Should I give up prayers of petition this Lent as my priest suggested in his homily?
Q: In a recent homily, my parish priest suggested that we all "give up prayers of petition for Lent." He said we're not being good friends to God if all we do is ask him for things, and that "you've all ...
Why doesn't the Church require more demanding fasting for Lent?
Q: I think the Catholic Church's Lenten discipline is kind of a joke. Specifically, Friday abstinence really isn't that tough since most people aren't going to suffer if they can't have ...
Why is it a problem for the SSPX to ordain new bishops?
Q: I've read a lot recently about how the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) is planning to ordain new bishops this summer, with or without the pope's permission. Why is this such a problem, if the SSPX are ...
Why are there so many different kinds of convents out there?
Q: Why are there so many different kinds of convents out there? I don't understand why a young woman who feels called to give her life to God would need that many choices. (Ohio) A: The short answer ...
Do Catholics have a theological problem with a woman being the archbishop of Canterbury?
Q: The Anglican church is elevating its first woman to the role of archbishop of Canterbury, the chief diocese of the Church of England. Theologically, do we as Catholics see this as a problem? A: ...
Should girls be altar servers?
Q: I am a 14-year-old boy, and growing up I learned to serve the Mass. At first I never served with girls (my old church did not allow it). They stated that serving was a gateway to the priesthood and ...
Is confession required for obtaining a plenary indulgence if there is no mortal sin?
Q: Is confession required for obtaining a plenary indulgence if there is no mortal sin? A diocesan hermit, who is homebound, says his ministry is to gain plenary indulgences for the poor souls by various ...
Why is Mary's perpetual virginity so important to Catholics?
Q: Why is Mary's perpetual virginity so important to us Catholics? I've had discussions with my Protestant friends about this, and while they believe Mary was a virgin when Jesus was born, they don't ...
