Msg Base:  AREA 5  - ASK FATHER            CIN ECHO   AMDG
  Msg No: 185.  Thu 11-07-91 18:19  (NO KILL)  (MAILED)
    From: Father Mateo
      To: Martin Fontenot
 Subject: Catholic/Moslem marriages

³ My boss is a Moslem.  He is married secularly to a Catholic.   Now she
³ wishes to be married in the Church,  but he is a little worried about what
³ he will be pledged to by this.   He also has been asking me about forms of
³ the ceremony and if he will need to be blessed in the name of the Trinity.
³ I really cannot find anything in my books about this,  and my only
³ experience is with Jewish/Catholic marriages in my family.  He does not
³ want to talk to a priest locally,  as I have encouraged for fear of saying
³ the wrong thing at the wrong time (I tried to allay that fear,  but I can
³ see where he's coming from)  so I tolk him I'd ask you.
³ Could you tell me where I could find information on Moslem/Catholic
³ marriage guidelines in a painless form for him?
³  
³                         If men were Homo sapiens there would be no war.
 
Dear Martin,
 
I believe your boss's wife, the Catholic party, should visit her parish
priest and have in hand a list of her husband's questions.
 
We do not handle marriage cases on this net, so I do not wish to say
any more about the case itself.  Marriage cases are the sole province
of parish priests.
 
However, as an adult citizen of our country, a Christian, and a human
being, I want to say this to the gentleman.  We are all, living here in
a pluralistic society, working, I hope, to live in peace among
ourselves.  We must all TAKE FOR GRANTED that our beliefs are different
and that we all mean very well and are kindly disposed to one another.
 
If my Buddhist friend wants to bless me, I'll receive it gratefully.
If my atheist friend wishes me well, I'll receive that in the spirit of
friendship too.  If this Moslem gentleman would kindly bless me, I'll
accept his kindness with gratitude.  I see and hear my God in everyone
and I receive my God's blessing through any channel He chooses to use.
This gentleman lives in America.  He can get blessed in the name of the
Trinity and thank Allah for His goodness in surrounding him with friends
who like him well enough to want to bless him.
 
I don't buy into another man's religion when he blesses me.  But I
surely do want him to bless me, and I appreciate it.
 
Tell him that.
 
Thanks for writing.
 
                                Sincerely in Christ,
 
                                Father Mateo