Here the authors, as practicing Catholic clinicians, share their personal and professional experiences, as well as insightful recommendations for couples who are re-marrying. They seamlessly blend real-life stories, common sense, and the spiritual and sacramental values of the Catholic Church. Topics include: 1) marriage as a sacramental vocation; 2) ways to handle loss and grief issues after a marriage ends (due to divorce or death); 3) tips on self-forgiveness and reconciliation; 4) frank discussion of issues all couples must face; and 5) how to build and grow a healthy relationship.
Spiritual Terrorism is about theimpact of fear-based religion on people's lives who have been spiritually abused by a negative conception of God through eternal hell-fire preaching and teaching. The doctrine of eternal punishment in literal fire is at the heart of many forms of spiritual abuse and all forms of spiritual terrorism which is the most extreme form of spiritual abuse. This book effectively explains the symbolic use of fire in the Holy Bible and other Holy Books. The common misunderstanding of the metaphorical usage of fire is the primary cause of spiritual terrorism. Dr. Purcell clarifies the confusion over the Christian doctrine of salvation by grace and judgment which is based on the deeds of lifegood or bad. This allows readers to grasp the liberating truth that people are totally free to live their lives but are also totally accountable, at the end of life, for how they have lived their lives. God will ultimately teach universal empathy and bring about perfect justice for all without violating anyone's free will. Spiritual abuse has the potential to affect all stages of life: in the womb, childhood, youth, young adults, older adults, end of life, and bereavement after the deaths of loved ones. Spiritual abuse may also affect all areas of life: marriage/divorce, emotional/mental/physical abuse, medical treatment or refusal of such treatment for self and children, and domestic and international terrorism. All major world religions are addressed: Judeo/Christianity, Islam, and the Eastern ReligionsBuddhism and Hinduism. Included as well are Native American Beliefs. There is a theme running through all major religions of God's unconditional love, amazing grace, infinite mercy, perfect justice, and a universal homecoming.
Clearly summarizes and sensitively addresses the major pastoral, moral and canonical issues facing separated and divorced Catholics. This work not only observes carefully the people who suffer from divorce but also those who rejoice in remarriage. Interwoven through these labyrinthian anxieties and hopes lies profound questions about faith, the Eucharist, the interal forum, excommunication and Biblical affirmation. The book deals with these pivotal areas of real concern within an historical context and with the goal of safeguarding the sacrament of Marriage, while equally acknowledging that we live in a worl affected by sin.
Many people believe that the Roman Catholic Church's teaching on marriage is clear and consistent: marriage is a sacrament, the marriage contract is indissoluble, divorce and remarriage are forbidden. In this book, theologians, historians, and sociologists overhaul the church's teaching and practice on divorce and remarriage, as well as personal testimonies from a number of persons who have gone through the annulment process.
Nationally recognized journalist Tom Hoopes has spent Pope Francis's pontificate researching and writing defenses, clarifications and explanations of Pope Francis on the economy, Pope Francis on homosexuality, Pope Francis on abortion, marriage, divorce, the environment, immigration...on everything. Meanwhile, younger Catholics are having a very different experience of the pope. They're not analyzing him. They're simply experiencing Christ's love with him. In What Pope Francis Really Said, Hoopes explores how Pope Francis is building bridges between generations of Catholics by applying the enduring truths of Catholicism in fresh and unconventional ways.
Editor H. Wayne House introduces a lively debate on varying Christian views of divorce and remarriage. Contributors include J. Carl Laney, William Heth, Thomas Edgar and Larry Richards.
Explore the meaning of annulment to Catholics and the Church! This valuable book examines the use of annulment by the Catholic Church to grant divorced Catholics the right to remarry within the Church. Divorce, Annulments, and the Catholic Church: Healing or Hurtful? is the first published study on annulments with wide-scale usage of questionnaires and interviews comparing Catholics who have sought an annulment with divorced Catholics who have not sought an annulment as well as married Catholics. In addition to delivering a quantitative analysis of the responses to various questions (religious, social, or psychological), it explains in lay terms what annulments are and what the acceptable grounds are for annulment and takes you step-by-step through the process of obtaining one. This insightful book also contains case studies of individuals who have been hurt by annulments and offers suggestions on how people who want to contest an annulment should proceed. This well-referenced book: explores the factors that lead to divorce provides a theoretical perspective as to why people either support or oppose annulments examines the religious influence on divorce and remarriage discusses the social integration-related aspects of annulment and divorce for Catholics presents recommendations for petitioners, respondents, clerics, and the members of tribunals who act as advocates, defenders, and judges Divorce, Annulments, and the Catholic Church is an invaluable reference work for counselors dealing with the issue of divorce for Catholics, non-Catholics whose former spouses are seeking annulments, divorced Catholics who are contemplating an annulment, members of the clergy, and members of marriage tribunals and Family Life groups.
Christianity Without Insanity: For Optimal Mental/Emotional/Physical Health, by Boyd C. Purcell, Ph.D., is about love-based vs. fear-based Christianity [includes a chapter on other major religions]. This book, per the subtitle, is based on the truth of holistic health inherent in psychopathology which Dr. Purcell has taught at a university graduate college. Dr. Lewis Whaley, an oncologist, endorsed this author's previous book, Spiritual Terrorism, with this statement. "As a physician, I can validate Dr. Purcell's understanding of psychopathology. The anxiety which religion, or any other factor, generates has the potential to depress the human immune system, affect every organ, and impair bodily functions." The apostle John captured the essence of the dynamics of psychopathology in these comforting, encouraging, and inspiring words: "Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers" (III John 2). No person's soul can prosper and, therefore, no one can be in optimal holistic health if one is living in fear of eternal torture in hell for oneself and/or loved ones. Do you know the symbolic meaning of the mixed metaphor, "salted with fire," of which few people have even heard? If not, you owe it to yourself to read this solidly Biblically-based book. One can believe in Christian Universalism (CU), not in spite of what The Holy Bible teaches, but because of exactly what The Holy Bible teaches about sin, salvation, and hell. Based on Biblical and historical facts, Jesus clearly taught CU—both implicitly and explicitly—just as surely as the grass is green, the sky is blue, God is in heaven, and Christ is Lord!
