Expert: Rick Jackson - 6/24/2008

Question
I have always been drawn to the Catholic religion and my father is catholic of course I still to this day don't know who he is.  I now have children of my own and a husband, and we have been discussing religion and decided the one that we think soots our beliefs the best is the roman catholic religion.

However I have been married once before my current husband and not truly by choice it was to keep a roof over the head of my son. However I have meet the man of my dreams and my soul mate for life and we decided to get married, and we have a child together and are planning at least one more.  And I have tattoo's from my teen years that I got after being thrown out of a church for refusing to let go of my boyfriends hand in church, they didn't believe we should hold hands because we were of different races, and I told them that God wasn't prejudice and that I would not.  That God loves all of his children.  And they told me not to return and to this day I haven't returned to church but I want to. I am ready to be a child of God again and practice his word.  

So I guess my question is could I become a Roman Catholic with tattoos and having married 2, only one of which I wanted. and having a son by a different father then the rest of my children And what is the roman catholic outlook on women and men getting fixed, to avoid having more children then they can afford to care for. Loving children comes easily but money not so much.  And what is the roman catholic outlook on being military, because my husband is military however is about to get out of service.

Please get back to me as soon as you can.  We want to start going to church, the right church, very soon.

Thank you,
Lisa

Answer
Hi Lisa.  

I can and will comment but before I do: The first thing you need to do is sit down with a priest.  You have a long road ahead of you but I am positive that it will not be as gloomy or difficult as you may imagine.

You'll need to seek annulment of the first marriage and blessing for the 2nd.

Many good Catholic Christians are in the military.  The Catholic Church does not at all condemn being in the military.

I think you two should also attend RCIA, which is a several month course in the teachings of the faith.

Really, though: make an appointment to see a priest, who can walk you through the next steps you need to take.

Peace and Blessings, Lisa.

Rick.