Minutes of Hope

  I used to sit for hours in confessional boxes listening for confessions when I was assigned in the Shrine of Our lady of Grace Parish in Caloocan City, Philippines a few years back. I remember during holy week, people would queue to priests asking for forgiveness for their sins as well as to ask for advices in their difficult situations. As a priest, that is one of my responsibilities or duties, a faculty given by the Catholic Church to absolve sins in behalf of God. In fact, we have to pass an exam we call " Ad Auds " to receive that faculty as stated in Canon Law. But how do people understand confession? Do people still believe in confession in a a "traditional" manner in which there must a priest to absolve their sins? For the Catholic Church, confession is an act of God pardoning our sins through the presence of an ordained person, a priest. It is the Church's teaching that the priest stands as the " alter Christus " or the representative of Chri...

Do you want a divorce？ Many married couples today are asking why is divorce not allowed in the Church. With the differing circumstances and situations among married couples, many are pushing for the approval of divorce in the Church. For me, that’s a valid question knowing that there are couples who are struggling in their married life. Or maybe others have some sort of doubts whether or not it is still necessary to continue their relationship. In any case, let’s look at the Church. So, what is the stand of the Catholic Church?  Unfortunately (for those people thinking it should be allowed) or fortunately, the Roman Catholic Church does not recognise divorce even today. So, if you hear some news regarding a church which allows divorce, then that is not the Catholic Church.  Although some countries approve its validity, where a married person can engage into another marriage, the Catholic Church still recognises that the marriage in the first act is still valid and continues “i...