Ask a Priest

5,442 Responses

Laura, on September 19, 2014 at 6:28 pm said:

LAURA:

Why is god geographical?

FATHER JOE:

First correction, there is one true God and the name is always written with a capital “G.” It is only when talking of false deities or mythology that one might use the lower case “g.”

Second correction, God is not geographical, people are. This is an obvious manifestation of man’s corporeal nature. We are creatures of spirit and matter. We are animated bodies that live in space and time. The Christian kerygma includes evangelistic outreach. We are to proclaim the Gospel throughout the world, but that does not mean that everyone will necessarily embrace the truth we herald. There are different cultures and world religions. Some are closer to the truth than others. We live in a broken world. Sin brought suffering, death and ignorance into the mortal sphere. Faith is a gift to which we must be disposed. The diversity of belief is reflective of man’s yearning for meaning and the various degrees of his appropriation of the truth. Christianity would signify a genuine supernatural and spiritual religion.

LAURA:

Meaning, if you were born in the United States, you are likely to be a Christian…

FATHER JOE:

Is this true? Many call themselves Christian, but is it really so? 5% of the population says they are atheists.

LAURA:

And if you were born in Saudi Arabia, you are more likely to be a Muslim…

FATHER JOE:

There are places where there is no religious liberty. Christian sacramentals are illegal in certain Moslem nations. Indeed, Christians are being exterminated by the ISIS militants. That type of posture can radically affect the religious practices and denominations of people. God is not responsible for such evil. The divisions are an expression of human freedom, a liberty that is sometimes abused.

LAURA:

In India, more likely to be a Hindu…

In Japan, an atheist and so forth.

FATHER JOE:

Over 70% may not practice any religion but that does not mean they fail to believe. The Japanese like to mix elements from various religions. Officially 84% to 96% of Japanese adhere to Shinto and Buddhism.

LAURA:

What’s the point of religion if that’s the case?

FATHER JOE:

How would you define religion? It is not just ancient myths or modern-day magic. Catholicism emphasizes the communal or corporate element of the Christian faith. We are members of the Church instituted by Christ. The Church was born out of Judaism. She struggled to grow in the world of Roman paganism. Islam was a heresy, derived from Christianity, Judaism and the local tribal deities. The Church survives and is extended around the planet but there is no guarantee that the Church would be sustained in every place or that all would accept her tenets. The point of Christianity is the saving person of Christ. God enters the human family and takes upon himself the price of sin that through his passion and death we might be forgiven, redeemed and given a share in eternal life. While the call to salvation is universal, this does not mean that all are necessarily saved.

LAURA:

Why do theists, especially Christians, criticize Hitler, Stalin, and figures such as Mao and yet turn a blind eye to the brutalities ordered by god and done by his prophets whom are praised for doing things Hitler did?

I don’t condone the actions of Hitler nor of the Christian god.

FATHER JOE:

As the Creator, all life belongs to God. Murderous men would usurp God’s sovereignty. Here is the big difference. Suffering and death come into the world through sin. While the Jews of the Old Testament only came to understand God in a progressive way over time, it was through the filter of their own culture and biases. Jesus attempts to correct something of this “hardness” of their hearts when he spoke about the indissolubility of marriage and how the spirit of the law took preference over the letter. Do you even believe in God, Christian or otherwise? Have you read the Gospels? Jesus is that revelation of the Father.

Christians profess the Gospel of Life and thus they must witness against injustice and cruelty. This focuses on both those inside the Church and outside. As sinners we are often less than what we are supposed to be. It is not your place to judge God. Your very breath of life is borrowed from him as its source.

LAURA:

Why did god allow Adam and Eve to be in the same garden with the tree of knowledge, which by the way had fruit that was very appealing to the eye? …With a talking deceitful snake? If god knew what would happen in the future, why did he allow that? Perhaps he was bored and wanted to see us miserable?

FATHER JOE:

I will avoid, for the sake of argument that we need not literally insist upon the mythic elements to acknowledge the creation of first parents and their fall from grace. Rather, I will simply say that the necessity of the temptation emerged from human freedom. God did not want to create robots. Men are not pre-programmed ants. God wanted us to freely return his love. Obedience is a fundamental way that the creature shows homage to the Creator. As the stewards of creation, men and women could freely respond to God with love of their own. However, they turned away from their high calling. It was easier to follow the path of least resistance, that of the beast. The serpent, symbolic of the devil, lets us know that our struggle is not only from within but also from outside. We battle powers and principalities. Adam and Eve did not have to fall. Death as we know it did not have to enter the world. But instead of knowing preternatural gifts, they usher forth suffering, sickness and death. They damage themselves by their rebellion and bring disharmony into creation. You make much of the fact that the serpent could enter the garden. The truth be said, he would not be there had he not been invited into the hearts of our first parents. Of course, while the fallen angels could never know healing from their spiritual rebellion, the first parents of men are promised an eventual redemption. Jesus is the healing of the breech. He is the New Adam. Just as sin and death came into the world through a living tree in the Garden, forgiveness and life comes through the dead wood of Christ’s Cross.
God lives outside of time. He is a perfect spirit. He is complete in himself and there is no boredom, nothing lacking. The Father demands fidelity. He does not directly will suffering or misery.

LAURA:

How is Lot a righteous man when he was willing to give up his daughters up for sex, even though Lot had sons-in-law?

FATHER JOE:

Righteousness can be affected by culture and human ignorance. You are going back to beginnings of a people called by God. Lot was also a man negatively influenced by those around him. Look at 2 Peter 2:4-10: “For if God did not spare the angels when they sinned, but condemned them to the chains of Tartarus and handed them over to be kept for judgment; and if he did not spare the ancient world, even though he preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, together with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the godless world; and if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah [to destruction], reducing them to ashes, making them an example for the godless [people] of what is coming; and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man oppressed by the licentious conduct of unprincipled people (for day after day that righteous man living among them was tormented in his righteous soul at the lawless deeds that he saw and heard), then the Lord knows how to rescue the devout from trial and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who follow the flesh with its depraved desire and show contempt for lordship.”

LAURA:

How did Lots daughter have sex with him while he was drunk? You cannot get an erection while you’re drunk?

FATHER JOE:

I have done enough spiritual counseling over the years to know this is not true… and have even baptized a few babies that resulted from drunken liaisons. Judgment may be impaired but not all bodily functions are inhibited, even if difficult.

LAURA:

Why are there so many contradictions in the Bible, it’s not even funny, from the time in which Jesus died to how Judas died and more?

FATHER JOE:

Turning to your objections… Did Jesus hang himself, the prevalent tradition or did he fall and die in Blood Field? The emphasis is that he despaired. He had taken innocent blood. The stories of Christ’s passion are very similar and the elements can be harmoniously connected.

The Bible is a collection of books. While inspired by God, the human authors are not used like pencils. Their skills and understanding impact upon what they compose. The Gospels give us four different perspectives upon the meaning, life and ministry of Jesus Christ. Salvation history is not the same as ordinary chronological history. It weaves many elements of the human experience together and how it intersects with the divine mystery. What amazes me is that the Bible is as ordered as it is. It gives us saving truths.
Cody, on September 19, 2014 at 2:30 am said:

Oh sorry about that. I meant books, video games, TV shows, and movies. In addition, to snack foods. Basically things we don’t need to survive and there are alternatives companies to purchase from, which may or may not equal the other product in terms of quality and convenience.

I also like the old Disney movies, and some of the new and their theme parks; still people take issue to some of the things the company supports (gay marriage and possible abortion)

Thanks again!
Cody, on September 19, 2014 at 1:51 am said:

Thanks for the reply! What would you say about buying unessential/leisure products from companies like Disney or Starbucks? Those two seem to be the ones thrown around the most; likewise I find these examples the most useful since they don’t supply anything essential to our lives.

FATHER JOE: Huh? Not sure what you mean by leisure products. I like the old Disney films.
Cody, on September 18, 2014 at 6:40 pm said:

What’s our obligation with remote material cooperation with sin? I have been told that it’s only okay when there is proportional reason, but pthers have said Catholics have no obligation to boycott. I find both of the irreconcilable and thus am confused.

FATHER JOE: It depends upon the gravity of the wrong, the degree of remoteness in terms of agency, and the proposed good that would necessitate the act.
chinonye, on September 18, 2014 at 10:48 am said:

Hello Father. Sometimes I feel awkward about booking masses for souls of departed celebrities. As a secular girl I love music and movies, so whenever I hear about the death of a favorite celebrity of mine, I say masses for them, but feel awkward about it after some time. Its ok to pray for departed celebrities right?

Also when the names are being mentioned, like say “anonymous is praying for the soul of michael jackson” people burst into laughter so I feel embarrassed. How do I write it so that people wouldn’t react this way or feel like as if I’m making a joke out of it because its something really serious to me, I’m a great fan of these celebrities. Thank you.

FATHER JOE: It must be the community because no one laughs when Mass Intentions are announced in my church for well-known people. Praying for the dead is a duty of the Catholic Christian. Leaving judgment to God, we pray for anybody and everybody. We pray for the poor souls in Purgatory.
chinonye, on September 18, 2014 at 7:33 am said:

Thank you Fr. For your reply, I’m certainly at peace now. I’m hoping to enter for a beauty pageant competition next year and I wanted to get your opinion on whether it would be sinful to partake in it, considering the fact that one would have to appear in a swim suit/bikini at some point in the competition.
Is it bad then? What should I do? I really want to participate in it. Thanks.

FATHER JOE: It depends upon the nature of the pageant. The Church has no issue with the appreciation of beauty. However, contestants should not be reduced to commodities for lust. Traditional pageants also evaluated talent, charm and intelligence. A number of years ago Junior Miss Maryland was a parishioner of mine and her picture and article ran in THE CATHOLIC STANDARD newspaper. She was a sweet girl. A dear friend actually once won as Miss Maryland. A former Mrs. Virginia is a parishioner in my current parish. All I recommend is that you be on your guard. These things are easily corrupted.
Annonymous, on September 18, 2014 at 5:11 am said:

Hi Father,

I am very hurt and confused at the moment. My son was in a near fatal car accident 3 years ago. He sustained head injuries which left him with short term memory and concentration issues. There were so many prayer groups and chains for him and his confirmation teacher at the time as well as our priest came to the hospital and prayed over him. I believe without a shadow of a doubt that my son was given back to us by the grace of God and there isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t thank him. Last Friday we learned that my son has been on very addictive drugs (crystal meth) for the past 9 months. He was admitted yesterday into rehab. I’m confused and I find myself questioning God….. Why give him back if this is what the future holds? The success stories in coming back from this drug is very low and I understand we have a very long road ahead which I have mentally prepared myself for because there is nothing I won’t do for my children. I ask God everyday to protect my children from the evil in this world (both seen and unseen evil), but my son is today a drug addict. God says “ask and though shalt receive” and that’s all I ever ask for…. I don’t understand it, is our faith being tested?

FATHER JOE: I am not of the opinion that God promises us perfect happiness in this world. He answers prayers, but only within his mysterious providence. Sometimes when we get what we want, we must also endure elements we do not want. We live in a broken world of sin, suffering, sickness, fear, sadness and death. Christ promises us much, but the list also includes the cross and persecution. I will keep your boy in my prayers. Everyone’s faith is tested. Such is the human condition.
jake, on September 18, 2014 at 12:52 am said:

Hi. Is it bad to question Gods existence? Thank you!

FATHER JOE: If such questioning is honest and leads one to the truth, no. The trouble is that some close their minds and hearts to God. There can be an obstinacy in refusing to believe, often accompanied my a mockery of those who do believe.
chinonye, on September 17, 2014 at 6:50 am said:

Good morning Fr. Please I have a question. Is it sinful to use anti aging creams, firming creams etc? Is it classified as sins of the flesh? I’m confused because I recently got a cream like the above mentioned but something told me to ask whether its right or wrong. Hope my question isn’t awkward. Thanks.

FATHER JOE: People dye hair, too… I see no issue. Peace!
Mac, on September 16, 2014 at 12:47 am said:

Father,

I am now in grad school, but I have constant thoughts that pop up about being a priest. Often, they take the form of “Be my priest,” “Will you be my priest?” and “Leave everything and follow me.” My question is: How can I know this is God and not just me talking to myself?

FATHER JOE: The priesthood is very counter-cultural. The odds are if you sense a calling, it is the voice of God. Of course, the process of discernment is ongoing. If you seriously feel called then you need to contact a diocese or religious community. After some discussion and testing, they might place you in their formation program. It may be a process that God desires so as to make you a stronger and more informed person of faith. You might persevere and become a priest, or you might discern out. Those placed over you might support advancement or eventually recommend your return to the ranks of the laity. You surrender yourself to God’s providence. Can you do this? Are you ready?
Jason, on September 15, 2014 at 6:29 pm said:

Hello Father,

I have a prayer book I inherited from great grandmother call “With God” by Father Lasance. I absolutely love using this book in my daily prayers, but not only is it a little dated (i was originally written in 1908) but it’s becoming fragile and I do not want to ruin it.

Would you happen to know of a more modern version of this book? Or is there a good prayer book you’d recommend? Thank you!!

FATHER JOE:

A reprint is advertised in paperback, but it is probably flimsy.

If you like old prayer books, you might like the Blessed Sacrament Prayerbook Leather Bound (reprinted April 1, 2010) by Father F. X. Lasance.
Dina Strauss, on September 15, 2014 at 7:50 am said:

If Jesus wanted to die to fulfill what he saw as his mission in life, why should it matter who killed him and why should Catholics or any christians be angry at anyone for it?

FATHER JOE: First, no one wants to die. When our Lord prophesied his coming passion and death, Peter rebuked him. Jesus responded by saying that he was becoming a stumbling block to him. Similarly, in the Garden, Jesus prayed that this cup might pass him by. No one in his right mind wants to die. However, the Father desired that his Son be faithful. Sometimes fidelity means sacrifice, even death. Jesus is the faithful one. Second, who said that Catholics were angry with anyone about it? He was handed over by his own people and crucified by the Romans but later Jews and Gentiles would make up the apostolic Church. The Council of Trent teaches that Jesus was killed by the accumulative sins of all mankind through all human history. We are the murderers of Christ. Third, suffering and death were the price for sin. Jesus offers his life as a supreme act of atonement, taking upon himself the price of our trespass. He dies so that we might live. Peace!
Jason, on September 13, 2014 at 9:24 pm said:

Why are Catholics banned from joining the free masons?

FATHER JOE: Canon law forbids Catholic membership in secret societies. In past history, such organizations either plotted against the Church or the political/civil structures of society. This is not to deny that masons in the U.S. do much good. An additional wrinkle is that their rites and ceremonials contain prayers that conflict with Catholic doctrine.
Ruth, on September 13, 2014 at 3:34 pm said:

In that case father, what about words like Godforsaken?? Is it ok to use it?

FATHER JOE: It depends upon how one uses words. Damnation is real. The word godforsaken need not apply to any particular person but also places and things. It means desolate, remote, or wretched.
Ruth, on September 12, 2014 at 4:15 pm said:

Father what’s wrong with saying D-mn it!! I say it all the time…esp when im in trouble..Oh God..or d-mn!!

FATHER JOE: There is a commandment that says we should not take God’s name in vain. The problem, as I see it, is presumption. Only God has the right to judge souls. We can speak of the risk of damnation but when we directly associate it with people as a curse, that steps over the line. It also violates charity.
Sarah, on September 12, 2014 at 7:17 am said:

Father,

I hear people take the Lord’s name in vain everywhere. It’s in movies, the books I read, songs I hear, and many people at my high school, even some friends say the damn it one. I’ve heard it so much and for so long I’ve tried to block it out and replace it with ‘gosh darn it’. Lately, the real version pops into my head all the time, I don’t know what to do. I try to get it out but it seems hopeless. I’ve tried praying to St Jude about it but I was wondering if there was any way to keep me from thinking it?

Many thanks.

FATHER JOE: Many words and images “pop” into our heads these days. There is not much we can do about that. The trick is trying not to let derogatory language slip from our lips or to allow images to corrupt our behavior. Some turn the reference to God or Jesus into aspiration prayers or blessings: “God, save us! Jesus, Mary, Joseph, save souls! Christ, save us!”
Ruth, on September 11, 2014 at 3:57 am said:

Oh..and I have been thinking that priests lead a lavish life all the time, I must respect my priests henceforth..
Ruth, on September 10, 2014 at 4:14 pm said:

Hello Father,
I just read to your response to wilbur’s comment.
I have a big doubt. When there are so many people, parishioners who yearn and wait to talk to priests each day, how can you say that you priests lead a lonely and solitary life???

You are surrounded by people all the time!!!

FATHER JOE: You are very much mistaken, at least in regard to most priests I know. We practice a certain detachment. We live alone (few priests available for company). We often pray alone. When we see people it is at Mass or at meetings. Few come to confession and/or seek a priest’s counsel. Further, all those things are work. People do not generally hang out with priests. Priests make many people uncomfortable, reminding them of how they fail to live the Christian life. After the Masses on Sunday people go home. The priest then sits alone with Jesus in the Church. The hour or two you see on Sunday is not how his life operates all the time. But that is okay. A gift of “aloneness” is necessary for the priestly vocation. He walks apart from other men. At Christmas and Easter, family men will know the joy of family life. The priest will lock the church, put the money into safe-keeping, say a few prayers and maybe catch up on sleep. If his mother is alive, he may try to see her. Otherwise, he sits with his memories when he was a boy with his brothers and sisters. He misses the noise and the gift-giving. But he answered the call and freely chose this life. It is what it is. He would have no one feel sorry for him. It was a trade-off, a sacrifice to save souls.
Wilbur, on September 10, 2014 at 4:07 am said:

What are the hardships a priest faces? I have always imagined priests to be the most happiest, luckiest and richest men in the world!!

They have no kids or a wife to worry about or look after..no mouths to feed. They get the respect they ask from the whole church. People look up to them. They even get their food and other need freely.

I always wonder what the actual life of a priest must be..such a fantasy.

FATHER JOE: Happy… yes. Some respect… yes. But little time off, long working hours, more so than not don’t eat right, worried about parishioners, struggling to satisfy assessments, attacked frequently by people who hate the Church, and often living a solitary or even a lonely life.
joe donoho, on September 10, 2014 at 12:52 am said:

Is masturbation a sin?

FATHER JOE: Yes, although there can be mitigating factors. Here is what the Universal Catechism says about it.

[CCC 2352] By masturbation is to be understood the deliberate stimulation of the genital organs in order to derive sexual pleasure. “Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of a constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an intrinsically and gravely disordered action.” “The deliberate use of the sexual faculty, for whatever reason, outside of marriage is essentially contrary to its purpose.” For here sexual pleasure is sought outside of “the sexual relationship which is demanded by the moral order and in which the total meaning of mutual self-giving and human procreation in the context of true love is achieved.”

To form an equitable judgment about the subjects’ moral responsibility and to guide pastoral action, one must take into account the affective immaturity, force of acquired habit, conditions of anxiety or other psychological or social factors that lessen, if not even reduce to a minimum, moral culpability.
Tom, on September 9, 2014 at 9:56 pm said:

Hello Father,

I have a few questions.

1) Please, can you tell me your views on depression? It has been a big subject and I would like to hear your thoughts.

FATHER JOE: What you ask is a bit vague and the topic of depression is too varied for a succinct response. It can be chemically based (in our biology) and require pharmaceutical control. It can be induced by our life experiences and by the choices we make. We may or may not be culpable for it. It is dangerous because it drains joy and steals hope. It can result from frustration. It is also symptomatic of anger that turns inward. I believe it can mitigate or subtract culpability from certain sins like suicide. It is a negative emotion that can foster all sorts of negative and harmful behaviors… especially not caring anymore what happens.

2) I often hear the old cliché, “If God exists— then why is there so much suffering in the world and natural disasters?” What are your thoughts?

FATHER JOE: The Catholic response is that sin, suffering and death are on our side of the equation. Both moral and natural evil are the result of (original) sin, the misuse of human freedom. God responds by sending his only begotten Son to take upon himself the price of sin so that we might be forgiven and have a share in his life. Sin is conquered by Christ’s paschal mystery but the effects still have to be worked out in time. Where is God? He is betrayed in the garden. Where is God? He is denied by his people. Where is God? He is scourged and bloodied by the whip. Where is God? He is nailed to a cross. We have not been abandoned. Ours is a God who is in solidarity with his creation.

3) How can I be a better person in the eyes of the Lord?

FATHER JOE: Live out your faith in charity. This means a profound imitation of Jesus. We take up our crosses and follow him. We love those who are hard to love. We forgive those who hurt us. Like our Lord, we reach out to a suffering humanity so that they might see Jesus and God’s love in us. Jesus went out to the sinful, the poor, the oppressed and the hurting. He defended human dignity and worth. Everyone is precious. The value of human life is incommensurate. How might we be good or better? Put on the mind and heart of Christ.

Thank you.

FATHER JOE: You’re welcome.
Jean, on September 9, 2014 at 4:33 am said:

Father Joe, My son is seeking to have his legally performed marriage blessed in the Catholic Church. He married a woman who was previously married in a courthouse ceremony. She is a non-practicing Mormon. So was her ex-husband. They received a legal divorce. Does she need to try and obtain an annulment before they can have their marriage blessed in the church?

FATHER JOE: Neither she nor her first husband were Catholic and thus they were not under our laws to be married before a priest. Thus we recognize the first marriage and it would require a formal Church annulment. This means a deposition, essay of the marriage, witnesses, Marriage license, divorce decree, and baptismal certificates (if pertinent). The case would go to the Tribunal and may take a year or more once submitted. The wrinkle in the proceedings would be her baptism. Marriages between baptized persons are sacraments; otherwise, the marriages are regarded as natural bonds. There is a certain confusion given the status of Mormons. They baptize with the proper words and use water; however, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and Pope John Paul II ruled that Mormon baptisms are null-and-void. The reason has to do with the underlying understanding of the Trinity and the nature of baptism. Before 2001 an argument to the contrary was put forward by the Congregation for Worship and Sacraments. Evidently many individual Mormons have a more classical faith than their church teaches. I mention this because if all else fails, a possible conversion might be another way to get the previous marriage annulled or dissolved (in favor of the faith). We should also use proper language. True marriages are blessed only if they are already valid in the Church. The priest cannot bless sin or what does not exist. Not recognizing divorce, the first bond is still regarded as binding. What your son needs is a convalidation. His civil marriage has no standing whatsoever in the Church. In order to return to the sacraments, they must pursue a formal annulment for his attempted-spouse, prepare for their true marriage with a priest, and then when or if they are free to do so, repeat their vows in a church before the priest and at least two witnesses. He would have to promise, as well, that he would do all in his power to raise any children in the Catholic faith. A dispensation is required to marry non-Catholics. Hope all this helps. Prior to the convalidation he would be asked to go to Confession so that he could finally be absolved of the serious sins of cohabitation, sex outside of marriage and apparent adultery. It is a serious business… but often fixable. Peace!
Leslie, on September 8, 2014 at 8:39 pm said:

Can a Catholic and an Athiest be married? What are the guidelines or rules about this?

FATHER JOE: Yes, if the atheist promises not to interfere with the faith practice of the Catholic spouse and will put nothing in the way of baptizing and raising children in the faith. Otherwise, it complicates getting a dispensation and the priest will recommend that the Catholic party distance him- or herself from the nonbeliever.
Ruth, on September 7, 2014 at 3:33 pm said:

just read your response to ana..felt touched..how do you have the patience to be so kind to all father?
my temper is on my nose at all times..wish we could have more priests like you.

FATHER JOE: It might be argued from other responses that I am not always so gentle. But thank you.
Ana, on September 7, 2014 at 12:18 pm said:

Father,

Thank you very much for your kind response. It struck me how you referred to the Church as a “her”; it changed my perception on all this. It made me think of the strange feeling I’d get sometimes when I see good priests in action, feeling like the friend of a very happy bride. Maybe I can try to be better friends with her instead of bailing. I’d like that a lot.

At the Vigil Mass yesterday, the pastor at my parish gave a homily about gossip and detracting, and I thought about what I wrote you. Do you think you could delete what the priest said, since this is a public site after all? I don’t want to scandalize anyone, even if I didn’t/don’t plan to name the priest.

Meanwhile, can you please help me pray for him? I don’t really trust him anymore, but I do care about him. He stuck by me during really hard times in the past, and maybe he does still care. He might’ve been having a bad day. A lot of things were going on. I sent him an email how those words made me feel, but he didn’t reply. A mutual friend offered to talk to him about it; I was a little reluctant, but I thought
maybe something good can come from it. I hope so.

Thanks for the invitation, too. That’s brave, since it is the internet after all. I appreciate it. May I maybe email you sometimes?

-Ana