Catholics/illegitimate children

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Expert: Fr. Timothy Johnson - 7/10/2009


Question
Dear Father,

I have a question regarding illegitimate children. I am looking for the viewpoint from the Traditional point f view. Most of my family follows the traditional church. An issue has arisen that has sparked controversy between us on this issue.

Here is the situation; I have a niece who was born out of wedlock almost thirty years ago. She has gone on to marry a man who also is a traditionalist. They have had several kids who are also being raised as traditionalists. I have another niece, the first ones half sister. She has mad some of the same mistakes that their mother made and has become pregnant. The older sister, my mother and my sister, not the mother of the two girls, are refusing to have anything to do with my younger niece do to her situation. I tried to tell them that this was hypocritical especially for my older niece who has no idea who her father is. I have tried to explain to these women that everyone makes mistakes and the bible is quite clear that we should not turn our backs on people just because they made a mistake in life.

However, I think I opened a can of worms and the debate has gone from the younger niece to the older one. My question is this, if the older niece was born out of wedlock is she even entitled to be in the traditional Catholic Church? We have had arguments on both sides of this issue. If you could let me know the churches stance on this I would appreciate your time.


Answer
Hi, Dennis:
Thanks foe the question.
Each human soul stands alone before God Who created them a living being, precious, unique, and unrepeatable.  One's natural birth circumstances do not exclude from the response of Faith in Jesus Christ and membership in His Holy Catholic Church.  One undergoes the new birth of regeneration by the operation of God's Grace in the soul to remove the guilt of original sin, and begin the Divine life of God in the soul as an adopted son of God.
We should not turn our backs on people; rather, we ought to do all we can to help them come to Faith and salvation in Christ.

Fr. Timothy Johnson

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Fr. Timothy Johnson

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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.

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.

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