I've obstinately continued sending Christmas cards every year even though we're lucky to get a 1% return on our efforts.  I've gone back and forth with sending them to everyone we know and then on other years sending them only to H's parents and my grandparents.  Only H parents are practicing (N.O.) Catholics.  Everyone else has apostatized or is in schism or some other heresy or atheism.

I would like to send these beautiful cards to most of the people we know .. it's the beautiful "Madonna of the Grapes" painting along with a little lace edged holy card of the Nativity.  

The thing I've stumbled over again and again is the fact that multiple people are living in "irregular" situations (to paraphrase the synod's language ... my apologies).

H's business colleague is in his second "marriage" after divorcing his first wife.  He did not receive an annulment.

H's oldest sister is in her 3rd marriage - none Catholic.

His best friend from high school has been living with a woman for 7 years.  He is a baptized Catholic.

My H wants me to send Christmas cards to these people.  

What is the Catholic etiquette here?  In cases where the people are non Catholic .. I figured well they're legally married and have the same last name.  But the people that are Catholic ... like the friend and his "wife" (who is also Catholic) and btw, they did not marry in the Church because ... he was you know, still married ... but apparently they go to Mass and receive Communion .. and friend tells H that the priest knows all about it.

In the past, I've either not sent a card or just addressed it to the one friend .. .but the friend's "wife" has sent us cards and her name is there as if she's married to him and it's just ... awkward.  

I don't want to create some weird attitude coming from this side of things when they likely won't receive it as an act of charity.

Use whatever name they go by.  If they go by John Smith and Jane Smith, then so address the card.  The fact that they are not actually married in the eyes of the Church doesn't change their name.  If this really concerns you, then leave off the "Mr. and Mrs."  

You should not send cards to couples living in sin, because it would appear to be a form of approval of their Public Sin.

Catholics do not practice shunning.

I sent a Catholic Christmas Mass Card to my sister and my nieces who left the Church and my sister is living with her boyfriend because I pray someday she will change.

Quote from: Guest

Quote from: Guest

You should not send cards to couples living in sin, because it would appear to be a form of approval of their Public Sin.

Catholics do not practice shunning.

Are you a liberal Novus Ordo "Catholic" or just ignorant?

I'm not nearly as ignorant as someone who thinks the addressing or sending a Christmas card somehow approves of sin.

Quote from: Guest

Quote from: Guest

Quote from: Guest

You should not send cards to couples living in sin, because it would appear to be a form of approval of their Public Sin.

Catholics do not practice shunning.

Are you a liberal Novus Ordo "Catholic" or just ignorant?

I'm not nearly as ignorant as someone who thinks the addressing or sending a Christmas card somehow approves of sin.

Maybe it was unclear to you that I meant we should not address or send cards to two people who are living together in sin, wishing them a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

“Have a Merry Christmas” -- while offending Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who was born on that day and is the reason for the celebration? “Merry Christmas to you both while you are causing serious scandal to family members and others, maybe helping to influence them on the path to eternal damnation”

If we send cards to people who are living in sin, of course it is a form of approval or will be taken as some form of approval.

Why not also send Merry Christmas greetings to two lesbians or homos living together? Surely they would not think you approve of their public scandal in any way…would they?

Are you being sarcastic?

Are you being sarcastic?

I am only taking your logic to its natural conclusion.