AboutFr. Timothy Johnson Expertise A Traditional Catholic Priest, validly and licitly ordained, incardinated legally and canonically in the Diocese of Fargo, and in good-standing with my Local Ordinary (Bishop) on active assignment at a rural Tri-Parish. I can provide honest and balanced answers to questions on topics pertaining to Traditional Roman Catholicism of the Latin Church (Councils of Trent and Vatican II)and a lot about the Eastern Catholic Churches, including the Sacred Liturgy, Sacred Scripture, Church History, the use of the Latin language, the tradition of Sacred Music, and current events in the Catholic Church from a traditional, historical and balanced perspective.
Experience I have been ordained a Roman Catholic Priest since June 2001, and so am entering into my 7th year of Sacred Ministry.
Organizations Knights of Columbus; Church Music Association of America (CMAA)
Education/Credentials Ordained Priest, 02 JUN 2001; Ordained Deacon, 27 JAN 2001; MA - Dogmatic/Systematic Theology;
MDiv - Professional Degree from Seminary;
2-Years formation with Canons Regular of Premontre including studies and experience in Sacred Liturgy, Chant, Latin, Sacraments, Spirituality.
BA - Scholastic/Thomistic Philosophy;
BA - Liberal Arts;
AA - General Studies.
Past/Present Clients I serve 3-small, rural Parish Communities in Easter North Dakota
I converted to the Roman Catholic Church in 1981, at the age of 15.
Over the years I have done work as an organist, cantor, and choir director for the Latin Rite (English & Latin) Mass (Liturgy of the Eucharist), and even for the Hours of the Divine Office.
I have worked as a cantor for a Melkite Byzantine Catholic Church.
Presently my pastoral and administrative duties as a Catholic Priest do not allow me as much time as I used to have to devote to Sacred Music; but for my weekend Masses and Solemnities within my Tri-Parish, I offer High Sung Mass in English. Weekday Mass is typically Low Mass (recited Mass) in English, though on occasion I will offer the "Tridentine Mass" in Latin, which I usually offer on my "Day Off", as well. And now, in light of the "Motu Proprio" by his Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI placing the extraordinary usage of the Roman Rite back into the mainstream of the Catholic Church, I have been offering a regularly scheduled SUN, 2:00 PM Tridentine Latin Mass with a community of the faithful that has a stable existence.
Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson Date: 7/14/2008 Subject: Catholisism and Christianity
Question Fr. Timothy Johnson,
I am Catholic and I am in a realtionship with a Christian man. We are unmarried and considering that step, but have been having trouble concerning our difference in religions. He has been seeing a counselor and seems to be becoming more worried about the matter. We are completely in love, but are both devout and are opposed to converting. What should we do? Besides the fact that most Christians believes in communion as a memorial meal, what is the big difference?
God bless!!
Sarah
Answer Hi, Sarah:
Thanks for the question.
If you take the step to get engaged and work toward marriage, then you ought to have plenty of opportunity to discuss more of these details with the Priest who will be doing your marriage prep. I want to correct your usage of the terms Christian vs. Catholic, as the Catholic Church is the Christian Church established historically by the Lord Jesus Christ. I will have to assume that you mean by your use of terms that your boy friend is some sort of non-Catholic Christian...
Non-Catholic Christians deny a number of things that would be fundamental to being a Catholic, even the divine founding of the Church by Jesus Christ as a real and visible institution. As for their ideas about communion, those are as wide and varied as one could hardly imagine among non-Catholics. At the same time, there are a number of doctrines about Jesus Christ and God the Holy Trinity that non-Catholic Christians owe to their inheritance from the original Catholic Church. I mean, it is not as if they could reject absolutely everything about the Catholic Church they broke off from, or else they would have no claim to anything Christian.
The "big difference" boils down primarily to AUTHORITY. Does one accept or reject the authority that Jesus Christ gave to His Apostles to preach and govern the Church as a visible institution endowed with spiritual gifts and graces for salvation.
Keep the communication going, and I wish you both the best of everything for your futures.
