A friend of mine recently posted on Facebook that she doesn't do that "Catholic thing" anymore. Despite growing up in a Catholic family that was active in their parish, being educated in Catholic grammar and high schools, attending a Catholic college, and being married by an uncle-priest, she has apparently come to the conclusion that the Catholic Church is nothing more than "made-up nonsensical rules" that are irrelevant to her as a "liberal Democrat" grandmother. I think her life has not been easy. Her first marriage ended in divorce and left her to raise three beautiful daughters. I believe she had other challenges that she has bravely overcome. She is married for a second time...to a man who loves her and her daughters and treats her with respect. My friend and her husband are enjoying their "retirement," though she has embarked on a second career in real estate; she is a loving, devoted grandmother (if FB photos are any indication!).
My friend attends a non-denominational church "for myself" in order connect with a "Higher Power." She believes she cannot receive the Eucharist in a Catholic Church "because I am divorced." She never had her first marriage annulled because she thinks it would be prohibitively expensive. In addition, it sounds like she thinks an annulment would negate the fact that her first marriage ever occurred. She also had a few choice comments regarding her opinion of the celibate priesthood as a cause of the scandals that came to light so prominently almost 15 years ago. On the positive side, she loves Pope Francis!
My friend attends a non-denominational church "for myself" in order connect with a "Higher Power." She believes she cannot receive the Eucharist in a Catholic Church "because I am divorced." She never had her first marriage annulled because she thinks it would be prohibitively expensive. In addition, it sounds like she thinks an annulment would negate the fact that her first marriage ever occurred. She also had a few choice comments regarding her opinion of the celibate priesthood as a cause of the scandals that came to light so prominently almost 15 years ago. On the positive side, she loves Pope Francis!