Ask a Priest

5,433 Responses

Joyce, on September 1, 2012 at 3:39 am said:

Dear Father Joe,

Will I be exploiting my friend’s weakness if she has developed a habit of ogling and sometimes molesting people by going out with her and some other friends on her birthday to a bookshop? The last time I saw her some months ago, her habit has ceased until some of my other friends (one of them who are going to the bookshop) kept on talking about it and reinforced it and resumed it again. Providing if I don’t wear revealing clothes, keep within an arms-length distance, will I be causing her to sin? But basically, if her habit is able to happen without anyone wearing something revealing at all, then no one will be helping her anyway because this is her problem, right? Actually, I have no idea. What would you suggest me to do and if I decline, how should I phrase it in a kind way? Thanks!

FATHER JOE: Ogling is certainly impolite but what do you mean when you say that she is into “sometimes molesting people”? If you are her friend then friends communicate, lend help and do not seek to avoid each other.
Paul Brann, on August 30, 2012 at 6:32 pm said:

And so it might be even today. I see the New Rite, especially here in UK as very little different in format at least to what you call ‘The Mass’. But it is also the same as the mass of the Protestants. It’s celebrated on a table, there are rarely visible a tabernacle or sanctuary lamp, even the Jews had a lamp of the presence and believed in God’s presence in the holy of holies and certainly wouldn’t have permitted anyone other than the anointed priest to enter into the sanctuary; today we even have provocatively underdressed women flaunting their God given beauty with gay abandon, and girls, who could never, ever progress to the position of priest performing a function that is virtually now obsolete, but is pointless and fruitless anyway.

FATHER JOE:

Protestants did not invent the Mass. If there are similarities with Catholic worship it is only because the basic elements with which the reformers absconded are either still present or have left their traces. The essential elements are present in both the Tridentine and in reformulated liturgy translated into the vernacular.

Our Lord offered the first Mass, not on an altar, but a table. And yet it resonated intimately with the altar of the Cross. Guidelines for liturgical furnishings and conduct at the liturgy are clear. Abuses are not the fault of Vatican II or the Holy Father. The altar used at Mass is also a table. The Mass is both a sacrifice and a sacred meal, the extension of the Lord’s Supper. The instructions also specify a preference for placing the tabernacle in the center of the worship space, behind the altar of sacrifice. A sanctuary lamp or even two, burn upon a stand or hang from the ceiling or wall. This is not optional.

Just as tradition speaks of the Virgin Mary as a handmaiden serving the Jewish priests of the temple, we should NOT deride women of faith for desiring to assist the Catholic priest in worship and providing for the needs of God’s people. I might have a preference for men as servers, given the link with priestly vocations, but such is only an accidental and we face more important fights about essentials. Lay men and women alike have done a fine job in assisting as Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and as Readers. There is no confusion with the unique ministry of priestly men.
Drose, on August 30, 2012 at 5:51 am said:

Father so I was going to buy a book, THE IMITATION OF CHRIST by Thomas a Kempis. However, before I purchase a book I like to get a background check on the author. If I deemed the author trustworthy than I buy the book. I heard he was on his way to becoming a saint until they disinterred his body. It was found that there was scratch marks on the lid of his coffin and therefore concluded that he was not reconciled with the faith and stopped the process of him becoming a saint. I’m confused. How is someone who is buried alive at fault for this happening? Purportedly, he was desperate to get out. I’m confused as to why they said he was not reconciled with the faith since it wasn’t his fault that he got interred alive? Or do I have the wrong story?

FATHER JOE: While such things do happen, the story here is dubious. If true, critics might contend that the situation was too open to possible despair. In any case, the Church’s verdict upon the figure is positive. The body is still venerated. The fact is that not all good and holy people are canonized. When the bishop died who was the advocate for his cause, no one else picked it up. Thus the process ground to a standstill. The work in question is attributed to him but it is not certain that it is fully his work. Thomas of (a) Kempis was a copyist for the Bible and a number of religious or spirtual works. THE IMITATION OF CHRIST is a Catholic spiritual classic.
Drose, on August 26, 2012 at 3:12 am said:

Dear Father Joe

Out of curiosity is it morally wrong or sinful to get a tatto? I remember my catechism teacher telling me that it is because our bodies are not ours and are temples of God, as stated in Leviticus and the new testament. However some Catholics think is fine as long as is for devotional purposes?

FATHER JOE: I would direct you to a brother priest, Father Greg, and is response to this quesion at GW Catholic. While the official answer might be no, given that there is nothing blatantly offensive in the message, disfiguring of the body or dangerous to health; I have serious personal reservations. It is “my opinion” that tattoos deface the body as a temple of the Holy Spirit. I had always regarded such things as a form of mutilation, which is forbidden by the Church.
Shawn, on August 15, 2012 at 9:37 pm said:

So, Father, is ok to still receive Communion, in in my state of confusion and doubts at times…(even when I feel I have snned mortally, but part of me thinks it’s just the mental illness) though I DO trust in the Church that Christ gave us.

FATHER JOE: Given your problem, you can make a private act of contrition so as to receive the Eucharist and then, when the opportunity arises, see a priest.
Paul, on August 15, 2012 at 9:27 am said:

Dear Fr Joe,

I can understand, perhaps to a large extent, just what it’s like for Shawn. Mental illness, especially bi-polar, can make living not only a Catholic life difficult, but living in the real world a real challenge. I have been arrested and incarcerated simply because I ‘went mad’ one day.

I expect, Fr Joe, you have been able to gain some insight into my struggles by my writings, and all I can say to Shawn by way of advice, is just to stick with it, trust in God’s love and genuine forgiveness and on those days when it’s difficult to ;be a Catholic’ just offer it up for the souls in purgatory and wait for it to pass.

Perfectionism is also a trait of this illness, and I still want to be absolutely perfect in my understanding of something that is basically beyond understanding. It’s easy for people to say “trust in God etc”, and that is good advice, but impossible for us to do thoroughly enough for our own satisfaction. I get some comfort from the story of Thomas. He just refused to believe all the others and needed Jesus to appear to him personally to be convinced. I’m just a little more trusting than Thomas and thus perhaps just as worthy of Gods love and understanding.

With love, Paul
eveiejoyce, on August 15, 2012 at 7:24 am said:

Dear Father, I have heard that a Catholic is not obligated to boycott a company which chooses to support immoral activities when that product we purchase is morally neutral. I would like to ask even if we are purchasing it, does it make it a formal cooperation with evil? Also, what’s the definition of a morally neutral product?

Another thing, how do we know if we really are giving formal or material cooperation? Is it neccessary to search everything about a resurgent about its environment policies, support for gay marriage, abortion, etc. before I go in? What about schools then? Is it necessary to not go to Disney forever in this lifetime because of how it treats it’s cast members? Where should we draw the line? What is the difference between funding a company to do something rather then just purchasing goods? What if I am about to go along with my family on a trip where they may buy sweatshop products?

FATHER JOE:

I wish I had an easy cut-and-dry answer for you. But the issue of boycotts has become increasingly problematical. The first problem is SCOPE. Large national or global companies have their hands in everything. China oppresses the Church and mistreats labor but the alternative products are not only more expensive but sometimes non-existent. Books are printed in China. Ipads are manufactured there as well. Much of our clothing is of Chinese origin and most American suppliers have gone out of business. Not even one television is made in the U.S. The last was Zenith many years ago. Large companies have their hands in everything from soap to cereal. The second matter is DISCERNMENT. Unless it is brought to our attention, we would not know the immoral associations. Further, those that make them known may not always be honest themselves or may have political motivations that play with the truth. The third point is that we are permitted a certain level of personal DISCRETION. In other words, we sometimes have to pick our fights if boycotts are to be truly effective.

Formal cooperation would require that you either share in an evil or immoral intention or that you somehow directly participate in its commission. This is not usually the case in dealings with companies over morally neutral products or services. Material cooperation is more pertinent to this discussion. It might be permitted when such is remote from the unintended immoral act. A lot has to do with the causal connection.

The commotion about healthcare and the new HHS regulatons requiring coverage for contraception, abortifacients and sterilization is pertinent to this discussion. Dioceses are often self-insured. They would be directly paying for immoral intervention. Secondary causality is at play and certainly material cooperation (directly paying for immoral services including the murder of unborn children).

There are always many questions that cannot be easily resolved about such things. For instance, knowing what we do today about the dangers of smoking, can we invest in tobacco companies? Guns in themselves are neutral, but what culpability do we have, if any, for their unlawful use? I have already mentioned China and sweatshops, but does the act of boycotting help them or make their situations worse? The same drug used by a woman to normalize hormonal cycles might be used by another for contraception. Can we invest in it knowing that it is likely to be used for both moral and immoral purposes. Abortion and condomistic intercourse are always intrinsically immoral. But what if you are a pharmacist and are compelled to prepare contraceptives? Certainly, I would think that one could refuse to sell the morning after pill. What if you work in a convenience store that sells condoms? What if you are a salesman at a store that sells pornography? Knowing that your job depends upon it, how far can you compromise yourself? There are so many wrinkles and each question must be looked at in detail. If we take the high ground, there will be a wonderful witness; however, there will also be reprecussions, oppression and suffering.
Shawn, on August 14, 2012 at 4:26 pm said:

I am a convert to the faith from a Baptist background, but since I’ve been officially a Catholic I often flip-flop on what beliefs and teachings of the Church I truly believe. One day I’m in full support, the next I want to return to the Baptist faith. (I suffer from panic, anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder) I’m also so scrupulous that I never know when I’ve sinned mortally or not, I always think I’m in mortal sin!

I’ve talked to multiple priests, apologetic laymen, etc. and literally will go to bed feeling in love with the Church that Christ gives us, and wake up the next morning not wanting to be in it because I don’t believe in certain teachings.

So, even when I doubt my belief and think I’m in constant sin…do I just carry my cross and persevere…even if I have doubts?

I go to confession, but it never helps, confession makes me feel guiltier actually. I’ve had many priests tell me to trust in God, ask for forgiveness daily and rest assured God knows my heart.

What to do? Do I stay in a Church in which I have doubts some days, and others I don’t? Do I trust that God knows my mental makeup and stay? Thanks!

FATHER JOE: Mental and emotional difficulties can adversely affect our culpability and personal responsibility. Bipolar issues cause the type of vacillation that you describe. It is a real cross and medicine can help but often falls short. The episodes of depression may be true “dark nights of the soul.” You should not leave the Church, particularly given that the real dilemma is not creedal but chemical. God understands, even if we are left wondering ourselves about the problem of pain. I will pray that you will find a lasting hope and satisfaction in your life.
john, on August 14, 2012 at 1:24 am said:

The old testament instructs us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. How are we, as Christians, to understand and carry this out?

FATHER JOE: It seems pretty straight-forward to me… we pray for peace. The Middle East and Palestine (indeed the whole world) still need our prayers. And, of course, we should pray also for the spiritual Jerusalem or New Zion, the Church.
Jon Christopher, J.D., on August 9, 2012 at 3:50 pm said:

Father, I am a writer working on a book of fiction set in Mexico, circa, 1877. One of my main characters is a Roman Catholic Priest sent to Mexico by way of the Vatican. Can you suggest a source I might refer to in order to find out what a Nineteenth Century priest would wear, day to day, both at the Vatican, and in an impoverished village in Old Mexico? Thank you very much.

FATHER JOE: Religious garb did vary between various countries. I am not sure about Mexico because many of the clergy there also belonged to religious congregations or orders who would have had specific habits of some sort. Liturgical garb for Mass would be in the traditional style, albeit with Spanish flourishes. But everyday garb is a trickier matter. You can find some photos of martyred priests on the Internet from the 1920’s or so. But you want to go back 50 years before that. Some of the major Catholic universities like CUA in DC also have many old books which might in passing give details about the clergy of that time. You would want to know what type or cut of collar was worn. The same could be said about the hat. I suspect a straight or large round-brim hat. Did they wear cassocks or jacket and pants? Undergarments would be the same as the laity during this period. Are you writing about secular or religious clergy. Mexico had a large number of missionaries in the 19th century. We often hear about the Franciscans but the Jesuits were also in Mexico. It may be that the priests in Mexico wore garb that was similar to that worn in Spain at the time. As an example of the variety, CLICK HERE for an article about the dress of clergy in Rome during this time period.
Drose, on August 9, 2012 at 7:14 am said:

Father I have seen how the United States is very divided (Republicans and Democrats). Is it right to vote? I know the Church takes a more conservative position but how is one to vote? It’s like saying pick one Satan or the devil basically choosing the lesser of the two evils. Democrats/liberals tend to support the use of contraception and abortion; Republicans, other evils like unfair treatment of immigrants. Many illegals come because they have no option. Many have children asking for food but it cannot be given in their countries of origin because there is lack of opportunity so they come to the U.S. and I feel that if I vote Republican many children will be murdered through abortion yet one cannot deny opportunity to others. What is one to do? I feel that it is best to stay out of politics but I also feel it is wrong because if one stays out, those children will no longer have a voice. If one voted left or right is he/she voting for sin?

FATHER JOE: As a priest under authority, I am not permitted to tell you or to suggest for whom you should vote. However, I can mention something about issues. Abortion is the murder of unborn human persons. Fifty plus million children have been destroyed in the U.S. alone. Passivity regarding this offense to God and crime stains our hands with innocent blood. When it comes to an issue like immigration, we can certainly sympathize with families coming to our shores and across the border seeking a better life and wanting a piece of the American dream. The problem is that not all who are entering our nation today share our values. While most past immigrants came here legally; today we face the plight of millions of illegal aliens. Despite political pandering, this places a burden on those poor Americans who compete for similar jobs. Illegal drugs often flood into the U.S. by following the same routes that undocumented interlopers follow. A nation has a right to secure borders. We must find a way to be compassionate to immigrants while safeguarding our national security and enforcing the laws of American justice. As for voting, there are some candidates for whom I could never vote. Personally, I could not live with myself if I were to support a candidate who was an advocate or enabler for the abortion industry. Publicly, I would advise the faithful to look seriously at those candidates who have made themselves enemies of the Church and would silence her voice and contribution in the public forum. The U.S. bishops have a lawsuit against the executive branch of the federal government. The new HHS directives requiring free contraceptives, and benefits for abortifacients and sterilization in our insurance/health plans would make us accomplices in sin and force us to shut down or face crushing fines. Secondary causality is also at issue here. The Church is generally self-insured. Involvement with chemical abortions would also result in censure and automatic excommunication. The bishops will not compromise themselves this way. The Cardinal in Chicago says that if the administration does not rescind this element of the new policy, we are facing the closure or nationalization (government take-over) of all our parochial schools, colleges and universities, Catholic Charities, and hospitals. It could all be gone in a year’s time. The exemption is so narrow it would force us only to hire Catholics and only to serve Catholics. We would not be allowed to give a sandwich to a street bum if he belonged to another faith. That is absolutely crazy. Looking at such matters, who are really the enemies of the Church? There are even so-called Catholics who are fighting us. They should excuse themselves from the Eucharist. Our public views do impact upon both our private and corporate faith. Can you vote for a person who is an enemy of the Church, even seeking her destruction? Can you vote for a person who supports the murder of children? I will leave these questions to your own conscience. And I really do hope that you and everyone else truly agonizes over such matters.
Drose, on August 7, 2012 at 8:11 am said:

Is Constantine a saint or a venerable figure in the Catholic Church. It was thanks to him that Christendom is what it is today. Though he did not really 100% convert to Christianity until he was a dying man; I know he committed many artrocities including murdering his sister but he did want to get baptized before he passed away. So is he a venerable figure and saint or we do not know?

FATHER JOE: The Eastern Church and various Orthodox churches regard him as such. However, he is not in the Western calendar.
Drose, on July 30, 2012 at 2:12 am said:

Dear father, is there like a database from which you get your information from? For example I’m trying to find historical writings that can disprove the theory that Constantine founded cathalocism. Since sometimes I find that there are many Christians who use that myth to try and discredit cathalocism. I find that explaining cathalocism through the bible alone wont do it with some folks?
Another question how can we explain that Catholicism is the right religion once someone believes in god? Because half the battle is for getting people to believe in God and the other half is to get them on the right path?

FATHER JOE: Facts mean very little to bigots. The Catholic Encyclopedia online is old but still very useful. Few are converted by debate but such often helps to preserve the faith of those who are practicing Catholics. Many critics become more entrenched and angry with any kind of dialogue.
Drose, on July 24, 2012 at 2:03 am said:

Did I do wrong by asking the previous question? I didn’t mean to spread the lies. I know only the catholic church can interpret scripture and visions otherwise we would have thousands of different interpretations.

FATHER JOE: You asked a legitimate question. I sanitized it a little for my blog. There was nothing wrong with what you asked. God bless you.
Drose, on July 23, 2012 at 6:59 pm said:

Dear Father, why are there many people claiming to have had visions of hell and heaven. Are these visions legit whether by God or Demonic? There was this girl claiming to have seen Pope John Paul II in hell and Jesus told her he was there for being a liar, idolater, and fornicator. [scurrilous remarks deleted] Isn’t it a grave sin to assume someone is in hell and even more so to say why they went there?

FATHER JOE: It would be a sin even to repeat such lies. People may disagree with his various practical decisions, but the man himself was devoted to the Blessed Mother and the life of prayer. His encyclical EVANGELIUM VITAE is a masterful defense of life and gives us the heart of the genuine Good News of Christ. Many have testified to his personal holiness. Any such dream or vision is either the rotten fruit of a sick heart and mind or the manipulation of Satan.

To my understanding the Catholic church has never declared anyone in hell. Not even Judas who betrayed Jesus though Jesus alluded to it. The bible says that no eyes have seen heaven. So why does this girl and many others claim to have seen heaven and people in hell. Let’s say their visions are legit are they in sin for saying what they saw.

FATHER JOE: Private revelation must be judged by the Church. Such as you describe would never pass scrutiny. One might be given a glimpse of hell but I doubt we would recognize anyone. Note the testimony of Sister Lucia about her Fatima vision: “She opened Her hands once more, as She had done the two previous months. The rays [of light] appeared to penetrate the earth, and we saw, as it were, a vast sea of fire. Plunged in this fire, we saw the demons and the souls [of the damned]. The latter were like transparent burning embers, all blackened or burnished bronze, having human forms. They were floating about in that conflagration, now raised into the air by the flames which issued from within themselves, together with great clouds of smoke. Now they fell back on every side like sparks in huge fires, without weight or equilibrium, amid shrieks and groans of pain and despair, which horrified us and made us tremble with fright (it must have been this sight which caused me to cry out, as people say they heard me). The demons were distinguished [from the souls of the damned] by their terrifying and repellent likeness to frightful and unknown animals, black and transparent like burning coals. That vision only lasted for a moment, thanks to our good Heavenly Mother, Who at the first apparition had promised to take us to Heaven. Without that, I think that we would have died of terror and fear.”
Fredo, on July 13, 2012 at 4:21 am said:

Dear Father, what’s up with yoga? Can Catholics practice it or no?

FATHER JOE: Some have tried to separate the external physical exercises of Yoga from the mental or spiritual elements. These latter components on inner Yoga are closely associated with Hindu pantheism. As false religion, this is incompatible with Catholicism.
Roy Hobble, on July 12, 2012 at 4:32 am said:

I was joking about Australia because the video says Europe. To behave yourself and say your prayers I would like to add, do good works. To my dismay, there are still criminals in all counties. I have been a petty thief in the past.
Roy Hobble, on July 11, 2012 at 2:38 am said:

I think perhaps the anti-Christ will come out of Australia. Wasn’t that nation founded by criminals? How can one be dogmatic about his country, or region of origin? Some sincere teachers give more credit to this conniving thief than he is due. God made the cards that are dealt, and can always deal another ace. Jesus is both the thief in the night and our insurance agent. I do like to entertain final scenarios, because that would mean Jesus would rule on heaven and earth. My excitement is placed on Jesus, the king of Israel, and all.

FATHER JOE: I have no idea what you are talking about. Australia is a wonderful country. You are too caught up in the endtimes confusion. Just behave yourself and say your prayers.
Dole, on July 10, 2012 at 7:46 pm said:

What should we make of Father John O’Connor?:

Was justice done to Father John O’Connor or what? And as far as the video is there some truth to what he says? Since it is coming from a priest.

FATHER JOE: I had a great respect for his furvor and his warning about the Catholic and then Episcopalian and now “independent” priest, Father Matthew Fox (one of his fellow Dominicans). But priests must also be careful not to cause undue scandal and Fr. O’Connor got in trouble for naming names and making serious allegations. Priests have an obligation to the truth, but also to obedience. They are not their own men. He has been dead for some time. We should keep him in prayer and work prudently against the excesses and sins about which he preached.
Patricia, on July 5, 2012 at 3:02 pm said:

Dear Father Joe, I was raised in a by my Catholic father. We attended church, and I attended Catholic high school. At the request of my mother, I never received communion or was confirmed.

Now that I am a young adult, I feel a tremendous calling to the Catholic Church— but unfortunately I have some big moral differences.

FOR EXAMPLE:

I believe that, though the Church should never have to marry anyone it doesn’t care to, that the Unites States should recognize same sex marriage. I also do not believe that my monogamous homosexual friends are committing a sin.

FATHER JOE: Dear Patricia, the Church often finds herself caught between two fundamental elements of her mission: the transmission of the faith and morals entrusted to her by God in Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition; and to reach out with welcoming and healing to all who feel afraid, hurting, alone and oppressed. The Church wants to preserve the institution of marriage as a covenant between a man and a woman. She would also admonish that sexual activity (the marital act) should be reserved to spouses. The Church is not against friendships, but she would urge heterosexual singles and homosexuals to pursue chaste but loving relationships. People are not perfect and sometimes there are failures and mistakes. The Church would bring not a blind eye but the mercy of Jesus to these moments of weakness. Homosexuals are our brothers and sisters and they are still very much loved by God. A restriction in the definition of marriage is not meant to wrong or to attack them. Many homosexuals struggle with their orientation and yet through prayer and the sacraments continue to find a place for themselves in the Church. My cousin, the late Fr. John Harvey wrote two excellent books on the subject that are still in print: Truth About Homosexuality – The Cry of the Faithful and Homosexuality and the Catholic Church.

In addition, though I myself would NEVER have an abortion, I do not believe it should be made illegal for fear that more women would die, and the government would then be allowed to dictate women’s reproductive rights in more heinous ways (see China).

FATHER JOE: The trouble is that we already have commercial operations like government funded and backed Planned Parenthood that uses propaganda and fears to manipulate women into having abortions, even purportedly covering up crimes by which some young girls got pregnant. The coercion is already operative and many of the proponents of abortion here in the U.S. are on the record for recommending China’s strict policy. While the Church can never condone the “murder” of children, she would urge discipline, abstinence and charity. There are no unwanted children. Many couples weep because the children are not available for their adoption. The Church sponsors the Gabriel Project to help women in keeping their babies; she also recommends Project Rachel for women who grieve over making the wrong CHOICE and now trying to forgive themselves. Further, while we keep hearing talk about outlawing abortion, such is dubious short of a constitutional amendment and/or a radical change in human hearts. Most of the political fights have to do with needed restrictions, anything that helps the woman or couple to make a truly “informed” decision, weighing all the options, and maybe giving some gravity to a person unseen.

On that note, I also think birth control is important for society. Not everyone can be counted on to abstain. (Maybe this one’s okay? See: JPII re: Africa?)

FATHER JOE: I am not sure what you mean by Pope John Paul II and Africa in reference to the birth control question. Before 1930, artificial contraception was viewed as a sin and was rejected by every Christian “church” on the planet. The Anglicans, with much debate, were the first to approve it for married couples. In any case, as one bishop recently remarked, “that ship has sailed.” There is no campaign to stop the sale of such things. But, as in the HHS debacle, the Catholic Church should not be required to pay directly for something it deems immoral. If they were to do so, the bishops would forfeit all their moral authority. But that is a religious liberty issue. The Catholic Church has good reasons for opposition and if you are a reader I would urge you to examine what the Church teaches, not just the rhetoric of those who dissent and give a slanted version of the moral doctrine. Natural Family Planning is highly effective and gives a couple an opportunity truly to share their love and fertility in a responsible way. Love that is stripped of discipline and openness to God’s gift of life is either handicapped or counterfeit. The contraceptive mentality has bred our pornographic and sexually obsessed society. It fuels a lust that masquerades as love where persons are degraded as mere objects for personal satisfaction. The contraceptive industry is centered upon monetary profit, not the prophetic message of the kingdom. It intimidates and places people into bondage where the Church would summon us to be free. Several years ago a European company producing contraceptives went into Africa and gave away free pills by the millions. The lifestyle of the people changed and they became more sexually active and promiscuous. Then the company came back and said that in the future they would have to pay for the pills. Their so-called charity was merely a ploy to create a new market. The government leadership involved came to the Catholic Church for help. They had barely enough resources to feed their people. They could not afford to waste money on contraceptives. The Church sent in teams and doctors to teach NFP to married couples. It gave them back the control they needed over their own lives and their fertility. The program was highly successful.

Lastly, I am confused about why the Church tried to cover up the abuse of children. I understand forgiving the Priest and finding a more suitable assignment for him… but why was, for example, Father O’Grady simply moved from Parish to Parish, by higher-ups who had full knowledge of his condition, where he still had access to children.

FATHER JOE: As for the scandal of abuse by priests, it is something that befuddles many of us. Such monsters should never have been ordained and definitely when found out they should have immediately faced charges, treatment and isolation from children. Were churchmen naïve in thinking they could be healed through treatment? Did they see it as a moral disorder that a retreat and confession could resolve? Were Church leaders so afraid of scandal and defensive of the priesthood, that they slapped these guys on the wrist and moved them around? I hope everyone knows better today. However, a need to bring Christ’s forgiveness to these men should never trump the healing of their victims. Sick men and criminals of such a stripe need to be brought to justice. My fear today is that once they are laicized and released by the Church, they often wander around unsupervised. This bothers me. In any case, these men were terrible sinners, both the abusers and those who deliberately or unwittingly through carelessness, enabled them to perpetuate their crimes. But the Church is more than this. She is composed of sinners, great and small, lay and clerical. But the Church is also the house instituted by Christ. We should not run away from her but cooperate with divine grace in building her up and in reflecting the holiness of God.

Alright, so these are some pretty big disagreements. So, one might ask, why do you want to be involved with the Catholics at all? Well, I just simply feel called to be. I love the narrative. I love the ritual. I love the Saints. I love the teaching of real, spiritual satisfaction though sacrifice. I love priests and nuns, and the dedication they show to their faith and to lay people. I love the community outreach Catholics do, with a light “evangelical” touch– “See God through me” not “See God or Suffer.” When I am in church, I feel EXTREMELY, PHYSICALLY drawn to communion– like, bottom of my heart sad that I was not allowed to receive it as a child. These are wonderful parts of the Catholic Church I haven’t been able to find elsewhere.

I was recently told by a priest that I am not allowed to feel this way, and I have to agree with the Church all the time, because to disagree with the Church is to disagree with God.

FATHER JOE: It is true that divine truths are promulgated by the Church, although sometimes the formulations themselves are not perfect and have room for growth. It may be that you are not merely wrestling these issues with the Church but with God who has revealed himself to us. Sometimes there are teachings and practices in the Church which represent a struggle for us. If so, I urge people not to give up and walk away. God is not finished with you yet. Some issues may always be difficult. In these cases, we give religious assent out of a respect for the Church, even if intellectually we are still unconvinced. This may suffice for certain matters; although there has to be full consent on core matters of faith as expressed in the Nicene and Apostles’ Creed. Pope John Paul II talked about this when he urged confessors to be understanding and not rigid about matters like birth control. The Church does not compromise what she officially believes; however, there must be compassion and understanding in dealing with specific persons and their unique faith journeys. The fact that you wrestle with issues may be a sign that you take the whole faith business seriously. Too many approach belief in a robotic and unthinking manner. God wants disciples who are sometimes willing to wrestle the issues with him through study and prayer. Of course, when the day is done, we also remember that he is God and we are his creatures, no more than that, his children.

Does the sum of my feelings mean there is no place for me in the Church I love? If I continue to attend Church, should I never seek to take communion because of these differences? If it’s really how I feel, are these the kind of things you can go to hell over?

FATHER JOE: If you are serious about your faith journey then join the parish RCIA program. Given that you were baptized, the group would study the faith with you and give preparation for the reception of the sacraments, namely Penance, Holy Communion and Confirmation. No one will force your hand. Throughout the process, it remains your choice. I will keep you in my prayers. Programs usually begin in the fall. Stress the things that you believe in. Avoid arguments about the few areas where you have questions or reservations. Many Catholics already in the pews share your concerns; however, they have still found a home with us.
Dole, on July 1, 2012 at 1:20 am said:

Father I have some questions that I could not generate an answer to. Where is the devil or satan right now? Is he in hell being tormented? Or is he tempting man to sin? Or is he omnipresent in hell being tormented and also tempting man? Or has God allowed him to tempt man until judgment?

FATHER JOE:

Satan or the devil is one of many fallen angels or demons. Angelic creatures are entirely spiritual and have no material or physical bodies. They may know some form of duration but as non-material beings, they exist outside of time. This means that they do not take up space. A demon “is” where ever it “acts.” Only when the bodies of damned human beings are restored to their souls can we speak of hell as a definite “physical” place. However, neither souls nor demonic spirits take up space and only know hell as a state of alienation from almighty God. The devils can never escape their own stench. They are literally “hell spirits.” Every damned spirit can say, “I am hell.”

We can learn a great deal by looking at the prayer promulgated by Pope Leo XIII: “Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle; be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray: and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.” Despite constant pleas to cast them out, we repeatedly note that the devils prowl the world as tempters. In other words, they will not keep to themselves and are part of the trial we face. Such is permitted by God as an element of his mysterious providence. The victory is won in Christ but the devil is spiteful. At the final consummation, both demons and damned human beings will be utterly restricted to hell. Hell is described as an abode of the dead where there is pain of the senses (fire) and the far greater suffering of separation from God for whom we were made.

Also I am not liking that the supreme court established as constitutional the new health care law passed under president Obama. Not so much because I don’t want others to have access to healthcare because believe me I do; but because of the mandates it has like providing birth control to employees. I see the Supreme Court as being somewhat liberal and if the healthcare law was seen as constitutional then I see gay marriage being legalized real soon under the banner of equality for all. Will legalizing gay marriage as equal to heterosexual marriage inhibit the church’s ability to function in society (such as charity, adoptions, etc) and therefore lead to persecution pretty much or is it to far fetched?

FATHER JOE: It is already inhibiting the work of the Church, as with adoptions.
Paul Brann, on June 27, 2012 at 7:18 am said:

Dear Fr Joe,

Is this the Holy Spirit taking time out?

http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/06/22/12359748-roman-catholic-church-official-convicted-of-endangerment-in-priest-abuse-trial?lite

Doesn’t look like it’s about to come to an end that soon. There must be masses in the pipeline yet?

“and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it”………but they are certainly very close.

It’s all very, very sad,
Paul

FATHER JOE: Yes, very sad.
luke, on June 8, 2012 at 2:47 am said:

Father, I have followed your blog and enjoy it very much…so thank you. Obviously you take a very Catholic approach to your answers. Which leads into my question.
There are many different Christian churches (Catholic, Baptist, Orthodox, Lutheran, etc.); why does it matter if you are a Catholic, etc., as long as you believe Jesus came to earth as the son of God and died so that our sins can be forgiven?

FATHER JOE: Much depends upon what the person knows and believes. The more that is given a person, the more for which he will be held accountable. We believe that the Catholic Church was directly instituted by Christ. We believe that everything necessary for salvation “subsists” in the Catholic Church. We believe that the sacraments allow Christ to bring us “new birth,” his Spirit, forgiveness, the bread of life, healing and vocations of love and service. As the Mystical Body of Christ, we believe that the Catholic Church is the great mystery or sacrament of saving encounter with Jesus Christ. Other churches (or ecclesial communities) fall short or lack many of the elements with which our Lord gifted us. We pray for our separated brethren, but both Christ and his Church have a role to play in the salvation of souls, even those juridically outside the visible body of the Catholic Church. We may agree that Jesus suffered and died to redeem us from our sins; but the full ramifications of his paschal mystery are realized in the life and witness of the Church.
Paul Brann, on June 4, 2012 at 10:44 am said:

Dear Fr Joe,
I don’t know if the ‘hidden hand’ will allow you to watch this;

THE HIDDEN HAND HAS DELETED THIS VIDEO: Muhahahaha!

but it more or less sums up how I, and possibly very many other old Catholics feel, about the state of The Church at present.

Is this how we would behave were it possible to be present 2000 years ago at Calvary, or on the road with ‘that stranger’?

Would we have put on clowns costumes and juggled in the upper room even at Pentacost?………..somehow I don’t think so.

If we truly believe, then we would show much more respect; how would it be otherwise?

With love, Paul

FATHER JOE: The video stressed abuses, but the attack upon Pope John XXIII as a Modernist and the deriding of Vatican II is inappropriate. The Holy Spirit is still with our popes and the bishops in council. The Church faced many problems before the council and it was an attempt to respond to these challenges. The good old days were not perfect. How many Masses were said where altar servers mumbled nonsense instead of their proper responses? Modernism preceded Vatican II and the heresy was condemned by Pope Pius X. There were always altars composed of more than marble. Many so-called old marble altars (mentioned in the video) were often wood and plaster, with only an altar stone of marble. This was especially true in poor and rural parishes. My old pastor could get through the old Tridentine Mass in 12 minutes. The words were rattled off like machine-gun fire. Was this good liturgy? Even the sexual abuse cases, quite a few of them go back before the changes. Old men now, and many dead (unable to defend themselves), they came up under the older disciplines. That tragedy cannot be blamed on the reforms. The whole world has faced changes, technological and cultural. While bad things have happened, there has also been good. The forced segregation of the races we once knew here in the United States is a thing of the past. Vocations here are on the rise again. Numbers of orthodox Anglicans are coming home to Mother Church. The new English translation of the Missal, while awkward, gives us the richness of the Latin prayers. The old Mass and the reformed are offered side-by-side. Yes, there are elements in society and in the Church that need fixing. But there is much cause for hope.
Paul Brann, on June 3, 2012 at 1:28 pm said:

Dear Fr Joe, so by inference then, the Jews to this day and all other Protestant denominations will still be required to make blood sacrifices which will (somehow!) be pleasing to God as they come no where near the enactment of the New Testament in their ceremonies as we do, and thus fail to qualify for salvation and God’s pleasure with their rather wishy-washy stuff.

FATHER JOE: There is an effort among some of the Orthodox Jews in Israel to restore the levitical priesthood and ritual sacrifice. The hold up is that this woould require the reconstruction of the Temple. Currently there is a Mosque sitting on the site. Typical Protestant thinking is that the Cross of Jesus suffices and that there is no need for repetition or re-presentation or extension; in other words, it is a done deal, case closed. The Catholic view is linked to the sacramental system; our Lord perpetuates or continues his saving works in the Church, today. The only thing missing from Calvary was our participation. During the Mass we offer ourselves with Jesus as an acceptable oblation to the Father. This is also linked to the Catholic notion of transformation by grace as opposed to Luther’s view of juridical imputation.

Is that why Abram was expected to kill his own son? To please God? And then, presumably,by killing a goat/sheep caught up in the bushes and cutting off his own foreskin also, somehow, pleased God. I sure don’t understand this “mind of God business!”

FATHER JOE: Primative people knew instinctively there was a need to offer sacrifice. However, they were wrong to think that human sacrifice would be pleasing to the deity. God stays Abraham’s hand against his son but not Jairus’ in his pledge to sacrifice his daughter. Such is evidence that while it was later regarded as repellant, there was a period in history when they were tolerant of and/or practiced human sacrifice. The main theme with Abraham is his faith. He trusted God’s promises, even in the face of the absurd, the pending sacrifice of the child of promise.

Or does Jesus’ saving grace wash over all of His creation and no one need kill animals and sprinkle the blood over everything as they used to do?

FATHER JOE: The Mass is a “clean” sacrifice that re-presents the “bloody” sacrifice of Calvary.

Or, was it just than man was confused before Jesus explained it just that little bit better than Moses and that lot, and didn’t really understand that slaughtering animals in a rather barbaric way didn’t really ‘please God’ at all?

FATHER JOE: Burning grain and sacrificing animals was an obligatory action of the creature toward the Creator. It signified that these gifts belonged to God. The only problem was that these obligatory actions always fell short in what they sought– reconciliation with God and the forgiveness of sins. Jesus’ Paschal Mystery satisfies these goals.

PS We are doing a bit of God pleasing over here at the moment, celebrating the 60th anniversary of “The Defender of the Faith” and “Empress of India” no less!!!

FATHER JOE: Quaint.

Best wishes, and love, Paul