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I don't know if this is the right place to forward my question,
but I figure I will give it a try. don't know how to make my
long story "short" so I am just going straight to my problem. I
was born and raise as a catholic and of course as well as my
family (mom, dad, brother and sister). I have a relationship
with a "non-catholic" guy for ten years already and yes we are
still together. we had a child together, she was baptize and
already receive first communion (this is just to let you know
that she was raise under catholic life). As for my
"non-catholic" partner, he already went thru and completed the
prep. course, where they prepare you to be baptize. But at the
last minute, (where in just one more week is the official
ceremony on Easter) I call him up and said that, "don't convert
just because you want to be with me (because he told me he
doesn't believe in God)". So then everything was cancel. I
realize that if he want to convert then let it come from the
heart and faith not by forcing. As for me the only thing that I
feel VERY guilty is that I haven't receive communion for ten
years already and I DO NOT want to stretch this problem any
longer. Well the above is to give you and brief idea of my
problem and here is my question. Are there a way to let me
legally receive communion when I go to church without my partner
have to convert into a catholic? I hope I don't confuse you with
my unorganized story Thank you Father .
Kelly Nguyen
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Đáp:
Thank you for your good question. I understand your difficult
situation. For a brief answer I would say: Yes, there is some
way by which you can receive communion legally even your partner
might not convert to the Catholic Church. The only one thing you
have to do is to ask the Church to validate your marriage. As I
understand, your marriage has not been recognized by the Church
because your marriage was not contracted in the presence of the
local Ordinary or parish priest, and in the presence of two
witnesses. In other words, your marriage is not valid. Now you
can bring the case to your parish priest and ask him to validate
your marriage. You may ask him to help you asking for a
dispensation needed for the marriage in which one partner is a
Catholic, and another is a non-baptized person. After that, he
will work out to let you celebrate your marriage in the Church.
I hope that your pastor will willingly help you to solve this
problem. |