Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

Father Kenneth Doyle: No purgatory for the good thief? No weddings during Lent?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: As I understand purgatory, it is a place where a cleansing is done, even if we have received the sacrament of anointing of the sick and/or made a good confession and had our sins absolved before death. My question is this: On the day Jesus was crucified, he told the good thief, […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: How can I remain a Catholic?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: How, in good conscience, can I remain a practicing Catholic with all the scandal and hypocrisy exposed within the church? So many of the church’s actions seem far removed from the message of Jesus. The church gathers riches upon the earth, has its own country, bank and government and has a hierarchy. […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: Why ‘Lead us not into temptation?’ Can you bring up the collection basket to the altar?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: When we say the Lord’s Prayer at Mass, we pray, “Lead us not into temptation.” Why would God lead us into temptation? I know that God allows temptation to occur, but the word “lead” is an active verb that implies God may be actively involved in our being tempted. Would you please […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: Is there a literal hell?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: What is the Catholic view on whether there is an actual, literal hell? A lot of people, including some who are Catholics, while they believe in an actual, literal heaven, say that hell is simply death. (Indiana) A: Catholic theology holds that there is an actual, literal hell. The Catechism of the […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: Why no mention of male virginity? Plus: Are Wiccans misunderstood?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: We Catholics honor many female saints for their outstanding lives of service and virginity. Why do we never mention St. Joseph’s virginity or the virginity of some of our wonderful male saints? (City and state withheld) A: I think the main reason is that women religious generally refer to their vow of […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: Is it confession or reconciliation? Did the Virgin Mary have other kids?

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QUESTION CORNER Q While I know that only confession will reconcile me with God, I am confused about the terminology used in my parish. (We are a rural parish and have very few opportunities for confession, but there is always the chance to make a private appointment for confession.) Any scheduled confessions are now announced […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: Husband not able to receive ‘last rites.’ Plus: What justifies Natural Family Planning?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: My husband died suddenly and did not receive the last rites of the Catholic Church. We had just come back from Mass and Communion about three hours earlier. I am very upset that he was not able to receive the last rites, and this has been very difficult on me. I would […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: Is the Sabbath Saturday or Sunday? Do Catholics believe in the Rapture?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: Why do some religions say that the Sabbath day is Saturday while others — including Catholics — say it’s on Sunday? (Eldon, Missouri) A: No, Catholics do not say that the Sabbath is on Sunday. The Sabbath is on Saturday, as it was in the Old Testament when God rested from all […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: Dementia and the sacraments. Plus the “Nativity Fast”

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QUESTION CORNER Q: My husband converted to Catholicism before we were married 34 years ago. He was not big on going to confession. Now he has dementia. He comes to Mass with me on Sundays, after being away for quite some time. I’m not sure that he could go to confession anymore because of his […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: May I get a tattoo?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: I am thinking of getting a tattoo on my arm of my late daughter’s handwriting. Is there anything in Catholic teaching against this? (I want to do this for my 75th birthday which is coming up soon.) (Louisville, Kentucky) A: There is nothing in Catholic teaching that prohibits getting a tattoo. Some […]