My girlfriend and I have been dating for 6 months and I asked her to get engaged with me but she does not believe that I'm a good enough person to be a father. I try to tell her that I will definately be, but I guess she does not want to understand. What should I do?

-- Guillermo Quintero (willie5@emelec.com), November 13, 2002

Answers

A few suggestions:

1. Work hard. Work very hard, and don't waste money.

2. Demonstrate a love for children.

3. Be a man of prayer. Don't be afraid to get on your knees before your God.

4. Don't confuse masculinity with machismo. The "macho man" attitude and image is a perversion of true masculinity, just as being effeminate is a perversion of true femininity. Both are abhorrent in the eyes of God and man, including your would-be fiancee.

5. The true purpose of matrimony is to get each other into heaven. If that is not your first desire, do not marry. The union of marriage is "most sacred and most serious," as the Church admonishes the couple during the Nuptual Mass. It is supposed to mirror the union between our Blessed Lord and His Church.

6. Read what Pope Pius XII had to say on the subject. If you cannot fully and enthusiastically agree, you may be barking up the wrong tree.

Good luck.

-- jake (jake1@pngusa.net), November 13, 2002.

Note to Mr. Banned@Means.Banned:

Is Jake-MSN (now "jake1") still banned?

-- ? (?@?.?), November 15, 2002.

I think Jakemsn is not banned anymore. Refer to the "Joyous news" thread.

Jake Huether

-- Jake Huether (jake_huether@yahoo.com), November 15, 2002.

I think Jakemsn is not banned anymore

I'm not even JakeMSN anymore.

-- jake (jake1@pngusa.net), November 15, 2002.

Howdy,

JakeMSN did give us permision to still call him JakeMSN, even though he changed his address to a Catholic internet provider. He is no longer banned at this forum. He was welcomed back with open arms.

Please say a prayer for Jake and family. Jake and Regina are going to be proud parents of there fourth child, please God.

-- Elvis (banned@means.Banned), November 15, 2002.