Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time: July 29, 2012

Multiplication of the Five loaves of Bread the 2 Fish

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 110

Reading 1 2 Kgs 4:42-44

A man came from Baal-shalishah bringing to Elisha, the man of God,
twenty barley loaves made from the firstfruits,
and fresh grain in the ear.
Elisha said, "Give it to the people to eat."
But his servant objected,
"How can I set this before a hundred people?"
Elisha insisted, "Give it to the people to eat."
"For thus says the LORD,
'They shall eat and there shall be some left over.'"
And when they had eaten, there was some left over,
as the LORD had said.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 145:10-11, 15-16, 17-18

R. (cf. 16) The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
The eyes of all look hopefully to you,
and you give them their food in due season;
you open your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.

Reading 2 Eph 4:1-6

Brothers and sisters:
I, a prisoner for the Lord,
urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,
with all humility and gentleness, with patience,
bearing with one another through love,
striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace:
one body and one Spirit,
as you were also called to the one hope of your call;
one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
one God and Father of all,
who is over all and through all and in all.

Gospel Jn 6:1-15

Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee.
A large crowd followed him,
because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick.
Jesus went up on the mountain,
and there he sat down with his disciples.
The Jewish feast of Passover was near.
When Jesus raised his eyes
and saw that a large crowd was coming to him,
he said to Philip,
"Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?"
He said this to test him,
because he himself knew what he was going to do.
Philip answered him,
"Two hundred days?' wages worth of food would not be enough
for each of them to have a little.'"
One of his disciples,
Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,
"There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish;
but what good are these for so many?"
Jesus said, "Have the people recline."
Now there was a great deal of grass in that place.
So the men reclined, about five thousand in number.
Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks,
and distributed them to those who were reclining,
and also as much of the fish as they wanted.
When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples,
"Gather the fragments left over,
so that nothing will be wasted."
So they collected them,
and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments
from the five barley loaves
that had been more than they could eat.
When the people saw the sign he had done, they said,
"This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world."
Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off
to make him king,
he withdrew again to the mountain alone.

Sts. Joachim and Anne Parents of Our Lady

Sts. Joachim and Anne: Parents of Our Lady

Feastday: July 26

By tradition Joachim and Anne are considered to be the names of the parents of Mary, the Mother of God. We have no historical evidence, however, of any elements of their lives, including their names. Any stories about Mary's father and mother come to us through legend and tradition.

We get the oldest story from a document called the Gospel of James, though in no way should this document be trusted to be factual, historical, or the Word of God. The legend told in this document says that after years of childlessness, an angel appeared to tell Anne and Joachim that they would have a child. Anne promised to dedicate this child to God (much the way that Samuel was dedicated by his mother Hannah -- Anne -- in 1 Kings).

For those who wonder what we can learn from people we know nothing about and how we can honor them, we must focus on why they are honored by the church. Whatever their names or the facts of their lives, the truth is that it was the parents of Mary who nurtured Mary, taught her, brought her up to be a worthy Mother of God. It was their teaching that led her to respond to God's request with faith, "Let it be done to me as you will." It was their example of parenting that Mary must have followed as she brought up her own son, Jesus. It was their faith that laid the foundation of courage and strength that allowed her to stand by the cross as her son was crucified and still believe.

Such parents can be examples and models for all parents.

Anne (or Ann) is the patron saint of Christian mothers and of women in labor.

 

Prayer:

Parents of Mary, pray for all parents that they may provide the loving home and faithful teaching that you provided your daughter. Amen

Marriage and Sexuality: Biology or Theology?

By Fr. James Farfaglia

7/25/2012  

Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

The unitive and procreative are inseperable in the expression of marital love in the conjugal act

When we begin to understand the mystery of the Sacrament of Marriage and how it is a reflection of the marriage of Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5: 21-33), we can then begin to understand why contraception is intrinsically evil.  In order to be in tune with God and His holy will, a married man and a married woman must have a profound, intimate and personal relationship with God.  This relationship is fostered and deepened through a daily and well-disciplined life of prayer.  Christian marriage is a call to learn the way of love; a vocation to follow Jesus Christ.

CORPUS CHRISTI, TX (Catholic Online) - You may be surprised to learn that prior to 1930 every Christian denomination agreed in their opposition to contraception.  In 1930, the Anglican Church, motivated by increasing social pressures, stated that contraception could be allowed in some circumstances. 

Shortly thereafter the Anglicans gave in, allowing contraception.   Since then, all other Protestant denominations followed the example of the Church of England. 

Today, the Catholic Church stands alone in opposition to contraception.  However, even though the Catholic Church affirms that contraception is intrinsically evil, the majority of Catholics in America completely reject and ignore the Church's teaching on procreation. 

The first cries for change within the Catholic Church came about in the late 1950's and the early 1960's with the availability of the birth control pill.  In July of 1968, Pope Paul VI published an encyclical letter Humanae Vitae (On Human Life) which reaffirmed the constant teaching of the Catholic Church that artificial birth control is intrinsically evil. 

The encyclical was confronted by a massive revolt within the Catholic Church and it is believed that 96% of Catholics in this country completely reject Humanae Vitae.

Why does the Catholic Church affirm that contraception is intrinsically evil?  The reason is founded on this principle: every marital act must keep together "the inseparable connection, established by God, which man on his own initiative may not break, between the unitive significance and the procreative significance which are both inherent to the marriage act."  (Pope Paul VI, Humanae Vitae, 12)

This fundamental principle contained in Humanae Vitae is true because the nature of sexual intercourse, which is both life-giving (pro-creative) and love-giving (unitive), reflects the plan of God for marriage.

A man and a woman must not intervene to separate their fertility from their bodily union in the marital embrace.  To do so is to disrupt the plan of God for marriage, sexuality and married love.   Therefore, the Church's teaching is not only affirmed by Divine law, but by natural law as well.

Sexual pleasure within marriage becomes unnatural, and even harmful to the spouses, when it is used in a way that deliberately excludes the basic purpose of sex, which is procreation.  God's gift of sex must not be abused by frustrating its natural end-procreation, which is always integrally connected to the unitive dimension and the mutual expression of the gift of self which reveals the heart of the meaning of the marital embrace.

However, this does not mean that married couples only have sexual intercourse when they want to conceive a child.  Mutual love or the good of the spouses, one of the three purposes of marriage, indicates that sex is good, sex is holy and that the sexual union between the spouses enhances, in a very deep way, the intimate love between husband and wife.

Nevertheless, we must keep in mind that the three purposes of marriage: the good of the spouses, the procreation of children and the education of children, are equal and form one single entity.  The first purpose of marriage is not superior to the other two. 

The Catholic Church continues to affirm that every conjugal act must be open to the transmission of life.  The Catholic Church continues to affirm that all forms of contraception are intrinsically evil.  However, the Catholic Church does teach that there is a moral, ethical way to regulate births. The moral way to regulate the procreation of children is through the use of Natural Family Planning.
   
Humanae Vitae explains this clearly with these words:  "If therefore there are well-grounded reasons for spacing births, arising from the physical or psychological condition of husband or wife, or from external circumstances, the Church teaches that married people may then take advantage of the natural cycles immanent in the reproductive system and engage in marital intercourse only during those times that are infertile, thus controlling birth in a way which does not in the least offend the moral principles which we have just explained." (Pope Paul VI, Humanae Vitae, 16)

True Christian love is what makes a marriage a good marriage, a happy marriage and marriage filled with joy. 
   
Married couples that are imbued with Christian love would never consider using artificial birth control or Natural Family Planning for selfish reasons. 

Furthermore, husband and wife cooperate and participate in the on-going miracle of God's creation.  The fundamental task of marriage and family life is to be at

the service of life.  

Responsible parenthood is lived out within the structures which God has established in human nature.  God's design is that the nature of sexual intercourse is both life-giving (pro-creative) and love-giving (unitive). 

Married couples are called, through holy matrimony, to cooperate with God the creator in the continuation of the human race.

Every husband and every wife must be in tune with God and what He wants.

Too many Americans make all of their decisions, especially the size of their family, based on selfish motives.  Christian marriage, by the very nature of Christianity and the very nature of the Sacrament of Marriage, calls a married man and a married woman to seek God's holy will in their lives. 

Thus, when married couples prudently discern the number of children for their family, most importantly, they must be in tune with what God wants for them; what God is asking of them.

Every child is a gift from God.  Some married couples are called to have a large family.  Some married couples are called to have a smaller family.  Some married couples cannot have children and within that great suffering, they find another calling subordinate to their vocation to marriage.

In order to be in tune with God and His holy will, a married man and a married woman must have a profound, intimate and personal relationship with God.  This relationship is fostered and deepened through a daily and well-disciplined life of prayer.

Mary, the Mother of Jesus, is the perfect model of a creature's relationship with God the creator.  She listened attentively to what God was asking her through the angel Gabriel.  At first she was afraid, but then she trusted.  Trust is essential.  Trust God.  When we do not trust God, we take our focus off of Him and we turn inwards and our ego takes over.

When we begin to understand the mystery of the Sacrament of Marriage and how it is a reflection of the marriage of Christ and the Church (Ephesians 5: 21-33), we can then begin to understand why contraception is intrinsically evil. 

This is why we must gain a new vision of sexuality that not only considers the biological dimension of the conjugal act, but above all the theological dimension.

----- 

Father James Farfaglia, is a contributing writer for Catholic Online and author of Get Serious! - A Survival Guide for Serious Catholics.

EDUCATING COOKIE A. LAGUDA-ALICAYA ON WHAT THE WORD OF GOD SAYS ABOUT CELIBACY PART IV by Atty. Marwil Llasos

Christ the Great High Priest is Celibate

This article answers the last part of the comment of Ms. Cookie Laguda-Alicaya.[1] Ms. Cookie Laguda-Alicaya’s wordsa are in blue while mine are in black.

That is why the apostle Paul himself said these in the beginning verses of 1 Corinthians chapter 7, before he "recommended" celibacy: Now concerning the things about which you wrote, it is good for a man not to touch a woman. BUT because of immoralities, each man is to have his own wife, and each woman is to have her own husband... (1 Cor. 7:1-2) Yet I wish that all men were even as I myself am. HOWEVER, each man has his own gift from God, one in this manner, and another in that. But I say to the unmarried and to widows that it is good for them if they remain even as I. BUT IF THEY DO NOT HAVE SELF-CONTROL, LET THEM MARRY; FOR IT IS BETTER TO MARRY THAN TO BURN WITH PASSION. (1 Cor. 7:7-8). 

In the passage cited by Ms. Cookie Laguda-Alicaya, St. Paul, himself celibate, clearly expressed his wish that “all of you were as I am” – meaning, celibate. But he later on stressed that each one has a gift from God. One such gift is celibacy and Paul turned to them and to the widows, saying, “It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do” (1 Cor. 7:8). Paul added a caveat, “But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion” (1 Cor. 7:9). It is for such reason that the Catholic Church allows a long period of discernment to those who are called to lifelong celibacy. They are helped through a process of formation in the seminaries. Candidates to the priesthood are even granted regency before they finally make their decision to embrace celibacy as God’s gift. They are free to forego the priesthood, marry and build a family, with the full blessing of the Church. After being ordained, priests who can no longer keep their vows are granted dispensation by the Church from their priestly ministry and they are free to marry “than to burn with passion” (cf. 1 Cor. 7:8). So, 1 Corinthians 7:7-8 finds full implementation in the Catholic Church.

"It is good for them to stay unmarried as I do" - St. Paul (1 Cor. 7:8)

You see, my dear friend, if Paul were to speak to the Catholic clergy today, he would have spoken harshly also to those who were responsible for the "teaching" of forbidding marriage to the clergy. This is exactly why it is called the teachings of demons because it allows an individual to BURN WITH PASSION and not having a spouse to share this burden with, therefore leading to the many fornication and sexual abominations seen within the clergy of the Catholic church today! 

This is how Pharisaic and hypocritical Ms. Cookie Laguda-Alicaya can be, so typical of those holier-than-thou so-called “Born Again Christians.” Ms. Laguda-Alicaya speaks as if there are no sexual scandals in the Protestant clergy. For that, Cookie Laguda-Alicaya deserves the rebuke of the Lord: “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (Mt. 7:5, NIV).

Clergy sexual abuse is not an exclusively Catholic problem. There are reports from Fox News that Protestant clergy abuse equals or exceeds Catholic clergy abuse.[2] How come Ms. Cookie Laguda-Alicaya is mum on that? Why the double standard?

Hypocrisy and double standard: Ms. Cookie Laguda-Alicaya

And how can Ms. Cookie Laguda-Alicaya explain that sexual abuse happens in married Protestant clergy? And what can Ms. Laguda-Alicaya say about the Baptist pastor who repeatedly molesting a boy over a six-month period?[3] And that is not an isolated case.[4] Evangelical pastor Ted Haggard has a 3-year homosexual relationship with a male prostitute and body builder.[5] Conservative preacher and televangelist Jimmy Swaggart had an infamous sexual scandal with a prostitute, caught in the act after being followed by a private detective hired by Marvin Gorman who was retaliating due to Swaggart exposing his affair with another pastor’s wife.[6] The list just goes on and on ad nauseam. And there are reports that Baptists are ill-equipped to address sexual abuse by their clergy.[7] But does Cookie Laguda-Alicaya ever care? Why is she silent about these sexual abuses by a married clergy? Double standard, anyone?

Local daily reports about a pastor charged with molestation: How is this possible for a married clergy?

In the booklet What Are Pastors For?, Pastor William B. Girao candidly admits why pastors fall into sexual immorality. He said –

“Why do pastors fall into sexual immorality? It is because a pastor is so fully trusted that any young and attractive woman would have no second thoughts about travelling alone with him in the car, in the middle of the night, in the middle of nowhere, in order to attend some Christian youth conference in a faraway and isolated campsite. And pastors are wide open to temptation.”[8]

Pastor Girao recalled the story of a friend in Christian ministry who had fallen into sexual immorality:

“Recently, my wife and I mourned in our hearts on learning that one of our dear friends in the Christian ministry had fallen into sexual immorality. This friend had a wonderful national and international ministry and was greatly used by the Lord for many years. But a young lady who was converted through our friend’s ministry needed to be disciple and our friend, most unwisely, decided to disciple the young lady himself. They fell into sexual immorality and our friend’s ministry is now destroyed.”[9]

Time reports about the sexual scandals among high profile pastors: Why is this happening among the married clergy? Don't these married pastors don't have a spouse to "share their burden" with them?

How come, Ms. Cookie Laguda-Alicaya, sexual immorality can happen to married pastors? And to think that they have their spouses to “share their burden” with them?

This is how Pharisaic and hypocritical Ms. Cookie Laguda-Alicaya can be, so typical of those holier-than-thou so-called “Born Again Christians.” Ms. Laguda-Alicaya speaks as if there are no sexual scandals in the Protestant clergy. For that, Cookie Laguda-Alicaya deserves the rebuke of the Lord: “You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye” (Mt. 7:5, NIV).

As I've mentioned in my other post, I am not a protestant. :)

Ms. Cookie Laguda-Alicaya can deny all she wants but the truth remains that she is a Protestant. She is protesting against the authority of the one true Church Christ founded and attacking it with utmost virulence a la Protestante. The newly-minted, man-made church she is now attending is an offshoot of the Protestant Reformation. There’s no denying that.

Like Martin Luther, John Calvin and the rest of Protestant “reformers,” Ms. Cookie Laguda-Alicaya went out of the Catholic Church.

“They went out from us, but they were not really of us, for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us” (1 Jn. 2:19).

Cookie Laguda-Alicaya follows the footstep of Protestant Reformer Martin Luther

I'm a believer in CHRIST JESUS.

“Let someone else praise you, not your own mouth--a stranger, not your own lips” (Prov. 27:2).

Remember, Cookie Laguda-Alicaya that it was also Christ Jesus who said:

“For example, some men are celibate because they were born that way. Others are celibate because they were castrated. Still others have decided to be celibate because of the kingdom of heaven. If anyone can do what you’ve suggested, then he should do it.” (Mt. 19:12, GWN)

How come you have no articles or writings about celibacy?

Cookie Laguda-Alicaya discounts the power of God's grace among those who have been faithful in keeping their vow of chastity. Paul, who was celibate, could say, "Each time He said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me" (2 Cor. 12:9).

And by the way, a recommendation is what it is exactly, just a recommendation or a suggestion. It should never be imposed as a MUST even to those who are in the clergy already.

That is why it is referred to in the Catholic Church as an evangelical counsel. No one is forced to accept the gift of celibacy. Those who freely accept this gift take the vow of chastity. Those who voluntarily take the vow are definitely bound by it. But then, the Church grants dispensation to those who can no longer keep their vows to free them from their ministry and capacitate them to marry.

Marriage is a gift from God, my friend, and it is another beautiful avenue to show to the world the kind of love Christ has for His church--although a tougher route I should say, echoing that which the apostle Paul points out. ;)

No one knows that better than the Catholic Church which honors holy matrimony as a sacrament. The Church has always been on the forefront defending the sanctity of marriage and the family life. The Catholic Church frowns upon divorce in obedience to the words of the Master: “Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate” (Mk. 10:19). “I hate divorce, says the Lord God of Israel” (Mal. 2:16). The Lord God hates divorce – and so does the Catholic Church. The Catholic Church has remained firm on its stance on divorce unlike Evangelicals who have softened their stance.[10]

In the Catholic Church, marriage is a sacrament: "This is a great sacrament; but I speak in Christ and in the Church" (Eph. 5:32, DRV)

Yes, marriage is a gift from God. So, too, is celibacy. Paul said, “But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that” (1 Cor. 7: 7). To the unmarried, Paul stated: “I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord” (1 Cor. 7: 35).

Catholic priests, nuns and other religious voluntarily embrace the gift of celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven so that they may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.

Encounter God's Truth, Franklin... it's in HIS WORD. Be blessed, my friend!

Encounter God’s Truth, Cookie. The Truth is a Person – Jesus Christ (cf. Jn. 14:6). In God’s written Word, Jesus clearly said, that “still others are celibate because they have made themselves that way for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let anyone accept this who can” (Mt. 19:12, ISV). Don’t begrudge our Catholic priests, nuns and religious who have made themselves celibate for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. They are the ones who have accepted this call of Christ – and not you!

Ms. Cookie Laguda-Alicaya, the Holy Spirit convicts you in His Word.

The Holy Spirit convicts Cookie Laguda-Alicaya

---

[1] http://purplecookiejar.blogspot.com/2011/06/true-or-false-teachers-part-2.html. 

[2]http://dannimoss.wordpress.com/2008/06/20/protestant-clergy-abuse-equals-or-exceeds-catholic-clergy-abuse/.

[3] http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-05-17/news/os-baptist-sex-abuse-verdict-20120517_1_triangle-community-church-douglas-w-myers-church-planter.

[4] http://stopbaptistpredators.org/index.htm.

[5] http://www.xxxhisway.com/faq1.html.

[6] Ibid.

[7] http://www.wordandway.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2190&Itemid=206

For news articles in the Philippines:

http://www.bomboradyo.com/news/latest-news/57735-pastor-inakusahang-nang-rape-sa-3-mga-dalagita

http://www.remate.ph/2011/08/kasintahan-ginahasa-ng-pakakasalang-pastor/

[8] Pastor William B. Girao, What Are Pastors For? (Manila: OMF Literature, Inc., 2002) p. 19.

[9] Ibid.

[10] http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1680709,00.html

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-05-17/news/os-baptist-sex-abuse-verdict-20120517_1_triangle-community-church-douglas-w-myers-church-planter

http://dannimoss.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/pastor-leon-rankins-iii-sentenced-in-second-child-abuse-conviction/

http://davidjstewartexposed.blogspot.com/2011/01/david-j-stewart-pleads-guilty-to-child.html

http://dannimoss.wordpress.com/2008/06/21/clergy-sex-abuse-charges-against-jay-robinson-iv-wreak-havoc-in-southwood-baptist-church/

Jewish businessman SAM MILLER defends the Catholic Church:

http://fratres.wordpress.com/2008/06/24/redemption-comes-through-the-jews-jewish-businessman-sam-miller-whaps-anti-catholic-bias-in-news-media-full-text/

EDUCATING COOKIE A. LAGUDA-ALICAYA ON WHAT THE WORD OF GOD SAYS ABOUT CELIBACY PART III by Atty. Marwil Llasos

Jesus the Good Shepherd is the King of Virgins

This is my third article debunking Ms. Cookie Laguda-Alicaya’s vituperation on clerical celibacy.[1] In my last article, I refuted Ms. Laguda-Alicaya’s first reply to a Catholic blogger named Franklin (Niteworks). In this article, I will refute Ms. Laguda-Alicaya’s second reply.[2] Ms. Cookie Laguda-Alicaya’s wordsa are in blue while mine are in black.

You see, my friend, many of the Catholic's (sic) faithful do not really understand what's what …

This is so nice of Ms. Cookie Laguda-Alicaya. But look who’s talking? In my previous articles we have unmasked this pretender, one who calls herself a “devout” Catholic, and exposed her gross ignorance about so many things – the Bible included.

The Catholic Church is the authoritative Church. It exercises the authority granted by its Founder. Cookie Laguda-Alicaya's newly minted, man-made "church" does not even claim authority; hence, not the true Church

… because they only take the words given to them by those in authority.

What’s wrong with authority, Ms. Laguda-Alicaya? We take the words of those in authority because the Lord gave them authority: “He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me” (Lk. 10:16).

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given by the Father to the Son (Mt. 28: 18). The Lord Jesus Christ commissioned His apostles to make disciples, to baptize and to teach (Mt. 28:20). The apostles had their successors, the bishops (cite). So we listen to our prelates because they have the authority to teach from no less than the Master Himself. “Remember your prelates who have spoken the word of God to you; whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation” (Heb. 13:7, DRV).

The true Church founded by Christ is a Church with authority (cf. Lk. 10:16; Mt. 16:18-20; Mt. 18:17-18; 2 Cor. 10:8), unlike Cookie Laguda-Alicaya’s man-made church which has no authority. Cite. Because the Lord invested His Church with authority, we must obey and listen to the Church: “And if he will not hear them: tell the church. And if he will not hear the church, let him be to thee as the heathen and publican” (Mt. 18:17, DRV).

Ms. Cookie Laguda-Alicaya does not realize that God’s Word commands submission to the governing authorities: “Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established The authorities that exist have been established by God.  Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves” (Rom. 13:1-3). So, Catholics submit to the governing authority in obedience to God and the Scriptures.

Cookie Laguda-Alicaya accuses the Catholic Church as going around God's Word by teaching deceivingly celibacy as a "holy calling" and is taught as allowing the individual to "FOCUS" their devotion to Christ alone. But what does Paul say in 1 Corinthians 7:35? "I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live a right way in UNDIVIDED DEVOTION to the Lord" (1 Cor. 7:35, NIV). I'm sure Cookie Laguda-Alicaya failed to read that.

Hook, line, and sinker we embrace their sweetly presented explanation that it is JUST a "recommendation" just like the apostle Paul has mentioned.

Precisely, celibacy is a “recommendation” and so the Catholic Church calls it (the vow of chastity) as an evangelical counsel. I wonder if Ms. Laguda-Alicaya understands the word counsel. My dictionary tells me its meaning as “an advice or guidance on conduct or behavior.”[3] No priest, religious brother or nun was ever compelled to embrace priestly or religious vocation. They freely responded to God’s call and do not marry for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven based on the words of Our Lord Jesus Himself:

“For there are different reasons why men cannot marry: some, because they were born that way; others, because men made them that way; and others do not marry for the sake of the Kingdom of heaven. Let him who can accept this teaching do so” (Mt. 19:12, GNT).

Don't forget this, Cookie Laguda-Alicaya: "You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses His name" (Exo. 20:7, NIV)

But if indeed it was solely for a recommended discipline, WHY IN GOD'S NAME WOULD THEY FORBID THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY PRIESTS AND NUNS to marry if they so choose to decide to do so?

Ms. Cookie Laguda-Alicaya had no qualms using “God’s name.” Better be careful, Cookie: “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain” (Exo. 20:7).

Priests and nuns make the vow of chastity. How many times do I have to impress it in Cookie Laguda-Alicaya’s narrow mind? Nobody forced these priests and nuns to make the vow of chastity. They freely, willingly and whole-heartedly profess their vow. And since they made a vow, these priests and nuns are expected to fulfill or keep their vow. Biblically, vows are to be fulfilled and performed because they are binding on those who make them:

“I will fulfill my vows to you, O God …” (Ps. 56:12, NLT)

“I will perform my vows to you, O God …” (Ps. 56:12, ESV)

In my previous article, I explained that the Catholic Church is concerned that these priestly and religious vows be kept in much the same way that the Church is concerned that the marriage vows be kept for which reason the Church shuns divorce. What Cookie Laguda-Alicaya wants is to sanction double standard.

In the unfortunate event that the priests and nuns cannot keep their vows, the Church grants them dispensation from their vows and releases them from their ministry so they can marry. They can’t have their cake and eat it, too.

Eastern Catholic (and Greek Orthodox) priests are married

We indeed read Paul recommending celibacy for those who have the will to follow that path …

And so does the Catholic Church recommends celibacy (it’s an evangelical counsel, remember?) for those who have the will to follow that path. The Church helps in the discernment and formation of the dates to the priesthood and religious life. The Catholic Church follows Paul’s recommendation, but what about Cookie Laguda-Alicaya’s church? Does it?

BUT can I ask you to read the whole chapter 7 instead of just those plucked out verses?

Look who’s fund of plucking verses? But if Cookie Laguda-Alicaya wants the whole Chapter 7, here it is:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Corinthians+7&version=NIV

Below are the pertinent verses (taken from the NIV) relating to celibacy and marriage according to Chapter 7 of Paul’s 1^st Letter to the Corinthians:

Cookie Laguda-Alicaya misunderstands the Word of God 

“Concerning the Unmarried

25  Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord,(^AA) but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy(^AB) is trustworthy. 26 Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is.(^AC) 27 Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife.(^AD) 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned;(^AE) and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this. 29 What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short.(^AF) From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 30 those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.(^AG) 32 I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs(^AH)—how he can please the Lord. 33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34 and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit.(^AI)But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband.35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided(^AJ) devotion to the Lord. 36 If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong[^b] and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning.(^AK) They should get married. 37 But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing. 38 So then, he who marries the virgin does right,(^AL) but he who does not marry her does better.[^c] 39 A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives.(^AM) But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.(^AN) 40 In my judgment,(^AO) she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.”

Cookie Laguda-Alicaya's skewed private interpretation of the Bible results to absurd, heretical and blasphemous results

My point here is this, the Bible is clear that FORBIDDING to MARRY is a doctrine of demons.

Where is that in 1 Corinthians 7? The proper verse should be 1 Timothy 4:3.

But if we are going to take Cookie’s word that “Bible is clear that forbidding to marry” – without any qualification – is a “doctrine of demons” – it will result to the absurd conclusion that God followed the doctrine of demons when he forbade Jeremiah from marrying:

“Then the word of the Lord came to me: “You must not marry and have sons or daughters in this place” (Jer. 16:1-2).

Such is the absurd, heretical and blasphemous result of Cookie Laguda-Alicaya’s private interpretation to suit her anti-Catholic bias.

 

Cookie Laguda-Alicaya: "You know neither the scriptures nor the power of God" (Mk. 12:18-27)

---

[1] My second article may be found here:

http://www.bromarwilnllasos.blogspot.com/2012/07/educating-cookie-laguda-alicaya-on-what_11.html.

[2] http://purplecookiejar.blogspot.com/2011/06/true-or-false-teachers-part-2.html. 

[3] See: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/counsel.