24 Jul 24 – What Is a “Valid” Marriage?

[0] Welcome to the Bishop Strickland hour.

[1] Terry Barber here.

[2] And I want to thank Bishop Strickland for his commitment to the gospel.

[3] Yeah, I mean, he's the successor of the Apostles of a bishop, but he has spoken the truth of the gospel in season and out.

[4] And I want to welcome him back for another show, Bishop Strickland, here on Virgin Most Powerful Radio.

[5] Thanks, Terry.

[6] And today's the feast day of St. Charbel.

[7] I'm left Lebanese, so I love this saint.

[8] One of my favorite saints is July 24.

[9] fourth here here and i want to uh just encourage people to look him up because he's like a modern day saint padre peel uh for our friends in the middle east and i got a story to tell on that if i get to it but bishop strickland i won't forget like i did yesterday the gospel in the first segment so uh this is the gospel of matthew will continue that we had yesterday from matthew chapter 13 verse one to nine if you could read the gospel and then give us a exegesis on that would be grand.

[10] A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.

[11] Glory to thee, O Lord.

[12] On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea.

[13] Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down.

[14] And the whole crowd stood along the shore.

[15] And he spoke to them at length in parables saying, A sore went out to sow, and as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up.

[16] Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil.

[17] It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep.

[18] And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots.

[19] some seed fell among thorns and the thorns grew up and choked it but some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold whoever has ears ought to hear well in this passage from the gospel of matthew i think the lord really describes our journey in life and we're all called to be that rich soil that the Word of God flourishes in.

[20] But all of us probably have elements of each of those examples that Christ offers.

[21] Sometimes we're the rocky ground, sometimes there are weeds that get in the way, sometimes someone or some reality comes and snatches the truth from us.

[22] And I think that all of those elements we often have to deal with.

[23] But the beauty of our journey is that we're not condemned to one reality.

[24] or another.

[25] We can all become that rich soil.

[26] We can all change from the rocky ground.

[27] Sometimes we talk about hard -hearted.

[28] Christ uses that imagery.

[29] You soften our hard hearts.

[30] Give us hearts of flesh.

[31] So this parable in the gospel just really reminds us, and I think it's worth reflecting on for all of us, to ask ourselves right now today, am I living as that rich soil ready to receive the joys and the challenges that come from God's word?

[32] I mean, for all of us, as we say very often, we're all sinners.

[33] We all can be that soil that is hardened, but we can all convert.

[34] We can all reject sinned.

[35] and live the virtues.

[36] So the imagery of the gospel, and it's literally down to earth, it's simple.

[37] It reminds us of living the truth.

[38] And like I said, with one of the things about being in Wyoming a week ago, the nature and the beauty of not just the mountains, but the flowers and the plants, the trees, and the wildlife, we saw a herd of elk.

[39] It was funny because what occurred to me was we were all looking at them and they were all looking at us.

[40] It's like we were both intrigued by what we were seeing.

[41] The elk were looking at us.

[42] We were looking at the elk.

[43] But, you know, it's just a reminder of the richness of the soil that God has given us.

[44] If only we will take His Word and let it flourish and flower and reject anything that destroys the Word of God or tries to twist it according to our will instead of according to God's will.

[45] Well said, well said.

[46] And today is the Feast of St. Charbel.

[47] Again, a Lebanese Syrian priest who had many gifts.

[48] He died in 1890.

[49] The man had gifts like Padre Pio.

[50] And I would just ask anybody to Google his name.

[51] And you'll find out all about who he is and why he was a saint for our times.

[52] So keep that in mind.

[53] And I want to, also bring up to our listeners that today's show, the segment, is being sponsored by Real Estate for Life.

[54] These are the folks who get you a pro -life agent to buy or sell a house.

[55] The commission that goes to him, he gives a portion back to Virgin Most Powerful Radio, supports our ministry.

[56] So if you're going to buy or sell a house, call Real Estate for Life at 877 543 -3871.

[57] I'll repeat that number.

[58] Real Estate for Life.

[59] Tell me you want to support Virgin Most Powerful Radio at 877 -543 -3871.

[60] When we come back for our show with Bishop Strickland, I wanted to continue with some of his tweets and then we'll continue with some other topics that are pertinent for the day.

[61] and I'm hoping I want to get at least a segment or a portion of a segment on the catechism that we're going through and teaching the fundamentals of the faith.

[62] For those who don't know this, Virgin Most Powerful Radio has several other radio shows that Catholic stations around the world pick up and play.

[63] So if you are in an area with Catholic radio, ask them to take the Virgin Most Powerful Radio feeds, they're free, to any Catholic station.

[64] In other words, wouldn't you like to have the Bishop Stricklandauer played in your market in your area?

[65] It's simple.

[66] Just ask them, it's free.

[67] They can contact us, and they can pull it off and do that.

[68] Also, I want to ask you of those who want to go to our YouTube channel, it's full sheen ahead.

[69] Some of our YouTube channels get a quarter of a million views from some of the tweets, some of the things that we send out on our YouTube.

[70] So we'll take portions of the show and play a section of it on YouTube.

[71] It's shorts.

[72] They call them shorts and they're really popular and these go all around the world and so if you could help us do that go to full sheen ahead and that's our website that's our YouTube channel and take those clips and pass them on to your friends.

[73] When we come back from the break there's an article about the new priests that are being ordained and I've experienced this.

[74] We've talked about it before but I think it's worthy to talk again.

[75] Most of these men that are being ordained have a very conservative.

[76] In other words, that's a political term.

[77] I'll use orthodox belief in the faith.

[78] They believe in the perennial teachings of the church, even though many of them didn't get really good formation, but somehow, somewhere, they got it, and these are our new priest.

[79] And let's be honest, Bishop Strickland, 15, 20 years from now, 25 years from now, some of them are going to be in leadership positions we won't be around.

[80] You and I will be hopefully called home because we're in our 60s.

[81] But I can see that we're making a turn in the church.

[82] I mean that because of all the corruption.

[83] And like you said before, let's expose this and put medicine on the wound.

[84] And what is the medicine?

[85] You keep saying it, the truth of Jesus Christ.

[86] That's all.

[87] So when we come back, we'll talk about some of your tweets and much more here on the Bishop Strict.

[88] hour.

[89] It seems to me that maybe our music, oh yeah, we're over our time.

[90] So Mr. Engineer, I think maybe we need to take a break.

[91] I don't see the bumper music on.

[92] Can you tell me, Mr. Engineer, can we take this break now?

[93] Rich?

[94] No, all right.

[95] We'll keep going.

[96] Then he can edit that.

[97] Bishop Strickland, one of the things that you tweeted was about the good news about these young men who are being ordained Catholic priests.

[98] And I think you personally have had young men who are in the seminary or newly ordained have contacted you through the internet to say thank you for what you do.

[99] Is that a fair statement?

[100] Oh, yeah.

[101] Many, thankfully, have expressed their gratitude.

[102] And I think it is a great sign of hope.

[103] And to me, it's just very clear what we keep talking about.

[104] It's not some new gospel.

[105] It's not a false spirit of Vatican II.

[106] It's the truth that lasts.

[107] The truth prevails.

[108] Jesus Christ is truth incarnate.

[109] And I think the fact that the younger priests are getting better formation, and really the young men that I've talked to, many of them have been motivated to seek formation to be, priest of Jesus Christ, because they felt called to address the corruption, to get back to solid, clear teaching of the Catholic faith.

[110] And that's a great sign for all of us.

[111] That's a great hope that needs to strengthen us.

[112] Amen.

[113] Welcome.

[114] All right, we're going to take a quick break and come back here on the Bishop Strickland Hour on Virgin Most Power.

[115] That's exciting news.

[116] Right back.

[117] And now back to the Bishop Strickland Hour.

[118] Welcome back indeed.

[119] Bishop Strickland, we hardly ever do a show without talking about the sanctity of life.

[120] I don't know if you heard the news, but it was out in Florida.

[121] 18 years ago, a mama left her baby at a fire station.

[122] And they said, boom, here's a baby and a little bassinet.

[123] And the fireman took the baby to the hospital, made sure everything was fine.

[124] and a family adopted that child 18 years ago.

[125] Well, she just graduated from high school.

[126] So you see her on video going back to the fire station where she had her start in life.

[127] And it really, it was a very emotional video for me to watch.

[128] To think that that little girl is alive because the folks in Florida have a law, a surrender law.

[129] It's a safe haven law.

[130] And many states have it.

[131] I don't know if Texas has it.

[132] But California wouldn't.

[133] have it, of course.

[134] But hundreds of babies over the years are alive and well because they put this surrender law that you could turn your baby over to a fire station or a police station within 30 days and no questions are asked.

[135] Did you hear about that good news story, Bishop Strickland?

[136] No, but I'm glad to hear about it.

[137] Yeah, I bet you are.

[138] All right, well, I want to also bring forth that you did a YouTube video on this Eucharistic revival in Indianapolis.

[139] By the time this is aired, it'll already been happening.

[140] There are 50 ,000 potential Catholics going to this Indianapolis Eucharistic Revival.

[141] And I think, you know, to summarize, and I'll give people a tweet if they are a teaser, go to Bishop Strickland's YouTube channel.

[142] You can watch it.

[143] But I like what you said.

[144] May this Eucharistic revival in Indianapolis this week serve to a ignite a true and lasting revival of our Eucharistic faith as Catholics in the United States and even in around the world.

[145] And you point that it's painfully evident that without our Lord we're lost and evil tightens its grip.

[146] Wow, that's a good way of saying.

[147] Let's just be honest.

[148] Father Chad Ripperger, Exorcist, said one of the reasons the devil is elusive so well is because Catholics aren't living a sacramental life.

[149] I think that's what you're saying.

[150] Are you not?

[151] Absolutely.

[152] And if we believe that Jesus Christ is truth incarnate, and we believe he's really present in the Eucharist, then it just makes absolute sense that living more Eucharistically, living closer to him, he's going to bring us strength.

[153] It's going to pull us away from sin and darkness.

[154] It's going to help us flourish because he's the Lord of Life and he's with us.

[155] And really, Terry, this Eucharistic revival and the Eucharistic Congress, what I hope and pray is that it's not just another event.

[156] I think it's interesting that, and like you said, this, as we're speaking now, the Eucharistic revival is done.

[157] I mean, the Eucharistic Congress, to me, it was significant that the Republican National Convention and the Eucharist or Congress were happening simultaneously.

[158] Interesting, I never thought.

[159] And I think it reminds us that the political world, Democrat or a Republican, or Republican or independent, whatever flavor of politics, it's not divorced from the Lord of the universe.

[160] It's not divorced from the one, the son of God who lived, died, and rose for all of us.

[161] And hopefully that connection was made by many people that the political sphere needs to be guided by the same Lord that we are honoring in a Eucharistic revival.

[162] That is to not impose our faith on anyone, but if we believe who Jesus Christ really is, it's not just a matter of being Catholic, but it's a matter of the human reality is our creator has lived among us and is with us, and we've got to pay attention to him as truth incarnate.

[163] To me, the Eucharistic Revival is a great step in the right direction.

[164] But it's my prayer that it is only a step, only a beginning.

[165] And I put out a tweet just today praying that it would really be a spark that starts a Eucharistic revival that isn't just for a day, but is for a lifetime.

[166] It isn't just in this nation, but it's around the world.

[167] world because the Catholic Church is Catholic.

[168] It's around the world.

[169] And every Catholic needs to grow deeper in Eucharistic faith and inspire others who aren't Catholic to embrace that Eucharistic faith as well.

[170] Through my years as being a priest, I would say 99 % of the Catholic converts that I spoke to about their conversion, they converted because they can't.

[171] came to believe what the church teaches is that bread and wine become the body of blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ, the Lord we read about in the Gospels.

[172] When people come to that faith, then they need to, and thankfully many times they do become Catholic.

[173] And if we have that faith, nothing can take us away from the Catholic Church, which is, the only place where we find his Eucharistic presence.

[174] He's not in any other denomination in the Eucharist.

[175] We need to be strengthened in that.

[176] And another aspect of this Eucharistic revival really highlights the tragedy of any form of the Eucharist where Christ is truly becoming present, any form of the Eucharist being under attack is antithetical to what the Catholic Church is about.

[177] So trying to eliminate the traditional Latin Mass, I believe, is wrong, primarily because that is another way that our Eucharistic Lord becomes present to people.

[178] Maybe some things need to be addressed in, And certainly in the novice order of things that need to be addressed, a lack of reverence.

[179] Maybe there are a few things that need to be addressed, but to eliminate the traditional Latin mass, the most ancient form of the Eucharistic liturgy of the Holy Mass, that is wrong.

[180] And it can't be something that is going to promote deeper faith, especially when the same ones who are seeking to eliminate.

[181] the traditional Latin Mass, are promoting novice ordo liturgies that are anything but Christocentric, anything but focused on the ward who comes to us on that altar.

[182] I'm, as I've said many times, whatever the form of the mass, whatever language, whatever right is being used, the focus needs to be that the Lord of the universe, Jesus Christ, the eternal.

[183] son of God comes to that altar in the form of bread and wine after it's consecrated, it is his body and blood, soul, and divinity.

[184] If we believe that, then that will strengthen us, and it does strengthen us, to reject any attempts to diminish his presence by attacking any aspect of valid Eucharist where bread and wine become him.

[185] Well, said, I think Mexico Cardinal Sandoval would agree with you.

[186] He just sent a letter to the Holy Father defending the Latin Mass and to send it right to Pope Francis.

[187] Now, he was the rector back in the 1970s, way back then, of a seminary in Guadalajara, Mexico.

[188] And I know, put your seatbelt on.

[189] They had 100 students.

[190] No, 500, no, no, no, 1 ,000 ,000, you got it.

[191] Can you imagine a seminary with a thousand men?

[192] Father Charles Murr, who does the show, the Terry and Jesse show here on Virgin Most Powerful on Monday, this morning told me that he met Cardinal Sandoval when he was just a priest, a rector at the seminary.

[193] And he was very impressed with him because he was very educated, but also very humble, but he was a very direct person.

[194] He would always speak his mind.

[195] As a matter of fact, many people.

[196] said he would speak too much because he would never let error get by without speaking the truth.

[197] Someone like Mr. Excuse me, Bishop Joseph Strickland, you and him have similar personalities, I think, where you want to proclaim the teachings of Christ in season and out.

[198] So this cardinal wrote the letter, and I appreciate him doing that, and he's retired now, but I think he's looking at the overall benefits of salvation of soul, saying, why not continue this mass that's been going on for a thousand years in the letter he pointed out what Benedict said, what was holy then cannot be unholy now.

[199] So I think that he made a good point.

[200] I know Bishop Strickland that you've not talked to Bishop Sandoval, Cardinal Sandoval, but he just seems, from my conversation with Father Charles Murr, he was very edified by meeting this priest, and now he's the Cardinal, former Cardinal of Guadalajara, retired but you know I respect these retired bishops who could really be just kind of going away and doing nothing or go play golf or just go watch you know the sunset every night rather than preach the gospel but it's inspirational for me man in my 60s to see retired bishops and and priests say you know what they can put me in retirement early okay but they can't stop me from preaching the gospel And Bishop Strickland, I want to thank you for not just taking the easy way out when they retired you.

[201] It seems to me that you've stepped up your game.

[202] And what is the game?

[203] The Salvation of Souls.

[204] Thank you for doing that.

[205] Thank you, Terry.

[206] Now, I want to ask you, because we just have another minute before the break, and I want to get back into some catechism lessons.

[207] But I also want to mention 1.

[208] Peter, you tweeted.

[209] I like when you tweet from the gospel and from the Bible.

[210] because it's always their inspirational words.

[211] First Peter said, to the elders among you, I, a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings, and share in the glory that is to be revealed.

[212] Make this appeal.

[213] God's flock is in your myths.

[214] Oh my gosh.

[215] Give it a shepherd's care.

[216] Watch over it willingly, as God would have you do.

[217] Do not under constraint and not for shameful profit either, but generously.

[218] Be examples to the flock.

[219] and not lording over it, those assigned to you so that when the chief shepherd, our Lord, appears to you, and he will, you will win for yourself the unfeigning crown of glory.

[220] I understand that really must reach you as a shepherd, but you know what?

[221] That reading also reaches me as a dad.

[222] Your thoughts?

[223] Absolutely.

[224] Certainly bishops are shepherds, but every priest is.

[225] And as you say, every father has a role of.

[226] of shepherding, his own children.

[227] And all of those need to be strengthened and motivated to, for the Episcopal shepherds, for the priestly shepherds, and for the fatherly shepherds, to do their job, to give them a shepherd's care.

[228] And too much neglect has resulted in so much of a brokenness and corruption we've seen in the church and in the world.

[229] When we come back, we're going to do some teaching from a catechism on matrimony.

[230] Stay with us, family.

[231] And now back to the Bishop Strickland Hour.

[232] Welcome back, indeed.

[233] There's a novel idea that we've been doing here at Virgin Most Powerful.

[234] Get a successor of the apostle to teach us the fundamentals of the faith using a catechism.

[235] I can't think of a better idea, and that's what you've been doing for years.

[236] here, Bishop Strickland.

[237] We're taking this catechism.

[238] It's a catechism called A Way of Christ book.

[239] It's from the St. Philip Institute of Catechesis and Evangelization from the Diocese of Tyler, Texas.

[240] And we've gone through 17, we're on the 17th chapter of this book.

[241] And I really enjoy the format for those who have never seen it.

[242] It's like your Baltimore Catechism.

[243] You have questions and answers.

[244] But what I really like also is each each topic will be covered with references from the big catechism of the Catholic Church.

[245] And that actually helps you understand it even more.

[246] So this is chapter 17, holy matrimony, the two shall become one.

[247] The sacrament of matrimony is an indesolible bond between man and woman for the good of each other and the procreation and education of children.

[248] through the sacrament, spousal love images Christ's relationship with his church.

[249] You know, Bishop Strickland, that paragraph, short paragraph, really identifies the beauty of marriage.

[250] And I'm just going to ask you this question.

[251] I see that when marriages are in 50 % of the marriages are ending in divorce, they see the corruption and the problems in the church.

[252] church, it seems to me that if we had good and holy marriages, it would really help Holy Mother the church with its own corruption because we would have holy families which would affect the future vocations.

[253] Am I on to something?

[254] Absolutely.

[255] That's really what you just said is the reason when I was Bishop of Tyler that we started the St. Philip Institute, which the catechism we're going through was produced by the St. Philip Institute.

[256] The very first office I hired for was the marriage formation.

[257] Ah.

[258] Because really that's foundational to rebuilding the culture of the church and of the world.

[259] And again, I keep referencing the time in Wyoming, but it's appropriate because I was with holy families.

[260] Yes.

[261] And they would probably, there were real families, and they'd probably laughed to say, oh, I don't feel so holy.

[262] But holiness is not some sort of a rarefied atmosphere where people never make mistakes and people never do anything that's wrong.

[263] It's where people forgive each other.

[264] Yeah.

[265] People enjoy life.

[266] People challenge each other.

[267] I saw siblings helping each other.

[268] and I saw some squabbling, and I saw some anger sometimes.

[269] I mean, it happens.

[270] When you're with five or six large families for a week, you're not going to see everything's perfect.

[271] Of course.

[272] But in the context of family is where children, I mean, it's the laboratory that God has given us where human beings are formed.

[273] because, like you described with the, I mean, thankfully, they're in Florida, these firemen saved the little girl.

[274] Yeah.

[275] The fact that she's here as a teenager now, late in her teens, and going back to thank them.

[276] Yes.

[277] To me, shows that she found a good family.

[278] Yeah.

[279] A family that said, we need to say please and thank you.

[280] We need to say, I'm sorry.

[281] and we need to say you're forgiven.

[282] We need those basics.

[283] And that's where you learn in a family.

[284] And I saw it happening live there with the families in Wyoming.

[285] And it's a reminder of each of those families were the center of that was a man and a woman committed for life.

[286] men.

[287] Oh, children.

[288] They each had, like I said, I think the smallest family, which isn't exactly small these days, was five children.

[289] And this is a young family where they're likely to have more.

[290] Families had six.

[291] There were two families with eight.

[292] And all of that, when you say a family, a marriage, a man and a woman, nurture the lives of eight children.

[293] You know they understand sacrifice, they understand compromise, they understand compromise, they understand valuing each other, they understand the basic tools of living and flourishing in human society.

[294] So the man and woman that are the mother and father, the husband and wife, and the children all become, well, we see.

[295] speak of it as a domestic church.

[296] And these people are domestic churches.

[297] They're not perfect.

[298] They're not flawless, but they overcome their flaws by seeking God's mercy and forgiveness and sharing that mercy and forgiveness with each other.

[299] So it's interesting that we're in the catechism at this point talking about marriage.

[300] Yes.

[301] Because I saw marriages, front and center up close and personal.

[302] Yes.

[303] In the last week, which as a man who doesn't have his own wife and family, like you said, as a retired bishop, I could just stay in my little house in the woods here and not engage, but it's enriching to engage in families.

[304] in the wider family of the church and to encourage them and to challenge them to live the truth that is Jesus Christ.

[305] And so marriage is where family starts.

[306] And that's why it's so devastating that we've lost the meaning of marriage and it's rooted in losing the meaning of the human person.

[307] when we can dispose of a human person who hasn't even been born yet and people fight for their ability, I won't call it a right because it's not a right, but they claim it is.

[308] And they fight for the ability to commit crimes against humanity like abortion.

[309] And what I'm reminded of, as I say very often, If it's true, it's part of the future.

[310] If it's not true, it may last a while, but ultimately it will fall to dust.

[311] And to found our lives on things that aren't true instead of on the cornerstone of Jesus Christ, truth incarnate, it leaves us vulnerable to attacks, to destruction, to deep sadness, to a broken, that ultimately can overcome us.

[312] So we need families.

[313] We need husbands and wives.

[314] And as you know, as you have lived, it's not easy.

[315] They committed to a man and a woman to stay committed to each other for a lifetime.

[316] There are times when the easier way would be to just walk out the door or drive down the road and say, I'm out of here.

[317] Sadly, that happens too often.

[318] It should never happen.

[319] And part of helping to build a culture where divorce and abortion are unheard of really is in educating people and emphasizing how critical it is to enter into marriage.

[320] I mean, when I was a priest helping people with marriage formation myself, I always, I mean, and part of this I learned from working the tribunal where I saw the results of divorces and people seeking a decree of nullity.

[321] Wouldn't it be wonderful for diocese and tribunals to be found to be unnecessary because divorce isn't happening and when people marry, they know what they're doing?

[322] But that's on the front end.

[323] I mean, that's the obligation that we have as a church to help young people.

[324] And as I used to talk to our marriage formation director in the diocese, it really starts with birth.

[325] That's teaching a child what marriage is doesn't need to wait until a few months before they actually get married.

[326] It really needs to start with educating them about who they are, about what life is about.

[327] The more they learn that, the more they're going to recognize choosing to marry is one of the, if not the most critically important decision that a man and a woman make.

[328] And making bad choices there leaves repercussions that bring heartache.

[329] in human lives for the rest of their lives.

[330] So the most charitable thing we can do for young people is starting very young with helping them realize how important marriage is and how critical it is that they make, when they make the commitment, they have to know that it's for a lifetime.

[331] It's not as long as we both feel like it.

[332] It's as long as we both shall live.

[333] Well, said, I want to give a recommendation that my wife did when she was like six years old.

[334] She spoke to her mother saying that, Mama, I think I'm called to get married.

[335] And the mother said to my future wife, well, now you start praying for your future spouse now.

[336] Start having masses offered for your future spouse now.

[337] And years later, you know, I end up marrying her.

[338] And she tells me, I've been praying for you for two decades.

[339] And I thought, well, that's amazing.

[340] I was moved by that.

[341] And I think if you're in a situation now, pray for your future spouse.

[342] Even before you meet that spouse, pray that God will bless them.

[343] And whether it's your wife or your husband, both parties, I never thought of praying for my future wife.

[344] You know why?

[345] I didn't even think about marriage.

[346] I mean, I was just doing what I was doing.

[347] So I'll be honest with you, I wasn't focused like that.

[348] But I would recommend that for anyone.

[349] when we come back we're to talk about who can get married and a dog get married no can a woman no it's got to be a man in a woman man in a wife a man and a woman and we'll talk about what the church teaches on that and much more about the holy sacrament of marriage you're listening to the bishop strickland hour on virgin the most powerful radio stay with us now we'll be right back Welcome back indeed.

[350] Bishop Strickland, in our last segment, we're talking about holy matrimony.

[351] And for clarity purposes, can you explain to our listeners what an annulment is and what it is not?

[352] Because you worked on the tribunal for years.

[353] Can you share what the church officially teaches about the statement of, I got an annulment?

[354] What does that mean?

[355] Sure, Terry.

[356] I think it is very important.

[357] for people to have a good understanding of what the church's approach is.

[358] And just to highlight, really, even the term annulment gives a wrong impression.

[359] Because when we say, oh, so -and -so got an annulment, it's like, well, an action was taken regarding their marriage.

[360] Decree of nullity is the better terminology because that really underscores what's happening.

[361] The church is decreeing that this marriage was always null.

[362] It really never came into existence for as the process says for various grounds or reasons you know a and it's sometimes complex because lives are complex and marriage is complex but what seeking a decree of nullity is about is really discovering the truth did a marriage take place or not one thing that was drilled into us was consent makes the marriage.

[363] And what that means, and I'll just use the example of a marriage that did work.

[364] You and Mary, your wife, you married how many years ago?

[365] 35 years, I think.

[366] 35 years ago, you should before an altar in a church with a priest's witnessing, and that's an important distinction.

[367] Marriage is conferred or the sacrament of marriage is celebrated by the man and the woman.

[368] That's right, not the priest.

[369] The priest and the congregation are there witnessing, but you and Mary celebrated the sacrament of matrimony yourselves.

[370] Which probably a priest witnessing could be a deacon, could be a bishop, but most of the time it's a priest witnessing, the marriage of a man and a woman exchanging vows and saying that until death do his part, that you are committed to each other in sickness and health until death do you part.

[371] what the investigation for the possibility of nullity does is look at all of that and ask, was there something that made the marriage never happen, never actually take place?

[372] And it's a certain way that the church is thinking here that people, find confusing and I've had to many times really walk people through what we're talking about because certainly many people 35 years ago I mean you all actually got married when things started falling apart as far as married it's true I mean the divorce rate exploded back then but many other couples that looked exactly the same and probably had handsome more handsome brooms that's for sure they didn't have a prettier bride though no of course not um and you know maybe had prettier dresses prettier tuxedos yeah i hear you but if something was missing from that what looks like it could have been in the same shirt it probably was a man and a woman maybe the next day there were four marriages bishops strictly the day I got married in the same church.

[373] Do you know if they all made it?

[374] I really don't.

[375] I don't have any contact with them, but we've had four.

[376] Statistically, yeah, half of them.

[377] Probably at least one of those four didn't make it.

[378] Oh, yeah.

[379] Even though they were in the same church, likely with the same priest, the same words were exchanged.

[380] So when you're looking at the investigation for nullity.

[381] Yes.

[382] You know, the people do it because they're hoping for a decree of nullity.

[383] Yeah.

[384] Church is declaring that on that day, in that church, this man and this woman, yes, they went through everything externally that looks like a marriage.

[385] But there was something internal to that relationship that was vital and was missing.

[386] Yeah.

[387] One easier element is, as you and Mary were married, you went through some sort of process where you were asked, are you open to children?

[388] Exactly.

[389] And in the vows, you are asked.

[390] I mean, it's the questions that are asked leading up to the exchange of vows.

[391] One of those questions, are you open to.

[392] children.

[393] If you, obviously, you and Mary were open to children and you had children.

[394] Right.

[395] It, I mean, you have to really be very precise in how you talk about these things because I've had many people say, you mean, you know, George and Ann, who never had children, but were married for 60 years, they weren't really married because they didn't have children.

[396] No. That's not what the church is saying.

[397] They were open to having children.

[398] Sometimes, by God's will, they don't have children and don't choose to adopt children.

[399] They're not obligated to adopt children if they naturally, for whatever reasons, they don't have children.

[400] But it's the openness to children that is critical.

[401] If one of those couples, that was married on the same day and the same church by the same priest, let's say the man really had an intention against children the whole time.

[402] It didn't tell his wife and lied when he's standing there and answering the question, are you open to children?

[403] And he says, oh, yes, I'm open, but he didn't mean it.

[404] And in the investigation, it's found out that But he told his friends at the bachelor party the night before.

[405] He said, I'm never going to have kids.

[406] I know you got to answer that question, but I'm never going to have kids.

[407] My wife doesn't know that, but we'll just handle it as we.

[408] Whatever.

[409] If that's his clear intention and intention against children, then that invalidates that marriage.

[410] And there's nothing, I mean, this is an important point, too.

[411] Yes.

[412] There's nothing that woman can do.

[413] If he lied to her and he didn't tell her he never intended to have children, the marriage is null and she can't, no matter how committed she is, she can't make it a marriage because she's committed and she wants children.

[414] She can't make it a marriage.

[415] if he withholds that part of the consent as an openness to children, let's say he's already had a besectomy.

[416] And he never intends to have children.

[417] He doesn't tell the wife, then that is grounds for nullity.

[418] So what the whole process, and there are many different aspects that need to be looked at, but it's about declaring what the reality is.

[419] it's not sometimes people say oh this is just catholic divorce yeah it isn't no because divorce is saying there was a legal bond of marriage and we're severing that the catholic nullity process doesn't do that it doesn't say there were it was a marriage but we're severing that bond we're saying there never was a bond um and that's that's critical for people to understand excellent excellent Thank you for taking the time to walk us through that.

[420] I could hear one of our listeners saying, what happens, Bishop Strickland, since you're the canon lawyer and your tribunal working on it, if the man had already got married, but he didn't disclose that to his future second wife, and they get married in the Catholic Church, and they find it, wait a minute, this guy has already married.

[421] What is the church going to say about that marriage, the second one?

[422] well he'd have to have had his vasectomy reversed for one thing but um then they they he could the circumstances could be that he could be validly married that second time okay and that's why the decree of nullity for the first marriage that was never valid was always null yeah that's why it's critical but um you know that's interesting as you can tell it gets right oh very common And you have to ask a lot of questions.

[423] And when the emotions are there, it's tough.

[424] I mean, it's not an easy process, but it's very important.

[425] Well, very good.

[426] Thank you for those clarifications.

[427] Number two questions on the sacrament of matrimony.

[428] Who may receive the sacrament of holy matrimony?

[429] Sounds like an easy question, but you know what?

[430] We're living in a world right now that says marriages between whoever you want it to be.

[431] And so for clarity purposes, here's what the church takes.

[432] teaches.

[433] Who may receive the sacrament of holy matrimony?

[434] Any baptized adult man and baptized adult women not already married or vowed to celibacy are able to marry.

[435] Catholics must follow the church's law concerning marriage, such as the marriage being a witness by an approved minister in an approved building.

[436] So can you give circumstances, like let's say someone wants to get married not in the Catholic Church.

[437] As you as a bishop, could you give permission for them to have something unusual, get married like out at the beach or in a park?

[438] I personally don't think that's a good idea, but it's possible.

[439] Is it not?

[440] It is.

[441] There are, and that, it gets more complicated because there are dispensations that can be given from some of what you've just described.

[442] It can be in a different place.

[443] It can be.

[444] It can actually be in a non -Catholic church when it's a Catholic and a non -Catholic.

[445] Right.

[446] Right.

[447] And there are a lot of dispensations that can be offered.

[448] And so you can't assume, oh, well, they were married at the beach, so they didn't really get married in the Catholic Church.

[449] Most bishops are reticent about granting that permission, but it can be granted.

[450] Got it.

[451] Bishop, I hear the music.

[452] Van This Hour went fast as they usually do.

[453] Can we get a blessing from you, please?

[454] Almighty God, we ask your blessings for all involved with Virgin Most Powerful Radio.

[455] Continue to guide us in the light of your son.

[456] And we ask in the name of the Father and the Son of the Holy Spirit.

[457] Amen.

[458] Thank you so much, folks, for listening to the Bishop Fickland Hour.

[459] Again, if you want to hear other shows, go to Virgin Most Powerful Radio .org.

[460] And I thank you for your support and supporting us in the mission, the salvation of the soul.

[461] Thank God, Richly bless you and family.