Jenna Marie Cooper

Jenna Marie Cooper: What are the rules for Christmas trees?

12/06/2023 by Hawaii Catholic Herald

QUESTON CORNER Q: When I was a kid we put up the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve and took it down a day or two after Christmas. As an adult, I put the tree up a day or two after Thanksgiving and left it up until January 2nd. Now as a Catholic, what is […]

Jenna Marie Cooper: What does the church teach about resisting rape?

11/22/2023 by Hawaii Catholic Herald

QUESTION CORNER Q: As a cradle Catholic, I was taught that the denial of Christ is gravely wrong, that Christians must be prepared to die rather than apostatize. However, now I’ve become aware of a claim that I am not sure about. It has been asserted by someone claiming to be Catholic that in […]

Jenna Marie Cooper: Why more letters from Paul than Peter?

11/08/2023 by Hawaii Catholic Herald

QUESTION CORNER Q: I’m confused as to why, if Peter was our first pope, we have only two of his writings in the New Testament. James, another early leader, only has one book included. John has five, but Paul, who never even met Jesus while Jesus was alive here on Earth, has 13 books included. […]

Jenna Marie Cooper: Dating before the annulment?

10/25/2023 by Hawaii Catholic Herald

QUESTION CORNER Q: Can there be situations where a Catholic can date another person who has been divorced but has not yet received a declaration of nullity for that marriage? In a previous column you stated the following: “All marriages are presumed valid until proven otherwise.” I have relatives and friends who date divorcees. […]

Jenna Marie Cooper: Does faulty faith prevent healing?

10/11/2023 by Hawaii Catholic Herald

QUESTION CORNER Q: When I was Evangelical, we were told Jesus wanted to heal us, every time; we need only ask “in his name.” If we weren’t healed it was because we lacked sufficient faith to “claim it.” I remember my Catholic Grandma saying though, that sometimes God heals and sometimes not, and that […]

Jenna Marie Cooper: Do all divorces require an annulment?

09/27/2023 by Hawaii Catholic Herald

QUESTION CORNER Q: Are there certain divorce situations for Catholics that do not require annulments? I’m thinking about Justice of the Peace marriages, marriages at sea or even marriages conducted by someone who is “ordained” online. How does the church handle these types of divorce situations? (Corydon, Ind.) A: Yes, there are certain situations […]

By Jenna Marie Cooper: Wishing bad for the other team?

09/13/2023 by Hawaii Catholic Herald

QUESTION CORNER Q: Is it a sin to go to a ballgame and wish bad things for the other team? (Austin, TX) A: I suppose that depends on what is meant by “bad things.” It’s not a sin to go to a ballgame and hope — or perhaps even pray — that our preferred […]

Jenna Marie Cooper: A priest talking about his grandkids?

08/30/2023 by Hawaii Catholic Herald

QUESTION CORNER Q: My new parish priest’s wife died before he became a priest. He sometimes even talks about his grandchildren during the homily. Why is this allowed? He obviously wasn’t always celibate, and I thought priests had to be celibate? (Portland, ME) A: Latin (a.k.a. “Roman”) Catholic priests are indeed expected to be celibate. […]

Jenna Marie Cooper: May we believe in ghosts?

08/02/2023 by Hawaii Catholic Herald

QUESTION CORNER Q: When I was an Evangelical I was told there was no such thing as ghosts and that paranormal phenomena were likely demons. What does the church say about this? Doesn’t the church teach that there are such things as “apparitions?” (Brandenburg, Kentucky) A: The word “ghost” can refer to several different concepts. […]

Jenna Marie Cooper: Why can’t you marry in any church?

07/18/2023 by Hawaii Catholic Herald

QUESTION CORNER Q: Why can’t a Catholic couple receive the sacrament of marriage at any church? My grandson and his fiancée chose Indianapolis as a midpoint of getting married, to help their family travel distances. They sought the ceremony at several churches but were declined because they were not parishioners. Our family is devastated and […]