Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

Jenna Marie Cooper: Jewish marriages are valid in Catholic Church’s eyes

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Question corner Q: In a recent article, you quoted the Code of Canon Law for what constitutes a valid nonsacramental marriage. I’m not sure if you know this, but the Jewish marriage document — the ketubah — is essentially a prenuptial agreement that outlines the protections the spouses are to receive should either one initiate […]

Jenna Marie Cooper: Debunking claims of made-up Gospels

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Question corner Q: Some of my non-Catholic friends say that most of the Gospel is made up, as the earliest records show Jesus survived the crucifixion, married Mary Magdalene and moved away, leaving his disciples to carry on their new religious movement. They say the church was well aware of all of this, but covered […]

Jenna Marie Cooper: ‘Easter duty’ no longer formal mandate

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Question corner Q: What exactly are my Easter duties? My grandparents sometimes talk about “the Easter duty,” but I’m not sure if this was just a pre-Vatican II thing, or something I still need to worry about. (United Kingdom) A: In broad terms, “the Easter duty” usually refers to a fully initiated Catholic’s obligation to […]

Jenna Marie Cooper: We need reconciliation for post-baptismal sins

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Question corner Q: How could Jesus’ death “cleanse us from our sins” and “assure our entrance into heaven”? If that is the case, why do we need confession? A: First of all, since it pertains to some of the deepest mysteries of our faith, I think the exact “mechanics” of how Jesus’ passion and death […]

Jenna Marie Cooper: Many saints suffered at church leaders’ hands

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Question corner Q: Are there any saints who had a difficult relationship with the church? (New York) A: The answer to this question would depend on exactly what you mean by “a difficult relationship” or even the term “the church.” But the short answer is that yes, there have been many canonized saints who were […]

Jenna Marie Cooper: Defining the types and severity of sins

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Question corner Q: At a recent Mass, the priest talked about “mortal sin,” about which I’d previously heard, but then he mentioned “venial sins” and “temporal sins,” and even “sins of omission.” I’m not familiar with these, especially the last one. How can a person commit a sin without doing anything? A: Every sin represents […]

Jenna Marie Cooper: Communion requires belief in Real Presence

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Question corner Q: We know that Our Lord loves everyone and thus would want to be as close to each person as possible. Can non-Catholics receive holy Communion since this would help achieve the Lord’s ultimate desire to be within the heart and soul of every human being? My spouse is an Episcopalian and refuses […]

Jenna Marie Cooper: Nonalcoholic wine is not valid matter

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Question corner Q: I’m a parish priest and recently, when I went to order hosts and sacramental wine for my parish, I noticed the company I usually shop from was offering something called “nonalcoholic church wine.” I told the lady on the phone that I imagine this isn’t valid matter for consecration at a Mass, […]