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?
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’?
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?
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?
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?
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: Do all divorces require an annulment?
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 […]
Jenna Marie Cooper: A priest talking about his grandkids?
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: Mortal or venial: Is it a sin to argue?
QUESTION CORNER Q: A couple of weeks ago I got into an argument with another parishioner during a meeting off of the church campus and not directly related to church business. Shortly after the meeting I received an email from our priest saying that rage was a sin and I needed to go to […]
Jenna Marie Cooper: Why can’t you marry in any church?
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 […]
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