Is it important to join a certain solidality? what is the adavantage of joining such groups.

by MARIA MQADI
(SOUTH AFRICA)

QUESTION:

Is it important to join a certain solidality? What is the adavantage of joining such groups?
I am referring to groups like the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Virgin Mary and others.


ANSWER:

Joining Catholic religious groups can be a good way for you to strengthen your life in the Faith. Meeting fellow Catholics is a good support system for you - our friends in the Faith will help strengthen you, give you advice, and support you in your life as a Catholic.

QUESTION:

Why is it wrong for Catholics to get married and start families. I do understand that to be a Priest is a calling and you fully dedicate your life to serving God. How many Priests have suspected of fallen in this humiliation of having affairs. This is humiliating our Religion.

ANSWER:

The Catholic Church teaches the value of celibacy for priests and other religious. Celibacy, or the vow of chastity, is a symbol of the personal sacrifice and the full dedication of the life of the priest and the religious to God.

Priests who make the vow of celibacy do so under oath with God - and will therefore be answerable only to God for breaking such an oath. The seeming proliferation of clerical abuses does not justify the Church lifting its rule on celibacy.

However, take note that these reports of clerical abuses are reported by media - which tend to sensationalize and focus on the negative. It is unfortunate that our modern media highlights these clerical abuses, while relatively ignoring the vast majority of priests who are dedicated to their mission and committed to celibacy. Let us not forget that while there are priests who do scandalize us by breaking their vows, there are many many more others who are loyal to their vocation and are fully dedicated to their mission of serving God.