Hawaii Catholic Herald

Newspaper of the Diocese of Honolulu

Father Kenneth Doyle: Did God ‘require’ sacrifice of Jesus? Plus: What to do about a regularly disruptive adult at Mass?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: I wonder about Jesus being a “sacrifice” for the expiation of sins. Why did God the Father “require” that Christ be a “sacrifice” for the forgiveness of the sins of mankind? (Louisville, Kentucky) A: I don’t believe that God the Father “required” that Jesus die such a gruesome death to redeem us […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: Baptism for a child of non-Catholics? What if I forgot to fast before Mass?

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Question corner Q: A friend of mine asked me recently to find out if the parish I was raised in would baptize her new baby. My friend is not a Catholic, so I was surprised that she asked me this. The priest at my parish said that he could not baptize the baby because the […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: May I buy a used chalice? Can you use cremains as fertilizer?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: As a Catholic, I like to decorate my home with religious art that helps draw my heart and mind to God. At times, I am able to find vintage religious pieces on online auction websites that I can’t find elsewhere. I noticed recently that some online resellers have items like used chalices […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: Friday abstinence for a vegan?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: I grew up Catholic, and we always did meatless Fridays year-round as part of the Catholic practice of abstinence. (We had fish instead.) Now, as a vegan adult, since I’m already skipping meat anyway (fish, too), if I still wanted to do some kind of Friday abstinence, could I give up things […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: Can we pray for Satan’s redemption? Why do priests wear golden vestments and use gold chalices?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: Jesus tells us to love our enemies. Satan is our enemy. Should we love Satan, perhaps by praying for his redemption? Is it possible that, through our prayers, Satan could repent and be reunited with God? (Woodbridge, Virginia) A: There is no reason to believe that Satan would ever change his ways, […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: Perfume a serious matter. Fallen-away Catholic kids.

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QUESTION CORNER Q: Recently, in answering a reader’s concern about “perfume fests” in her parish church on Sundays, you offered your opinion that “perfume terrorism is not universal.” Let me tell you that it is, in fact, universal; there are people who are suffering in every parish. I have had to leave Mass early to […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: After Crucifixion, why a need for repentance? Is a Catholic marriage invalidated if a couple doesn’t raise their kids Catholic?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: I can understand that Jesus died on the cross to reconcile us with the Father, but why do we say that Jesus died to forgive our sins when we have to repent continually for those sins? (City and state withheld) A: The Bible does say that Jesus has forgiven our sins; St. […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: Where did the Ascension happen? Do you have to stay for the recessional song at Mass?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: Where did the Ascension take place? Matthew and Mark tell us that the apostles are to go back to Galilee, but Luke says that they should stay in Jerusalem until Jesus has risen. (Louisville, Kentucky) A: On the top of the Mount of Olives outside of Jerusalem’s Old City is a small […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: What if the Eucharist is stolen? Is it a mortal sin to miss Mass?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: I have recently volunteered to attend adoration of the Blessed Sacrament as a “guardian.” I do this twice a week. I have been wondering this: What happens if the monstrance and Eucharist is stolen? The monstrance can be replaced, but I have heard that a priest may have to reconsecrate the church […]

Father Kenneth Doyle: Is donating my body allowed? What do you pray when entering a church?

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QUESTION CORNER Q: At my death, I would like to donate my body to the local medical school for their continued research and training of students. Is this allowed in the Catholic Church? (Kailua, Hawaii) A: Yes, it is allowed — but with certain cautions. The Catholic Church teaches that it is permissible and even […]