The People Speak Out

Local voices connecting globally

This is important: to get to know people, listen, expand the circle of ideas. The world is crisscrossed by roads that come closer together and move apart, but the important thing is that they lead towards the Good.  (Pope Francis)

Canon Law 212 calls upon the laity to speak up:

2 - The Christian faithful are free to make known to the pastors of the Church their needs, especially spiritual ones, and their desires.

§3. - According to the knowledge, competence, and prestige which they possess, they have the right and even at times the duty to manifest to the sacred pastors their opinion on matters which pertain to the good of the Church and to make their opinion known to the rest of the Christian faithful, without prejudice to the integrity of faith and morals, with reverence toward their pastors, and attentive to common advantage and the dignity of persons.

Articles in this topic (Divorce and remarriage)

Where was Mother Church when I was being abused?

| Written by Virginia (Australia) | Print | Hits: 2326

Dear Holy Father

I left my increasingly verbally and psychologically abusive husband after 29 years. I couldn’t take it any more, nor could I let our daughters see it as an example of life in marriage. In the end we divorced. I left the Catholic church at the same time.

We were a couple who sat in the front row of church every Sunday, raised our daughters in Catholic schools, sent them to Antioch (friends there still their friends) and looked like a model Catholic family. What happened? My husband wouldn’t hear my cries for honesty in himself and our marriage. He was drinking and gambling away his hard earned money. He took it out on me.

Then I heard George Pell say “This isn’t a cafeteria faith where you pick out what you want and leave the rest”. So I figured I just couldn’t stay. I gave up being a Catholic and a Christian.

I cooperated with the church for an annulment – that he wanted- and some man said “Mother church cares about your spiritual development”. Where was Mother Church when I was being abused? George Pell was in charge, that’s where.

I have now happily remarried an Anglican, and worship in a Unitarian Church. I am happy. Yet to this day I feel so sad because I had to leave a church I loved because it wasn’t a “cafeteria” faith. My faith went with it. I wish I could believe again, but I just cannot.{jcomments on}

Category: Divorce and Remarriage