question corner Archives - Page 3 of 17

Jenna Marie Cooper: Prayer of the Faithful is ‘free form’

04/10/2024 by Hawaii Catholic Herald

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

03/27/2024 by Hawaii Catholic Herald

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

03/13/2024 by Hawaii Catholic Herald

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’?

02/28/2024 by Hawaii Catholic Herald

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 […]

Jenna Marie Cooper: Rules for those wed outside the church

02/14/2024 by Hawaii Catholic Herald

QUESTION CORNER Q: My son is dating a Protestant girl. If my son married outside of the Catholic Church, is he not permitted to take the Eucharist? I am praying that the girl consents to have a Catholic matrimony, but that is uncertain for now. A: For the most part, Catholics who do not […]

Jenna Marie Cooper: Why so much incense at Mass?

01/31/2024 by Hawaii Catholic Herald

QUESTION CORNER Q: Our daughter has totally given up going to church because of the relentless use of incense at each Mass. It doesn’t bother me but I do notice a lot of people in the congregation that obviously have problems with it. Since it causes breathing difficulties for many people is it really appropriate […]

Jenna Marie Cooper: Protestants and the ‘Real Presence’?

01/17/2024 by Hawaii Catholic Herald

QUESTION CORNER Q: What is the church currently teaching about the Real Presence in other denominations? I thought that at one time we recognized both the Lutherans and the Anglicans as having the Real Presence. Does that still hold true? Others? A: For context, let us recall that the Catholic teaching on the “real […]

Jenna Marie Cooper: Can one Mass fulfill two obligations?

12/20/2023 by Hawaii Catholic Herald

QUESTION CORNER Q: Since Christmas is on Monday this year, can I go to a Christmas vigil Mass on Sunday and have it fulfill my Sunday and Christmas obligations? (Boston, MA) A: As you note, in 2023 Christmas eve falls on a Sunday. And like all Sundays Catholics are required to attend Mass in […]

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: 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. […]