Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

Father Kenneth Doyle: Did I blaspheme against the Holy Spirit? Why not dip the host in the wine with a spoon??

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QUESTION CORNER Q: Recently I read an article in the Catholic press about the sin of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, and it has caused me to worry about something that happened long ago. I am now 45 years old and when I was in the seventh grade, this is what happened. I really liked […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: In the creed, what about women? Can Jews be a baptism sponsor?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: My recollection is that the text of the Mass in English was rewritten about 20 years ago — to be a more accurate translation and to eliminate sexist references. I wonder, however, if they missed something: in the Nicene Creed, our parish still prints, “For us men and for our salvation he […]

Ask Father Doyle: How do I dispose of religious objects? What do I do if I want to go to Mass during the pandemic but my spouse doesn’t?

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QUESTION CORNER Q; What is the proper way to dispose of the medals, rosaries, small crucifixes, etc., that many Catholic organizations mail out unsolicited? (I have enough of everything!) (Atlanta) A: Perhaps surprisingly, church law on disposing of blessed articles of devotion is not very specific. Canon 1171 of the church’s Code of Canon Law […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: What is the status of the women deacon commission? Standing or kneeling at communion?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: A few years back. Pope Francis set up a commission to study the feasibility of permitting women to become permanent deacons. Has that commission made a recommendation to the pope, and where does the matter lie now? (Personally, I think that women deacons are long overdue, and this pope could make history […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: Please explain death as a consequence of sin. If I am distracted in prayer, should I go back and redo those parts?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: In one of your recent columns — about Our Blessed Mother’s Assumption — you wrote “Some theologians feel that, since death is a consequence of sin, Mary would not have had to die.” I have never thought of sin as causing death. Can you explain this a little more? (Montvale, Virginia) A: […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: Signs at Christ’s death convincing? Is the King James Bible accepted by Catholics?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: At the precise time that Jesus died, the sanctuary curtain was torn in half, darkness and earthquakes occurred and many were converted to Christianity because they felt this was proof that Jesus was the Son of God. So why didn’t the Jewish faith gradually disappear? (South Glens Falls, New York) A: Mark’s […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: Is the death penalty admissible? When should seminarians wear the Roman collar?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: My home state recently made national news with the decision to go forward with the executions of several inmates on death row. As a Catholic, I do not understand the idea of returning death for death, and I see executions as being more about revenge than any kind of justice. Surely life […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: Where is the proof of purgatory? Did Mary die and if so where?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: I was raised to be a devout Catholic and have a great interest in works of theology, such as those by Thomas Aquinas. But my mother, who is also a Catholic, doesn’t believe in purgatory. She thinks that God loves us so much that there wouldn’t be a reason for purgatory. Is […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: How many Masses can a priest celebrate?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: During the current pandemic, given the limitation on attendance imposed by civil authorities, we are planning to hold simultaneous Masses in our church and parish hall. We anticipate having to hold a total of 11 weekend Masses, but there are only two priests assigned to our parish, with another one coming to […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: Is there sex in heaven? How do I receive forgiveness?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: It seems odd that genital intercourse is automatically excluded in theological views of heaven — since Christian hope envisions the fulfillment of all things and, therefore, the redemption of our bodies. If God’s love redeems all things, then shouldn’t it redeem sexual life? Do you personally believe that there will be sexual […]

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