Questions Answered

Questions Answered – May 2022

A Priest’s Spiritual Obligations Question: Could you comment on the strict obligation of the Divine Office for priests (under pain of mortal sin) but no similar obligation for the offering of daily Mass? Answer: The answer to this q … [Read more...]

Questions Answered – March 2022

Qualifications for the Priesthood Question: What are the qualities a person needs to be a Catholic priest? Answer: The best way to answer this question is to follow the address given by Pope Benedict XVI a number of years ago to the … [Read more...]

Questions Answered – February 2022

What Is the Church’s Magisterial Teaching? Question: Do we owe religious submission of intellect and will to those teachings of the Pope contained in documents (addresses, allocutions, letters, etc.) that were not published in the Acta A … [Read more...]

Questions Answered – September 2021

Intinction With Unconsecrated Hosts? Question: Is it an egregious (sin) matter, if a priest does intinction of unconsecrated hosts with consecrated Precious Blood while distributing Holy Communion? Answer: Presumably this reflects a … [Read more...]

Questions Answered – August 2021

The Knowledge of the Incarnate God Question: If Jesus is both human and divine, why didn’t he know everything God would know from the moment of birth or soon after? How could Jesus not know the second coming if God the Father knew and they … [Read more...]

Questions Answered – July 2021

Why Jesus Is Called the “New Adam” Question: I am a bit troubled by so many people calling Jesus the new Adam. I think to do so gives the Jehovah’s Witnesses an advantage they can easily take, that is to prove Jesus is a creature and not th … [Read more...]

Questions Answered – June 2021

Rahner and Relativism Question: Pope Benedict has responded to his critics who claim that his letter about the origin of the sexual crisis among the clergy does not present the true picture. He attributes much of it to the relativism in … [Read more...]

Questions Answered – May 2021

Question: Why do priests hear confessions during Mass? Doesn’t this detract from the spiritual involvement in all the aspects of the sacrifice? Answer: The questioner seems very upset that two sacraments are going on at the same time and … [Read more...]

Questions Answered – April 2021

Evils and Euphemisms Question: In public statements and debate with the promoters of the killing of unborn human beings, shouldn’t the euphemisms “abort, abortion” be avoided? It understates the horror of elective child murder. It sanit … [Read more...]

Questions Answered – March 2021

Is Moral Truth Always Objective? Question: Can a Catholic accept proportionalism in morals? Hans Kung and many other theologians did in the 70s and 80s. There are still moralists who think it is true. Answer: There has been a concerted a … [Read more...]

Questions Answered – December 2020

Joseph and the Virginal Conception Question: What was Joseph’s state of mind when he knew for certain that Mary was with child? I cannot believe he doubted her purity, despite the reality before him. Answer: This is a very important q … [Read more...]

Questions Answered – November 2020

A Scrupulous Conscience Question: I suffer from OCD and scrupulosity. What is the best thing to do about confession? I keep making General Confessions and I still have many doubts. It is ruining my spiritual life. My confessor said never … [Read more...]

Questions Answered – October 2020

The Question of Gluten-Free Hosts Question: Are the following valid matter for the Eucharist: grape juice or gluten-free hosts? Answer: I am astonished at how many questions I get about what constitutes valid matter for the Eucharist. … [Read more...]

Questions Answered — September 2020

Explaining Intinction Question: What is intinction? Why is it practiced? Is a concelebrating priest who does it celebrating Mass? Answer: The practice of intinction involves the priest taking the Sacred Host from the paten or ciborium, … [Read more...]

Questions Answered — August 2020

The Obedience of Christ Question: Did Christ vacillate in his perfect obedience when he said, “If it is possible, let this cup pass me by”? Would this not compromise the atonement? Answer: The atonement is a concept which is much mis … [Read more...]