A reader writes:<\/p>\n
I\u2019m a private tutor at a university; \u00a0I also help at the Newman Center and conduct Bible studies with students and so forth.\u00a0 One of my Catholic students\u2026 his girlfriend is pregnant.\u00a0 She is under tremendous pressure from her family and church to get married immediately\u2026\u00a0 So she is using the threat of an abortion to try to coerce my student to marry her. \u00a0(In her view, her baby isn\u2019t a human being until the 12th week of pregnancy.\u00a0 She\u2019s in her 9th week at the moment.) \u00a0He is devastated, confused, and overwhelmed.\u00a0 I don\u2019t doubt she is too, but I can\u2019t see how a \u2018marriage\u2019 undertaken in these circumstances would even be valid, much less a good idea for anyone concerned.<\/p>\n
She has expressed willingness to learn more about his Catholic faith, and I\u2019ve met her once to answer some of her questions.\u00a0 She was respectful about things to my face, but according to my student she called the Church a cult to him afterward. \u00a0(Now there\u2019s a basis for mutual respect in married life!) \u00a0My read is that she wants to be sure when she has irrevocably \u2018snared\u2019 him in the Church\u2019s eyes.<\/p>\n
My student is at a loss of what to do, and frankly I feel well out of my depth as well.\u00a0 Unfortunately the Newman priest he has a real rapport with is leaving soon.\u00a0 He\u2019s meeting with one of the other priests to try to sort things out.<\/p>\n
Please pray that, above all, the child\u2019s life be spared.\u00a0 And for clarity and charity for everyone involved.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Father, hear our prayer that this child\u2019s life will be spared and that provision will be made for mom, dad and baby by your Providence and your people acting with the love and generosity of Christ so that all will happen to the glory of your name and to their good. \u00a0Give your servants wisdom and charity to help and bring grace and joy into their lives. \u00a0We ask this through Christ our Lord. \u00a0Mother Mary, Seat of Wisdom, pray for them! \u00a0We ask this through Christ our Lord. \u00a0Amen!<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A reader writes: I\u2019m a private tutor at a university; \u00a0I also help at the Newman Center and conduct Bible studies with students and so forth.\u00a0 One of my Catholic students\u2026 his girlfriend is pregnant.\u00a0 She is under tremendous pressure from her family and church to get married immediately\u2026\u00a0 So she is using the threat […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":92,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[29],"class_list":["post-91305","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-prayer-requests"],"yoast_head":"\n
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