. I know what I believe, but sometimes when talking about religion I find that my finacee does not know much about his religion. We tend to get into heated debates and he often ends up feeling offended by the time all is said and done. I have heard that if a Catholic marries a non-Catholic they are condemed to hell. Is this true?

Also, what is the deal with the saints? I don't understand as in the Bible God says, "Thou shalt have no otehr gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of amy thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down theyself to them, nor serve them... (Exodus 20:3-5). Who designates people to be saints and why? Is this worship of a god other than GOD?

-- Rhonda (rhondad007@aol.com), April 21, 2004

Answers

Response to are Catholics condemed to hell for marrying a non catholic?

I can't answer your first question on marriage, but I doubt that your fiancee would be condemned to hell.

Saints are not gods. They are holy people that we know are in heaven. We know they are in heaven because they have performed miracles for us. There is an office of the Church that designates who a Saint it. It usually takes a long time. The person's life is heavily investigated. Ever hear of someone being called a "devil's advocate?" This title came from this office, because there is a person that's soul job is to try to prove that the holy person should not be considered a saint.

Saints are great people. They pray for us before God. Imagen asking a friend to pray for you, except your friend is constantly praying for you because he/she does not ever need a break from prayer. This is what Saints are like. They are like mega-friends. They care so much about you that they will constantly pray to God on your behalf.

I know it seems like idol worship, but it is not. Prayers to Saints are just very formal ways of asking the Saint to pray for us.

-- Scott (papasquat10@hotmail.com), April 21, 2004.

Response to are Catholics condemed to hell for marrying a non catholic?

I believe that Catholics used to be excommunicated for marrying non-Catholics, but Vatican II changed this.

-- Mark (aujus_1066@yahoo.com), April 21, 2004.

Response to are Catholics condemed to hell for marrying a non catholic?

Where did you hear that Rhonda?

That is not true. Catholics are not condemned to hell for marrying a non-Catholic. Mortal sin is what condemns anyone to hell and that is accomplished by our own free choice. Mortal sin destroys our friendship with God because we must abide in Christ and He in us for us to gain eternal life. Mortal sin is committing something along the lines of premeditated murder.

Encourage your fiancee to learn more about his faith. You will find that increasing his faith will make him a better husband.

-- Andy (aszmere@earthlink.net), April 22, 2004.

Response to are Catholics condemed to hell for marrying a non catholic?

Sorry for my rudeness Rhonda.

I should have first congratulated you on your engagement.

Congratulations!

-- Andy (aszmere@earthlink.net), April 22, 2004.

Response to are Catholics condemed to hell for marrying a non catholic?

By the way, my wife's sister is Catholic and she married a Methodist. I'm going off what I know about her experience.

-- Andy (aszmere@earthlink.net), April 22, 2004.

Response to are Catholics condemed to hell for marrying a non catholic?

"are Catholics condemed to hell for marrying a non catholic? "

Well, that depends on the lack of love between the two. Some marriages are tougher than others I suppose. Just kidding.

...

-- rod (elreyrod@yahoo.com), April 22, 2004.

Response to are Catholics condemed to hell for marrying a non catholic?

Hi Rhonda,

I have a problem when men choose other men to be saints, for all men are sinners and make mistakes. And besides why do you need saints to pray on your behalf, when you can pray DIRECTLY to God himself.

1 Timothy 2:5, "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus"

He claimed to be the ONLY way to God Not one of several ways, but the one and only way. Not to teach the way, but to be the way to God. Nobody has ever made claims like that before and backed them, but Jesus did through his love, balanced life, and miracles.

John 14:6 "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but by me."

You know the Word, Rhonda

-- Nolan (nolannaicker@webmail.co.za), July 21, 2004.

Response to are Catholics condemed to hell for marrying a non catholic?

"I have a problem when men choose other men to be saints, for all men are sinners and make mistakes."

A: Men do not "choose other men to be saints". God chooses men to be saints when He grants them eternal salvation and welcomes them home into heaven. The Church merely acknowledges that certain people have indeed received sainthood from God, based upon their exceptionally holy lives on earth. Of course there are billions of other saints who are not specifically acknowledged by the Church - everyone who is in heaven, and these are no less saints that those officially recognized by the Church.

"And besides why do you need saints to pray on your behalf, when you can pray DIRECTLY to God himself"

A: Of course we can pray directly to God Himself! And we do! But the intercession of others is a powerful weapon in spiritual warfare. Which is more powerful, to face an enemy army alone, with my own gun; or to face an enemy army as a member of a friendly army, having my own weapon but also surrounded by others who will use their weapons in my defense? Which is better, to simply offer my own private prayer to God and leave it at that; or to offer my own private prayers, knowing that many others are also praying to God on my behalf? This the "Communion of Saints". I'll take all the intercession I can get! So did Paul. He constantly asked for prayers of intercession ...

"Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together IN YOUR PRAYERS TO GOD FOR ME." (Romans 15:30)

"... PRAY ON MY BEHALF, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel. (Ephesians 6:19)

"With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance AND PETITION FOR ALL THE SAINTS". (Ephesians 6:18)

"... PRAYING AT THE SAME TIME FOR US AS WELL, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned. (Colossians 4:3)

"First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made ON BEHALF OF ALL MEN" (1 Timothy 2:1)

And, He offered intercession for others ...

"... I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day" (2 Timothy 1:3)

"I do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers" (Ephesians 1:16)

So, obviously prayer of intercession has been part of Christian life from the beginning. Your problem of course is that some of the saints have left this earthly life, and you apparently think that these saints either (1) have lost the ability to pray, or (2) have stopped loving and caring for their friends and families on earth. Maybe you even think they are "dead". However, the early Catholic Church took seriously the promise of Christ, "everyone who lives and believes in Me WILL NEVER DIE". (John 11:26) That same Church still takes the Word of God just as seriously today. During the funeral rites of the Catholic Church, the priest says "life is not ended, only changed". Since those who have passed on are still alive and healthy, since they experience love for their fellow man more intensely than they ever could on earth, and since they can now pray far more effectively than they could as earthly sinners, it is obvious that they must be interceding for us constantly.

"For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus"

A: This passage, which Protestants almost universally misunderstand, has absolutely nothing to do with the intercession of the saints. It refers to the single salvific act of Jesus Christ on the Cross, which once and for all time bridged the gap between God and man which had resulted from the sin of Adam and Eve. THAT was the ONE work of mediation, and yes, Christ was the ONE Mediator. Intercession on the other hand simply means praying on behalf of another, something that every Christian is called to do.

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), July 21, 2004.

Of course Catholics aren't damned for marrying non-Catholics! St Augustine's mom (St Monica) was married to a pagan and she's been declared a saint (he later converted).

-- Joe (joestong@yahoo.com), July 21, 2004.