Ask a Priest

5,442 Responses

Rachel, on May 20, 2018 at 5:48 pm said:

Hi Father Joe,
I was wondering i can can specifically bring in things I’m having trouble forgiving, into confession. I know confession is also a healing sacrament. So, if I’m carrying the hurt and wounds from a few things, can I talk about those specifically and share what those wounds are as far as my feelings about how they have caused me pain? And then can I ask for forgiveness for holding onto resentment and anger (even though I still do) and also ask for the help to find forgiveness in my heart? Thank you Father Joe, Rachel

FATHER JOE: Such things should be brought to confession.
Arie, on May 19, 2018 at 6:14 pm said:

Hello Father. I know we are supposed to wait on the Lord for things, such as a spouse. I wanted to join catholic match just to see who is out there. Where I am from the men around me are either non church goers or of another religion and I’d really like a Catholic spouse. I am wondering if it is okay for me to fully join the match website or if I should not and just wait to be sent someone also I was wondering how do I know if God sent this person? Thank you peace & many blessings.

FATHER JOE: There is no moral reason why you cannot join. However, be careful that no one takes advantage of you. Not all sites are the same and not all their clients are honest about who they are and what they want.
Ellie, on May 19, 2018 at 9:53 am said:

How is Jesus a model for Christian living?

FATHER JOE: Look at the word “Christian” itself. It means to live like Christ… obedient to the Father, a messenger of the truth, a vehicle of healing and reconciliation, a person of life (not death), etc. It also means transformation by grace into the likeness of Christ. WWJD – What Would Jesus Do?
Ken, on May 17, 2018 at 5:50 pm said:

Some time ago in a weak moment and wanting to feel well I called a friend who was Wiccan to ask about his charmed life. He told me to buy a book; the practical witch. He said it was how nature heals us. I ordered the book but it never got ordered (divine intervention). I never sought it out again believing this to be Gods will. Did I sin by even considering this, and if I had the blessing of the sick, can I forget this?

FATHER JOE: The book business aside, ask yourself a couple questions. “Did I doubt God? Did I fall into superstition?” A moment of weakness may be a small venial sin. I cannot imagine that it might be more. And by the way, the sacraments do not necessarily bring amnesia.
Evan, on May 17, 2018 at 11:34 am said:

Hi Father- For the past couple weeks, when I pray, it seems like I am feeling nothing. It feels like God isn’t there like He was before. I’ve had this happen for a day or two, but it’s never gone on this long. I keep praying, but nothing. It makes me want to pray less and I can’t help but wonder if it’s something I did, or has God left me? Any thoughts on this, and is there something I can do to make this better?
Evan

FATHER JOE: It may be simple chemistry or just a time of testing where God weans us of his gifts so that we might be more appreciative of the divine giver. Pray all the more.
Lauren, on May 15, 2018 at 9:34 pm said:

That’s helpful answer, Fr. Joe. Thank you.
Is purgatory something to be afraid of? Do we believe that it’s painful to be there?!

I feel, given my sin, I will likely end up in purgatory, or suffering really painful death, or some kind of harsh suffering to atone for that sin. I deserve it, but at the same time I fear and dread it as well. There is not a day that goes by that I don’t have regret….and struggle with self-forgiveness. I wish I could take it back, but that is not possible. Am I right to have a concern with possibly facing temporal punishment either in this life or the next? Thank you.

FATHER JOE: Purgatory may be painful because that which needs to be purified might hide deep within us (as with a habit leading to sin). Some have compared the fire of purgatory with the fire of hell. However, they are quite different in that the anguish of hell is permanent and reflects the eternal loss of God. The pains of purgatory are not lasting and there is joy in becoming all that God wants us to be.
Lauren, on May 15, 2018 at 11:37 am said:

Hi Father Joe,
Could you explain temporal punishment? When we receive forgiveness for sins with true remorse and carry out the penance, are those sins then freed of temporal punishment too?

Say we have committed a grave sin in our past, were truly remorseful, confessed that sin, received God’s forgiveness, carried out our penance, and vowed to never commit that sin again. Do we still owe God some debt for that sin? If so, why? And, can the struggles of our lives be what fulfills that temporal punishment? Or, are there ways we can actively make amends here on earth so as not to have to have to do this in purgatory. How do you know if you have sufficiently atoned for your sins?

Thank you,
Lauren

FATHER JOE:

Our understanding of temporal punishment is very much connected with the teachings of purgatory, prayer for the dead, indulgences and the sacrament of Penance. It is also reflective of our nature as human beings or spiritual-corporeal composites. In other words, we are bodies infused with souls. As such we live in the spatial and temporal world of matter. Unlike the angels, where decisions are absolute and all consequences are eternal, we are capricious and face consequences within time. Sin dishonors God and cries out for punishment. The self-donation of Christ on the Cross redeems us and pays the (eternal) debt to God that left to ourselves we could not pay. This is why we call Jesus the one Mediator and Savior. None are saved except through him.

However, like Judas and Peter it is possible for people to reject or to run away from the saving Cross. Judas despaired and died. Peter was healed or absolved of his sin on the shore by the risen Christ. When we go to Confession, we are in a stance similar to that of Peter. The great price of salvation is paid by Christ but we still have to open ourselves to it and make it our own.

We believe that sin evokes a need for punishment, both spiritually and temporally. The absolution of a priest in the sacrament can mitigate the ultimate spiritual cost of sin (the loss of heaven or the eternal debt) but a penance is given to help resolve the temporal debt (punishment). Temporal punishment can be satisfied either on earth or in purgatory. We must satisfy a temporal debt to God for our trespasses. (Imagine here the child that is forgiven for a misdeed but must still face a spanking for doing wrong.)

The principle of substitution applies here as it does in regard to Christ being our sin offering on the Cross. He dies so that we might live. He pays our eternal debt. As a substitution for temporal punishment, we render something else: saying prayers, mortifying the flesh as through fasting and abstinence, offering sacrifices and committing charitable acts.

If we should die still owing God temporal punishment due to sin, but in a state of grace, we will escape hell but must undergo the purification of purgatory. The souls of purgatory will all go to heaven, albeit by passing through the fire of God’s love to get there. That which does not belong to God will be burned away.

(See 2 Maccabees 12:39-45)
es, on May 14, 2018 at 9:41 pm said:

Hello Fr. Joe,
I work for a company as a graphic artist (salaried). Work has its ups and downs. Sometimes it’s busy and other times I’m waiting for new work to come in. During the down times I usually let my boss know that I’m available to help if needed. More often than not I’m told there isn’t anything to help with at the moment. Even though I’m salaried, I still have to charge my time to a Job Number. My dilemma – there is no work for me to do, yet I’m at the office.

When I hear that nothing is required of me, I go back to my desk and surf the web, read online or do personal work.

What should I do? Is the above allowable, is it sinful, or is it preferred that I make up work for myself to do such as clean up files, think of graphics to make, learn a new skill set, etc… Am I being too scrupulous or am I correct in questioning my actions?

The same question goes for if I’m working from home, logged into the company network, and no new work comes in.

Thank you Fr. Joe.

FATHER JOE: It sounds to me that you are paid both for your work and for your availability. You are not culpable if no work is immediately available or constant.
torch621, on May 14, 2018 at 7:38 pm said:

Hello Father, I hope this finds you well. My question is a bit of a mature one. It has to do with how Catholics should view sexual desire and pleasure. I was recently told, to make a long story short, that sexual desire is the root cause of sexual sin, and therefore it and any pleasure gained from sex should be viewed with utter disdain as something unfit for rational beings. All my knowledge of Catholic teaching says this is an un-Catholic attitude. What are your thoughts?

FATHER JOE:

You are correct, such is not the Catholic view. While there are certain Protestant sects that speak of human sexuality in a very negative and/or puritan way; such is not representative of Catholicism. While we have a fallen nature, that should not be underestimated, we believe that what God creates is fundamentally good. God is the author of gender and sexuality and nothing that God makes can be labeled as evil. That would be an act of blasphemy.

The Church makes a distinction between passion and lust. The passion between a husband and wife that brings them into the marital embrace, fostering fidelity and children, is a holy thing. Indeed, the marital act is a renewal for Christians of their covenant in Christ. Passion seeks the beloved for him- or herself. It raises up the beloved as a person with dignity and worth. By comparison, lust devalues the other as an object to be exploited. We see this when sex is reduced to recreation and in the pornography and prostitution industries.

The root of sexual sin is not pleasure but selfishness or self-absorption. Sexuality is an element of our identity but we cannot be reduced to it. God connected pleasure to carnal love to facilitate spousal faithfulness or unity and to insure the propagation of the species. Martin Luther, who rejected Church authority, married an ex-nun and had a family, argued at one point that even intercourse in marriage was at least a venial sin. The Catholic Church would say NO. The love of a husband and wife, with the pleasure included, is holy and good. It is only when the good is exploited or corrupted that it becomes sin, i.e. rape, prostitution, pederasty, contraception, pornography, fornication, adultery and homosexuality.
Nate, on May 14, 2018 at 2:45 am said:

Hi Father, My question is about forgiveness. I’ve had some rough things happen growing up. These things have impacted my life greatly. I really don’t want to forgive, especially when there is no remorse, no apology, and no regret by those who have hurt me. Is it a sin not to forgive under these circumstances, and how would forgiving them help me? Any suggestions on how to forgive when it’s really hard!?! Thank you, Nate

FATHER JOE:

Notice that Jesus takes the initiative on the Cross of forgiving us, even prior to any contrition or sorrow for sin and act of repentance (on our part). The pattern seems reversed in confession where we must confess our sins with contrite hearts prior to receiving absolution. However, in truth it is Christ the Divine Mercy that draws us to embrace or to receive the mercy that is forever flowing from Calvary and the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The priest in the sacrament of penance truly has the authority to forgive sins because he is empowered to perpetuate the saving work of Christ. The sacraments by necessity enter us into the paschal mystery of Christ. The priest does not merely affirm an act of mercy already extended from the Cross; rather, he is the vehicle through which that mercy is realized or given in the here-and-now. The river that is Christ flows throughout human history. Distinctions can be made about Christian forgiveness:

1. Christ’s oblation was effective in redeeming all mankind;

2. Our Lord gave us the ministry of reconciliation to call others to repentance and to know the mercy of God; and

3. Our Lord commanded that we imitate his posture of mercy by forgiving others as we had been forgiven.

This third point is crucial in this discussion. Forgiveness may or may not be accepted, but it is to be extended all the same. The gift of mercy should not be withheld because of emotional abhorrence or a desire for vengeance. Jesus forgave us even though we were undeserving. If he would do this then how can we act otherwise? The imitation of Christ’s forgiveness can summon others to repentance and conversion. It also shows that we are truly refashioned by grace into the likeness of Christ. If the heavenly Father sees Christ living, loving and forgiving in us— then he will give us a share in his Son’s reward or victory. The refusal to forgive can close us off to divine mercy itself. Remember the Lord’s Prayer, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Is forgiving hard? That may be the whole point. Can you love those who hate you? Can you give to those who take from you? Can you forgive those who hurt you? Ponder the passion and crucifixion of Jesus when you struggle to live out your Christianity and to extend forgiveness. The scourged Christ is the price he paid to forgive you. If he could suffer the Cross so as to forgive you and me, then why can we not offer our small pains and struggles to forgive others? The world would say that we were not worth forgiving either. Do we belong to the world or to Christ?
Talei, on May 13, 2018 at 11:17 pm said:

Hi Father,

I was reading a few queries on confessions and I thought to share some things my family were discussing yesterday … we were watching my uncles silver jubilee celebration as a priest and my brother brought up a story about my aunt who was lining up for confession and as she entered the confessional booth; she saw her brother inside; same time she did an about turn and went to the other booth (where a different priest was in). We all kinda laughed at my aunt’s behavior but then Fr. we started thinking how we would behave; when our brother is ordained a priest; will we be just the same as our aunt. My sister said that we shouldn’t look at our brother as our sibling but as a representative of Christ when he is the confessional booth. I guess we’re just being human; but when it comes down to the necessity of the sacrament; we’d probably put our human thinking behind us. But Fr. have you ever had any experience like so with your family.

FATHER JOE: Unless it is an emergency, it is best to go to a confessor who is not a family member.
Anon, on May 13, 2018 at 8:20 pm said:

The primaries are coming up for my state for like governor and other offices. Is it a sin not to vote in them? I really don’t know much about any of the candidates, and it is hard to find out a lot in only a few days.

FATHER JOE: It may not be a sin but you should take part as a good citizen.
Renee D, on May 13, 2018 at 2:14 pm said:

I go to Mass every Saturday. 8:30 AM. Very few people there, maybe 15, but one woman who is always there, does not bow when she comes in, remains seated during the opening and as best I can tell does not follow along during Mass. At all. Yet she receives communion and takes a host with her. As if she is s Eucharistic minister. She also leaves early. She is not elderly or handicapped.

In a room filled with very few people this sticks out to me. As deliberate disrespect. Why would the Priest not notice, or he does yet he tolerates this disrespectful behavior? It’s that obvious. This isn’t once in awhile but EVERY SATURDAY MORNING MASS. She doesn’t even say PEACE to anyone. She doesn’t move. Head down.

FATHER JOE: If there is the slightest danger that the Eucharist might be profaned then the matter should be brought up with the priest. Unless she is an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion, she should not take the host back to her seat. The sacrament should be carried in a pyx and burse to shut-ins and the sick.
Anon, on May 12, 2018 at 6:14 pm said:

Is it a sin to donate to a thrift shop that some people have said supports Planned Parenthood?

FATHER JOE: The participation may be too remote and the status too dubious to constitute serious sin. You do not know for sure that they render such support. While we can pursue ethical investments and sometimes even boycotts, the fact remains that we are often not privy as to what others support or what donations are given.
Anon, on May 12, 2018 at 6:13 pm said:

Hello- my dad told me that his coworker had an affair and was fired and I was kind of mad that he told me because I feel like it was detraction. And I just went to confession, but now my brother care over and my dad was about to spread the gossip to my brother and I didn’t stop my dad from gossiping and he told my brother. Did I commit a mortal sin by not preventing detraction?

FATHER JOE: Was it false information? Is it not important to know that workplace codes of conduct will be enforced? Maybe you should cut your father a break and stop being so judgmental of him? Indeed, is it your place to be the “moral police” for your family?
Rachel, on May 11, 2018 at 11:48 pm said:

Thank you Fr. Joe!!
I feel a little better about my worry about our priest remembering my confession. I didn’t think how it’s probably hard on him too sometimes! Not so much because of the sins he hears, but because he wants to do a good job for us, and I’m sure it can be difficult at times. I really like our priest, he has a good heart. And because it’s a small town and a small church, it’s like a family with him in the middle of it all. That’s why it feels awkward a little, because we know him so well. But he definitely cares about all of us and says he wants to help us all get to Heaven, so I will try to remember that too. And you’re right, I think it’s hard to hear yourself say the things you’ve done and admit it to yourself!!

Someone I know (from another state) said that he questioned the priest about giving a really small penance even after he confessed a lot of things. The priest said that he gave a small penance to him because the priest himself planned to pray and do some penances on his behalf. Is this something that happens often or is it rare? Do priest take of penances for the people who they hear confessions?! Can you ask to have the full penance to do yourself if the penance seem light?
Just curious.
God Bless,
Rachel

FATHER JOE: Priests regularly pray for their people, particularly those who come to them in confession. As to why priests may not give extensive penances, it is to help insure that the penances are actually accomplished. If he makes it too hard, the penitent may give up or fail to finish it.
Rachel, on May 11, 2018 at 3:28 am said:

Hi Fr Joe,
I read most of the questions and answers that get posted here. You give straightforward answers in an honest and helpful way. Please, can you tell me, do priests really not remember confessions? When you hear a confession, how do you not remember what is said? Or do you remember? How do you not think of a persons sins when you see them outside of Confession afterwards?

I live in a very small town, with a small Catholic Church, one priest, and a long distance to the next church. I need to go to confession, but haven’t been in a long time. I have some tough things to confess, and I’m nervous. But also, it’s pointless to go behind the screen. He will 100% know who I am anyways. We are lucky to have such a good priest who is kind and compassionate. What holds me back is that I’m worried about feeling awkward after thinking he will remember what I confessed when he sees me,
Do priests really forget confessions?!
Thanks Fr Joe!!
Rachel

FATHER JOE:

While there might be psychological and not spiritual reasons for it, I (personally) do not tend to remember confessions, even when the sins are egregious. As a young priest the hearing of confessions was difficult and I became deeply depressed. I learned to let them go, trusting that the power that heals, forgives and saves properly belongs to Christ. The pain I felt was from a sense of intrusion into people’s personal lives and the feeling of inadequacy to make a difference or to save hurting penitents. I cannot say if this is the situation with all priests. The seal does not mandate priestly amnesia, only that he will not reveal by word, gesture or intimation what he knows of another’s sin. The priest sees all of us, (himself included), as sinners. An essential purpose for his vocation is the forgiveness of sins.

Do not worry about what the priest will think or remember. It is likely that he will more deeply esteem you as a person who had the courage to confess wrongs and to seek divine grace. The priest experiences joy in being a sacramental tool of the Divine Mercy.

Many of us prefer “behind the screen” to “face-to-face” confessions as it makes easier the forgetting of sins. Notice that many priests when offering the sacrament “face-to-face” will turn an ear to you so as to hear whispering. It also takes you out of his line of sight. He does not want to show any expression of surprise, disappointment or conviction. You come to confession, not to pick up additional baggage, but to let go of the baggage of sin and guilt. As the years go by, priests have pretty much heard it all. Do not worry about what he might remember. The point of the sacrament is mercy and grace.

Often people try to impress others by being what they are not. The sacrament is an opportunity to be “authentically” you, with all your strengths and weaknesses. The sacrament targets not so much your inner beauty but the blemishes you would prefer to hide. Many fear confession with a priest, not simply because he will know our deep dark secrets, but because we will have to honestly admit our flaws to ourselves and to almighty God (who already knows us better than we know ourselves).
robin kennedy, on May 11, 2018 at 2:20 am said:

How can my fiance be baptized? He did RCIA from November 2017 to March 2018 but his employer would not allow his Easter Vigil baptism. Now our priest says he has to wait until next Easter. How can my fiance be baptized now? He understands the Sacraments, the Mass and of course Transubstantiation. He really wants the Lord in Communion and is devoted to Mother with the Rosary.

Please help!

Robin and Tony

FATHER JOE: If he has completed the RCIA, then he should not be made to wait another year. If the priest refuses to budge on this, seek out another priest or contact the diocese. If he is ready then he has a moral right to the sacraments… now, not a year from now. Peace!
Robin L Kennedy, on May 11, 2018 at 1:30 am said:

How can my fiance get baptized when his job would not allow him to be baptized at Easter Vigil and now our priest says he has to wait until next Easter? Why can’t adults be baptized throughout the year?

FATHER JOE: If he is properly prepared and there is no impediment, then he does not have to wait a year. Clarify the situation with the pastor and if need be, contact another priest and/or the diocese. I suspect there is some confusion.
Anonymous, on May 10, 2018 at 10:35 am said:

Hi Father. Thank you for answering my previous queries. I just have some questions regarding confession.

Let’s say a penitent is having doubts if he had comitted the sin of heresy, with all conditions present in Canon law for the heretic to be excommunicated, confesses that he is unsure if he’s excommunicated to the priest, and the priest wrongly judges that he’s not excommunicated, and gives the penitent absolution.

Is the confession valid even if the penitent is indeed excommunicated although he was genuinely confused that he is? Is the excommunication lifted even if the priest who gave absolution has no authority from the Bishop to lift the excommunication? Thank you!

FATHER JOE: How can one fulfill all the conditions for excommunication and still be in doubt as to the gravity of heresy as a sin? If there is doubt then all the conditions have not been met. Your query possesses an internal contradiction and is not reasonable. The priest probably discerned the faulty logic and that is why he gave absolution without mention of the censure. The penitent has come in good faith and has received absolution— case closed. (Most bishops today have generously given faculties to priests to remove censures, especially that which is attached to abortion.)

The “formal” heretic must knowingly and deliberately embrace a tenet that he understands is contrary to a truth revealed by God to his Church. Many people may objectively hold heretical positions but are not guilty of formal heresy because of an ignorance for which they are not morally culpable. The censure of excommunication is usually restricted to those persons with sufficient philosophical and theological training to adequately reflect upon the challenged matter of faith or the issues at stake. There must also be a spirit of rebellion, as with the malice demonstrated by certain widely published dissenters from religious academia.
Sarah, on May 10, 2018 at 3:57 am said:

Hi Father Joe,

I just need some reassurance and words of comfort.

Today my cousin called me to meet her at the hospital. Her dad (My Uncle Harry) was deteriorating fast. She was by herself in the hospital room (since her husband was in Florida on business and her brother lives 3 hours away), and she wanted someone to be there with her for the end. About 1/2 hour after I arrived at the hospital (as I was holding one hand and my cousin was holding the other) my Uncle Harry took his last breath and passed away. It was 2:45pm this afternoon.

This was a first for me, to be present as a family member died. I saw him take his last breath, and I felt his pulse slowly weaken and stop.

It was peaceful and unsettling at the same time. Sadness and relief (he had been in so much pain). It was an end and a new beginning. I feel a little numb. I didn’t anticipate that I would experience this today, but feel as though it was a privilege too. My Uncle Harry was a great guy, he loved watching baseball and playing golf, was a Civil War expert and a wonderful dad/grandfather. He loved the beach and throwing Kentucky Derby parties. He missed his wife (my aunt) who died over 20 years ago. And, he loved God immensely and practiced his Catholic faith with enthusiasm,devotion, and joy. The fullness of human experiences sometimes include moments that stretch us from one extreme to another simultaneously. I think this was one of those moment for me.

I feel a bit shaken. Unsettled. But at the same time, thankful for his example of a life well lived, and the privilege for being able to hold his hand at the end. He lived 86 full years.

Please, if you had any thoughts or words of reassurance to share about this experience, I would appreciate it. I feel restless and doubt I’ll be able to sleep tonight…which is ok. I think I’m a little overwhelmed and having some difficulty processing all that happened.

God Bless you Father Joe.
Peace,
Sarah

FATHER JOE: You said it all quite well. Death can be a blessing. When that time is shared with loved ones, it is also an occasion of grace. The mystery of death unsettles us. It touches a profound mystery and many become anxious about their own mortality. Our faith tells us that your uncle is with the Lord. He lived a wonderful life but something even more incredible awaits him and all of us. Many Catholics daily offer a night-prayer for a happy death. We surrender ourselves to the Lord. This practice might help you to sleep tonight. Everything is passing. But Jesus is the same… yesterday, today and tomorrow. Remember your uncle in prayer, as well as those who are mourning. Find peace in the power of Christ. God bless!
Sarah, on May 10, 2018 at 3:45 am said:

God Bless you Wayne and Fr. Joe (and all priests).
Praying the the weight of any burdens be lightened.
May God’s love and peace surround us all.
Samantha, on May 10, 2018 at 1:46 am said:

Trust in God’s Mercy
Wayne, on May 9, 2018 at 3:07 pm said:

Father:
As a man now in his 70’s I often think of my sinfulness throughout my life with shame, humility, anxiety and sorrow. I try hard to lead a life now that will bring me closer to God. But over and over, I disappoint my self and God. I know very well that I cannot change what I did in my sinfulness in those many years that have past.

Beyond that, knowing that I am in the “sunset years” of my life, the thought of my coming judgment is a burden, as it should be I suppose. Sometimes, as I think about my life, visions, snapshots and recollections of those sins and their circumstances blaze across my mind. I struggle to put them out of my mind so that I will not revisit them. But they are always there and all to easily surface at the most inappropriate times. Always there.

In confession, I was told once told the priest about that and he responded by saying that my sinfulness is my “baggage”; something that all of us will “haul” along with us through life.

Another issue for me is that while I know that I did confess my sinfulness in the past, I must say that I know that I did not feel the true weight of those sins like I do now. This leaves me with a sense of despair. I know that we say after confessing that we are sorry for “these sins and all the sins of my past life”. I always think this is my opportunity to revisit that sinfulness and restate my sorrow for past actions.

I know that God loves me as I am. I also know that my sinfulness has hurt him. I also know that I cannot go back and change my life. But, I can try to live a better and more spiritual life. As I attend Mass I always think that all of these people around me, while sinful, have probably lead much more holy lives than me. It leaves me with remorse and anxiety knowing that God will look at me and make his judgment as to what eternity will be for me.

I guess this “baggage” will always be with me.

FATHER JOE: Believe it or not it is often the weight that priests carry as well. Our weakness and failures are ever before us. Could I have been a better priest? We are haunted by the occasions that we were selfish, failed the Lord and gave less than we should have for the people we served. But we remember that God is the one who ultimately saves us all. We ask the good Lord to heal our memories and to give us the graces of hope, courage and faith. Pray for me and I will pray for you. God bless you.
Anon, on May 8, 2018 at 10:21 pm said:

Hi Father! Have you seen the movies Despicable Me 3 or Captain Underpants? Do you think children should not watch them? Because they were shown(every Friday is movie day) at the childcare place I work at and I’m not sure if I should speak up and recommend that those not be shown again because there are some parts that may not be the best for children or that we should pay more attention to the movies we show. But they were technically children’s animated movies. If I don’t speak up, is that a sin? Should I speak to the employee who brings in the movies every Friday or my boss? I’m about to go away for the summer so I don’t have much time to talk to anyone.

FATHER JOE: Parents should discuss what their children watch. I have neither seen the movies you mention nor have I heard any warnings from the families I know.