Expert: Fr. Michael - 1/12/2005

Question
Dear father,

Im a devoted catholic. And I only started to follow my faith Easter 2004 after seeing a young man entering the last stages of his training as a priest and since has been ordained as a priest. I have been experiencing a rough patch in my marriage and sought advice from this newly ordained priest. His advice was suprising he adviced me to leave my husband and start anew because im still young (im 25). I found 3 problems with the remark.
1. I have 2 young children to think of
2. I believe that the catholic church's view is there is no such thing as divorce and
3. I took offence to his remark and really think he should apolagise to me and my husband.
What should I do about this matter

Answer
Without knowing all the facts, I cannot say for sure, but I must assume that you are not speaking with a (traditional) Roman Catholic priest, but with a presbyter of the New Order  Church.  The New Order is a Protestantized version of "Catholicism" that has grown up since Vatican Council II.  It really does not represent the authentic teachings of Catholicism.

Your first two concerns are legitimate.  I wouldn't push the third.  That is just the way these presbyters of the New Order Church are, and you'd probably just get a lot of back talk.

Better just to absent yourself from this individual and find a church or chapel that stays with the (traditional) Roman Catholic Faith.  There is a listing of such churches and chapels at www.traditio.com/tradlib/masslat.