Question corner Q: John 6:54 states the following: “Jesus said to them, ‘Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.’” I just met a sister in Christ who has a problem. She has a common-law spouse […]
Jenna Marie Cooper: Yoga is in gray area, reiki is off-limits
Question Corner Q: Can you explain the church’s teachings about yoga and reiki? Recently a priest gave a presentation in which he said that, to avoid the devil, Catholics should also avoid things like palm readers and ouija boards. He also mentioned yoga and reiki. I’ve practiced yoga on and off for many years and […]
Jenna Marie Cooper: Clarifying rules on marriage, intinction
Question corner Q: A divorced, annulled Catholic friend of mine recently got engaged to another divorced Catholic, who said her previous marriage was ruled “lacks proper form” by the church. What does this mean? Are they able to marry in the Catholic Church? (Indiana) A: Even as a canon lawyer, it’s impossible to draw firm […]
Jenna Marie Cooper: Once baptized, you are always Catholic
Question corner Q: I recently moved to a rural area, and my current parish is now nearly an hour drive away. There are no Catholic churches in my new area. There is, however, a Methodist church right across the street from my new home, in easy walking distance. They are open for services on Sunday […]
Jenna Marie Cooper: Killing animals is OK within reason
Question corner Q: What is the church’s position on the treatment of animals? My vegetarian friend believes it is immoral to kill animals even for food. We recently hired an exterminator to eliminate rodents. This friend implied we should humanely capture them and release them, instead of killing them. This is not the company’s way, […]
Jenna Marie Cooper: Crucifixes’ style depends on artist, era
Question corner Q: I have a friend who observed that some crucifixes depict the Savior with his eyes open and some depict him with his eyes closed. He wants to know which is correct — alive or dead? (Lakeland, Florida) A: With respect to the second part of your question, I think it’s equally correct […]
Jenna Marie Cooper: Prayer of the Faithful is ‘free form’
Question corner Q: If, indeed, abortion is the church’s preeminent issue, then why don’t we hear a pro-life petition as part of the Prayer of the Faithful at every Mass? A: Many parishes do include a pro-life intention as part of the Prayer of the Faithful at Mass every week. However, it is true that […]
Jenna Marie Cooper: Group is in violation of canon law
QUESTION CORNER Q: I greatly enjoyed a recent article about our Orthodox brothers and sisters having a valid celebration of the Eucharist. My question is, can the same be said of the Polish National Catholic Church (PNCC)? Given your logic about the Orthodox churches, it would seem to me that the PNCC also has apostolic […]
Jenna Marie Cooper: Mass obligation has no age limit
QUESTION CORNER Q: My older sister told me that after age 80, you are relieved of the duty to attend Sunday Mass. I didn’t believe her until a friend who is 86 told me the same thing. I have never heard of this. Is it true? (Ocean View, Del.) A: I have never heard of […]
Jenna Marie Cooper : Does a televised Mass ‘count’?
Question Corner Q: In the past few weeks, due to extreme weather, I’ve missed Mass a couple of times. My parish has a Facebook channel, so I watched the services there instead. I wasn’t able to receive Communion. In talking to the priest, though, he said that in such situations, a person can receive […]
