There are important links below that approach the Catholic faith from a variety of angles: Catechesis, Apologetics, Priests & Mass, Life & Sex and Various (Topics).
I sometimes make mention of these materials in talks and instructions I offer, particularly to potential converts. Hopefully, others will find them informative and useful.
This page has the following sub pages.
Hello Father,
I have an important question that I haven’t been able to ask anyone. My question is, why must a marriage be consummated during a honeymoon. If you are Catholic and following natural birth control it could be very difficult to plan a honeymoon based on that.
Thank you.
So you are saying that using birth control is a sin? So you are saying that God wants us to have as many children as we can even if we cannot afford to take care of them? I don’t see a kind and loving God that way for the kids sake!
hi father.
i didnt really know where else to post this comment, sorry if this is the wrong place, but im about to be 16 and i’m really confused when it comes to religion. i really want to believe in jesus and god, in a way i really do believe in them…but for some reaosn i have my doubts and i wish i didn’t. i find myself torn between the theory of evolution and the theory that christ created the universe. do people only go to heaven who follow religion perfectly or is it alright to just be a truely good person? i’m just really confused.
Hello Father,
I was recently at a church service, and when recieving the holy communion, the bread accidentally slipped from my hand and hit the floor. I picked it up and still ate it afterwards. I felt extremely bad afterwards, that I might have committed a sin. I prayed for forgivenss afterwards. Can you please provide some insight for me.
Thank you,
Hi Father,
I have enjoyed your site for the past few months. Thank you for being so available and approachable to everyone!
I am a wife and mother of 4 living and 4 heavenly children. My husband and I got married in 1999, the same year that I came into the Church. I was not well-formed in the faith at that time. My husband is a very lukewarm Baptist and a good person with his own internal faith. At the time, I did not understand Church teaching on birth control and actually rejected it openly. After much sorrow with the death of a baby boy, I immediately began studying Church teaching and over the years, I have come full circle into an understanding of this. I just am overwhelmed right now with a sense that everyone around me doesn’t understand how important this is. I only know a handful of people who embrace this teaching I don’t ever want to be judgmental, I just find it so incredibly sad. Especially in my own marriage. I have tried to explain it to my husband, but he has become very anti-Catholic over the years. He seems to be almost resentful of anything Catholic. He has said to me “we’re married, we should be able to do anything we want!” I think he feels that the Church has deprived him of sexual freedom. I am just sad in knowing that he would have been much happier with someone of his own beliefs. I have accepted our marriage as a cross to bear, and I will keep praying for him. I feel so sad, though. We do not practice NFP at this time, we did for a year and then I had an unplanned miscarriage and he has refused since and uses barrier and withdrawal methods that I have sadly had to submit to. However, I find that the thought of this detests me and we mainly abstain for long periods of time. He is scared to death to have another child as he does not feel that we could financially provide for another child ever.
If you have any advice for me, I would appreciate it. My husband does not read books, though, so it is hard to know how I could ever help him understand. Thanks for listening!
A priest giving sex advise. Is this a joke?
Great blog—refreshing! Keep up the work we love it!
Hi Father, just found your website & I love it. Thanks! In response to Megan’s cross she has to bear, I offer this web page to read. http://www.catholic.net/rcc/Periodicals/Faith/0102-97/bio.html
I too struggled with very similar issues as Megan. This article along with Theology of the Body by JPII, has brought me the greatest joy and love for my Church. I am so thankful to be Catholic. God Bless.
Michelle – thank you so much for referencing the web page above — It’s funny how the Holy Spirit is working on the internet in guiding one to the right places for specific answers – why should I be surprised-HA! Pax-
Pater,
I am very furious over the whole stealing the Eucharist thing. My first question is is it sinful that I am angry over this?
And Second, what can be done to ensure that this never happens again (besides prayer)?
Thanks.
Sam Orsot
Fr. Joe,
I have a question that has been bugging me for so long— why has the church been fight an apple instead of chopping down its tree? What I mean by this is, why has the church been campaigning so hard against abortion when abortion is the fruit of an unwanted pregnancy, most of which comes from sex before marriage? Why hasn’t any of the clergy spoken out forcefully against the sex revolution that has so many of my peers hooked? Please note that I’m 17, and really can’t speak out against it. I can’t help but feel that if more of the clergy spoke out against it, most of the abortions would stop. I love the pro-life movements, but, why aren’t there people doing out the into-chastity movements? When is the church going to speak out about the intrinsically evilness of fornication, and lead her teens back to imitation of the chastity of the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph? When is the fight for protecting and restoring the former honor of virginity and innocence recommence?
Thanks for your time.
FATHER JOE RESPONDS:
http://groups.google.com/group/fatherjoe/browse_thread/thread/d9d248fcf90b4de0
Pater,
Please pray for us who are inhabitants of the Gulf Coast region with a cat. 4/possible 5 hurricane breathing down our backs. Our people can’t take another major storm. We have just finished rebuilding or are even still rebuiding and we just can’t take another storm. Please pray for Lake Charles, Cameron, New Orleans, Morgan City and wherever this storm will make a catastrophic landing. Please post asking people to pray. We need as many prayers as we can get. Please don’t let this be an empty request like others have.
Thanks.
I hope everyone down there will be okay, Sam! Most of my relatives (on Dad’s side of the family) are in Vermillion and Lafayette Parishes.
So I’m fretting.
~M
Father Joe, in your religion, how do you de-baptize someone?
Okay. Thanks.
I was just wondering, because atheist gatherings now sometimes feature debaptisms as part of the process of “coming out” as an atheist. But it seems you haven’t got a parallel ritual.
(Atheist debaptism involves a blowdryer, FWIW)
Atheists define themselves by what they are not–which translates to them being a zero.
Lady,
The natural man is drawn to God; you can pretend it isn’t so. But if He doesn’t continue to draw people (as I think you believe), then why do atheists define themselves by God?
Note: Sin and a degenerate mind can keep one from being drawn. Not implying anything, just being clear.
Pat Man, in real life I don’t define myself by the Christian God. It’s just that in our culture, that’s the one that is usually being discussed. Also, I’m speaking to you at a blog belonging to a priest, and religion is a major topic of conversation here.
In India, I supposed atheists risk defining themselves with reference to the various Hindu Gods. Is that an argument for the real existence of those Gods?
I’m not sure what you mean when you say that “the natural man is drawn to God,” and that I “can’t pretend it isn’t so”. Religion can be an interesting subject, and I’m always curious about how other people think.
Finally, you said: “Note: Sin and a degenerate mind can keep one from being drawn. Not implying anything, just being clear.”
No, I’m pretty sure that it’s just the fact that I wasn’t brought up in a religion. You (I’m assuming) were not brought up Hindu, so you yourself know how natural it feels to you not to believe in the Hindu Gods. Well, that’s how it feels for me, too — only I have the same lack of inculcated belief with regard to the Christian God as well.
When I said the “natural man” I was meaning the man God created–not was is natural for man.
I’m not asking why atheists define themselves in relation with God on THIS blog, but everywhere atheists are–hence the “debaptism” ritual you spoke of, their bumper stickers, their blogs, etc. They (mostly) are more “evangelical” about what they are NOT than what they are. I was asking why.
Fr. Joe,
I have a problem I need huge help with. Feel free to email me, but I need help. I have recently been chatting on line with an atheist who insists on blaspheming God every chance he gets. I have done my best but am running out of ways to answer him. He says he refuses to believe because God is bloodthirsty, evil, and created hell. I explained to him that it is not blood thirst or being evil, it is testing one’s faith to see how alive that faith truly is. I explained that hell is God’s disowning His disobedient child. He says he can’t get over the fact that even if you do all the good works in the world, you will still go to hell for not believing. He is well versed in the bible, being a former bibical teacher. He says either God is imperfect or doesn’t exist because He chose to wait so long to send His Son to die for us. He even found a way to blaspheme the passion. I don’t know what to tell him anymore. He is on the point of no longer wanting to talk, and apparently, I can’t understand just how evil He is. I want to adequately defend God, but I don’t want to make the situation any worse than it already is. He feels that reason is the only thing that counts, everything else is for the birds. He has taken it upon himself to prove to everyone else that worshiping a God that doesn’t exist is slavery. I don’t know what else to do. Should I just abandon this conversation? What should I say? Help please!!!!
Sam, sometimes you just have to let people go. You can still witness by your life and faith, but debate only makes some people more entrenched. A person who maligns God is probably not open to any real discussion anyway. He is doing it to shock you. I think God gives us what we most want. If we love him and want to be with him, then God gives us the gift of himself– heaven. If we reject God and have no love either for him or for others in creation, then we close ourselves to divine mercy. In a sense, the damned fashion their hell or alienation from God here on earth and death makes the separation permanent. Those destined for heaven already participate in eternal life right now as sanctifying grace. You could say they already have one foot in heaven. The Mass is a special sacramental participation in the marriage banquet of heaven. Offer your Mass and pray for him. That may be the best you can do. Place him in the hands of God. Who knows? Maybe God will still one day give him the gift of faith?
Fr. Joe,
I like the info on your site. Keep on keepin’ on! God be with you!
LUIS: I have a friend that sent me an email from his son and was asking me if I could help him answer the following question. The first one is probably more personal and probably just as difficult to answer, however the rest of them require a little more knowledge of the Bible, Catholic Tradition and history. Can you help us out?
MICHAEL: Hey dad. Over the past week or so, I’ve thought of some questions that I would be interested in a Christian take on. Christian belief makes little sense to me, and these questions deal with some of the issues I have with it. I don’t expect all of these to be easy to answer, but I would be very interested if you could find reasonable answers to these questions.
FATHER JOE: These questions are not new, and I have to wonder if they were not copied from one of the atheist sites that like to malign believers in God.
MICHAEL: 1. Why do you believe in the Christian god instead of the gods of other religions? Why do you have faith in that god and not in others?
FATHER JOE: Most people believe in the religion first transmitted to them. If we are raised as children to believe in Christ and his Church, something of that faith will probably have a lasting place in our lives. Of course, there are converts. People have many differing reasons for faith, ranging from the emotional to the intellectual. While it is the road less traveled, I would find the intellectual road most satisfying. However, without the life of charity, this path can be rather dry. It should also be said, that Catholic Christianity tries to respect the truths of philosophy and science. Ours is a faith based upon rationality and belief. We believe that Christianity best answers the ultimate questions and reflects reality. Many of us would also claim a personal and corporate relationship with Jesus Christ; not self-deception, but an experience of the God who gives something of himself to his friends. Prayer becomes not a soliloquy but a two-way communication. As for other religions, and I admit to bias; I do not find their answers as satisfying as those in Christianity.
MICHAEL: 2. If God wanted people to believe in him, why would he create a world that is completely indistinguishable from a world without a God?
FATHER JOE: I would reject this question. Given that there is a God, how could we know what a world would be without him? Indeed, there would be no world at all. It is argued by certain theologians that even the angels first knew some separation or veil between themselves and God. Why? They contend so that they would have the freedom to choose God or reject him. If one sees in perfect clarity the Absolute Good, the creature can only opt to embrace him. The goodness of God would be overwhelming. Maybe this is why our world is not perfect and God does not directly show himself?
MICHAEL: 3. If God forbids people to kill, why did he order Saul to slaughter the Amalekites, some of whom were innocent babies (1 Samuel 15, or 1 Kings 15 in the Douay-Rheims Bible)?
FATHER JOE: God forbids mankind to usurp divine authority and sovereignty. All life belongs to God. All sentiment aside, he is the author of life. It belongs to him. As for the Old Testament, we must remember that God’s people understood his will through the perspective of their ancient culture and worldview. They sought to follow God’s will but were not yet ready for the fullness of revelation. That is why Christ’s manner and teachings sometimes seemed in conflict with those of the Old Testament. It was not that God had changed, but that men were more able to understand God and his will for them.
MICHAEL: 4. Would you kill someone if God told you to?
FATHER JOE: Would you fight for your country? Would you defend your spouse and children if attacked on the street? If so, then you would also seek to do God’s will, even if it meant violence and death to fulfill your obligations as a Christian. If you should allow another to kill you, witnessing the faith as a martyr, would you not be allowing such a killing as an expression of God’s will? Our posture would be to forgive our murderers. In self-defense or in fighting for country, the Church would argue for just war and proportionality of response.
MICHAEL: 5. Why don’t you believe in alien abductions when there is more evidence of them than there is of Jesus’ divinity? With alien abductions, there are numerous firsthand accounts of those who were abducted. These witnesses are still alive so you can talk to them in person. Also, those who believe that aliens have come to earth are not some fringe group consisting of a very small number of people like early Christianity, 48% of Americans believe that alien spacecraft have come to earth at some point
(http://scifipedia.scifi.com/index.php/Roper_Poll_on_UFOs_and_Extraterrestrial_Life).
Meanwhile, the bible consists of 2nd and 3rd person accounts, at best, and was written in a time when people were much more willing to buy into supernatural claims without evidence than they are today.
FATHER JOE: This is not a question but an argument and an attempt to mock faith as something just as ridiculous as alien abductions. First, many firsthand reports of miracles and of those who knew Christ are available in the New Testament. We also have the legacy of the living Church and 2,000 years of tradition. The survival of the Church is itself a proof for God’s providential care over her. There are reported miracles, many verified by witnesses and doctors, and important apparition sites like Fatima and Lourdes. I would contend that these elements are far more substantiated and impressive than flying saucers and little green men, excuse me, they are actually gray and are insectoid in appearance. Kidding?
MICHAEL: 6. Why are there two incompatible accounts of Jesus’ genealogy (Luke 3:23-38 and Matthew 1:1-17)? One common explanation is the semi-plausible claim that Luke’s genealogy is that of Mary, not Joseph. However, even if this were true, there are a couple problems. First, Luke’s version inserts the name Cainan, while versions in Genesis and Chronicles do not. Matthew also has four fewer names between Soloman and Jeconiah than does Chronicles. Since Matthew states that there are exactly 14 generations from Soloman to Jeconiah (Matthew 1:17), if he intentionally left off these names for some reason, he would have been lying in Matthew 1:17. Also, there is a bit of an issue with the length of generations. Based on the traditional chronology, David reigned during about 1000BC. This would mean that subsequent generations averaged about 37 years. And based on Matthew 1:12, Salathiel was born after the Babylonian exile which happened during the 6th century BC. This would mean generations from him to Joseph of about 48 years. At first glance, this may not seem like a problem. However, during this period, the average lifespan was about 20 to 30 years
(http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/340119/life-expectancy).
For the average person in the lineage to have had a child at double the average lifespan seems quite remarkable.
FATHER JOE: As with the last so-called question, this is a bogus query. It is really a debate and an attempt to show that Jesus has no pedigree. First, except for some Johnny-Come-Lately fundamentalists, the Church has never seen the genealogies as complete or strictly historical. Second, Joseph’s lineage tells us that he is of the line of David. People married within their own tribe. That means that Mary was a daughter of David. Traditional genealogies follow the male line, even though Joseph is only the foster father of Christ. Third, the names are also in keeping with Hebrew numerology (7—perfection—divine). That is why so much is made of the various generations. Fourth, the names bring to mind the history of salvation which culminates with Christ.
MICHAEL: 7. In Deuteronomy 18:21-22, God says that you will know whether someone is speaking the true word of the lord by whether the things that person says will happen end up happening. Based on this, why don’t you reject parts of the bible that clearly must have been written by a false prophet? For example, Nebuchadnezzar never fulfilled Ezekiel’s prophecy regarding Tyre and Egypt (Ezekiel 26: 1-14, Ezekiel 29: 1-19, Ezekiel 30: 10-12).
FATHER JOE: There were many criteria for judging true and false prophets. But prophecy did not chiefly deal with fortune-telling but with acting as God’s mouthpiece among his people. Further, it seems that sometimes God threatened to do things in the Old Testament that he would relent upon, especially when the people reacted with repentance and prayer. One must also wonder about the time-table. Given time, both Tyre and Egypt did know hardship and the invasion of the foreigner.
MICHAEL: 8. If the bible is accurate, why are there contradictions between Matthew 27:5 and Acts 1:18, between Luke 23:46 and John 19:30 and between Matthew 9:18, Mark 5:23, and Luke 8:41-42?
FATHER JOE: The Gospels, while speaking about the historical Christ are not like the videotape reports on the evening television news. The inspired Gospel writers give us the life of Christ from differing perspectives. The Gospels reflect the same truth but in light of the theologies from various communities of faith. Even today, we have various rites in the Catholic Church, and each celebrates the same Lord’s Supper or Eucharist but with their own words and ceremonials. Having said this, what is most impressive is just how similar the Synoptic Gospels are and how they give us richly rewarding windows to the same Jesus Christ. Paul recounts a story about Judas in Acts that was popular but uncertain given the story of despair in Matthew. Either way Judas comes to a bad end. The Gospels are principally about Christ, not Judas. Further, both passages teach about betrayal and punishment. The Jews and the early Church had no problem with varying stories that communicated important moral truths. Our modern definition of history was not the same as that of ancient peoples. You could give all the details, and still miss the meat of the story. As for the words of Jesus, Luke and John give us the words that have been treasured by their communities and which best fits their telling of the story. It should also be said that John’s Gospel is the last composed and is probably the most theological. He plays the most with the sequence and events to express his view about Jesus as the God who became man and who freely gave up his life for us. He will give a special emphasis to the foot washing and the authority of the apostles. Matthew, Mark and Luke give a very similar story of the young girl’s healing (back to life). I suspect that the critic would make too much of differences.
MICHAEL: 9. Considering these inconsistencies, why is God trying to make it as hard as possible to believe? Even fairy tales are internally consistent.
FATHER JOE: God reveals himself in a way that we can comprehend and which respects human understanding and freedom. Just as he became a human being, he uses the instrument of our own humanity to reveal himself. Anything else would overwhelm us. As for fairy tales, they are hardly consistent. One of my favorites has Little Red Riding Hood gobbled up by the wolf— and without an axe-man to save her— THE END.
MICHAEL: 10. Why has there never been a single well-documented miracle for which the only possible explanation is supernatural?
FATHER JOE: You want hocus-pocus magic, not miracles. We have documented miracles by the droves. The late Father Lubey (who baptized me) was a priest in healing ministry. It all started when he blessed a woman with a disintegrated hip. Two weeks later she saw him, walking and with before and after x-rays that showed a perfectly good hip where there was not one before. Most miracles work with the natural world. The trouble is that scoffers do not have eyes to see the wonders of God’s creation with proper awe and respect for the Intelligent Designer.
MICHAEL: 11. Why do you believe that Jesus was the messiah when there is no evidence outside the bible (whose reliability is very questionable) that he fulfilled any prophecies, and when there are many prophecies that Jesus definitely did not fulfill, and when those that he supposedly did fulfill would generally have been incredibly easy for a false prophet to fake?
FATHER JOE: Again, we are faced with a loaded question. Jesus kept his promises. He said destroy “this temple” and he would restore it. He was put to death and rose from the dead, appearing to hundreds of witnesses. The apostles preached the message of Christ and many shed their blood. If it was all just a lie, why would the apostles die for Christ? Napoleon also came to an appreciation of the truth of Christ. He said that assuredly Christ must be risen and alive. He considered himself in exile, more dead than alive. He lamented that his own followers had forgotten him. And yet, centuries later, the disciples of Jesus were still prepared to lay down their lives for Christ. This experience of the risen Lord is not illusory, but real and is a gift to the soul.
MICHAEL: 12. Why does God never heal amputees regardless of their worthiness or how much they pray? Certainly you cannot know God’s reasons, but all possible explanations seem to contradict other things we know about the Christian god
(http://whywontgodhealamputees.com/god5.htm).
FATHER JOE: I could bring amputees to you who would insist that they have been healed by Christ. Our Lord healed bodies, but this was merely a sign that he had the power to forgive and heal souls. We are not promised perfect happiness in this world, only in the next. Having said this, sometimes God still heals bodies.
MICHAEL: 13. Do you think that babies that die before they can be baptized go to heaven (as 2 Samuel 12:23 indicates (2 Kings 12:23 in the Douay-Rheims Bible))?
FATHER JOE: Actually, Old Testament verses are referring to the Limbo of the Fathers or the abode of the dead. Remember, Church teaching is that the gates of heaven were closed until the coming of Christ. The earliest Jews had a poor appreciation, if any, of an afterlife.
MICHAEL: If so, based on this and your belief that fetuses are unborn babies, wouldn’t a mother who had an abortion be helping her child (although putting herself at risk of going to hell in the process)? Since heaven is infinitely valuable and life on earth is finitely valuable, wouldn’t she be helping her zygote since there is a non-zero probability that it will grow up to reject Christianity. For example a 100% chance of infinite reward would be better than say a 90% chance of infinite reward plus a little bit extra (life on earth). Then a completely selfless mother who didn’t care about her own eternal soul should conceive lots of children and abort all of them. By a similar argument, such a mother should kill her babies if they have already been born. If babies that are killed do not go to heaven, that seems incredibly cruel and capricious. It also seems incredibly unfair for a mother who led a sinless life and who gets into a fatal car crash with her baby before it can be baptized to not be able to be with her child in heaven.
FATHER JOE: One should not devalue the meaning of life in the mortal world for the sake of our hope in the next. As for what happens to unbaptized babies or children lost in the womb, the universal catechism is fairly optimistic that a good God would not condemn them. I am somewhat uncertain myself, and had been raised to believe in a limbo of the innocents where the children would be naturally happy but never see God. I really cannot say absolutely for sure and so I do not hesitate to baptize children. The root issue I have is that apart from Christ, no one can merit or deserve eternal life in heaven.
MICHAEL: 14. Do you believe that a woman who aborts her fetus should have to spend decades in jail (self-induced if it makes a difference)? If you believe that abortion is murder then there is no reason to distinguish in punishment based on the location of the murder victim. In fact, embryonic stem cell researchers are guilty of mass murder and deserve the death penalty (or life in prison if the death penalty were outlawed). If you do not believe this to be a fair punishment, then, at some level, you understand that killing fetuses is not the moral equivalent of murder or else accept that in democratic societies we should not try to legally impose our religious morality on others.
FATHER JOE: The civil laws make all sorts of distinctions between types of murder already. There is first degree and second degree murder, manslaughter and who knows what else. I believe those involved with abortion should be punished. It may be that the guilt and remorse of murdering one’s child is part of that punishment, even before civil action. I certainly believe technicians, nurses and doctors who perform or assist in abortions should have their licenses removed and should face jail time. They will all appear before the divine tribunal. Women who have been deceived should probably receive a proper formation and re-education in the reality of motherhood and human life. Many women have been deceived and have allowed themselves to be fooled about abortion. The Church’s response is not the same as the state might be. We have pregnancy crisis centers, and programs like Project Gabriel and Project Rachel.
MICHAEL: 15. Do you support banning gay marriage because of the bible’s passages which criticize homosexuality? If not, why do you support the ban? If so, and since there is no reason for your belief in God, how can you justify legally mandating that others adhere to your morality? How is that any better than believing laptop computers are evil for no reason or because voices in your head tell you that they are and trying to ban people from using them because of that? –Michael
FATHER JOE: No reason for believing in God? These questions are not sincere and are rhetorical. No answer will suffice for the one who is issuing them. I believe that homosexuality is a violation of both divine positive law and natural law. I oppose gay marriage because there is no such thing. Man does not have the freedom to redefine something that God has revealed in Scripture and has written upon our own flesh (how we are made). Until recently, sodomy was banned and treated as a crime. What we have here is a vice masquerading as a civil right. It is nothing of the kind. Homosexuals invaded the psychiatric field and redefined what was a mental illness and perversion as something they regarded as a personal choice. Gay couples can pretend to be married, they still will not be happy. There is something frustrating and very unsatisfying about their lifestyles that no pretense can ever make right. A few can play at house while the majority of the sodomites jump from bed to bed in search for that elusive pleasure and fulfillment they will never find. It is sad that we call them GAYS. I have never met such UNHAPPY people.
Father Joe,
Thank you for your blog.
I wish my priest would be open to using the internet in this way :) This is a very helpful format for us.
My guestion:
If you don’t mind giving your opinion, may I ask what your overall opinion is of EWTN?
Would there be underlying reasons (perhaps from the past) as to why my parish priest believes the programming on EWTN is “pious” and not helpful for his spirituality?
From what I’ve read online, EWTN had various conflicts in the past and I can only assume that my Father may have stopping watching years ago.
I was a fallen away Catholic for 10 + years. It’s been over 2 years since my return. I signed up with EWTN to hand out trifold brochures and it’s been like pulling teeth to hand them out at my church.
I record and watch multiple EWTN programs and well I wouldn’t be able to stop saying good things about the network if allowed.
I’m really just perplexed over his disapproval of EWTN.
Hurt actually, as the programs have been very helpful in advancing my spirituality.
Thank you for your time. I look forward to your reply.
God Bless.
DEAR FR. JOE,
CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME WHY THE CHURCH CAN’T FIRE FR. JENKINS FROM NOTRE DAME UNIVERSITY? I MEAN HE HAS DEMONSTRATED TO EVERYONE WHO SIDE HE’S ON!!! HOW CAN THE POPE ALLOW A PRIEST TO CONTINUE TO DEMONSTRATE HIS STAND FOR OBAMA?
THANK YOU FR. JOE,
JESUS
Hi Father Joe!
Great website! First time here so I figured I would jump in and ask some ?’s about our non Christian Jewish Brethren.
How do they regard Jesus? Do they regard him as a prophet?
Why do they say he does not fit the “requirements” of the Christ?
My understanding is that their Saviour is to be of the lineage of King David. If that’s true then are they still keeping up with the lineage of King David? If not then how would they know if their Christ came? And how do they explain no more prophets after Jesus? There were an awful lot of prophets before Jesus and then who else do they have?
Whew…. thanks Father Joe! If anyone can answer -you can!
How do they regard Jesus? Do they regard him as a prophet?
The answer to these questions depend upon who you ask. The polite answer that we usually hear is that they regard Jesus as a fellow Jew and as a prophet. But, other voices would contend that either he directly or his apostles who followed him made exaggerated statements and that his actions were misconstrued. They would not regard him as either divine or as the messiah.
Why do they say he does not fit the “requirements” of the Christ?
I am not sure what this means, except for the fact that the anointed one is often envisioned as a great king who will usher forth an everlasting kingdom and repel those enemies that threaten them. I suspect such might be the view who are still thinking about a temporal kingdom and the political state of Israel.
Are they still keeping up with the lineage of King David?
As far as I know there is no one running around with such lists. This is even a concern for those seeking the rebuilding of the Temple and trying to find descendents of the hereditary priestly class. Given intermarriage among Jews, maybe most of them share his blood? Of course, there was also the European expansion and the introduction of Gentile blood. Jews from Europe and Africa often do not look entirely like the Semitic people who have never left that region of the world. Perhaps they can look at DNA? Maybe it is no longer regarded as literal by all Jews?
If not then how would they know if their Christ came?
Messianic Jews who accept Christ think he has come.
And how do they explain no more prophets after Jesus?
While they may respect Jesus and John the Baptist, they are not regarded as formal prophets. Rabbinic restrictions are placed upon what constitutes Scripture. Great rabbinic teachers and heroes in their tradition would continue to serve something of the prophetic role. The loss of the Temple placed greater emphasis upon the synagogue.
DEAR FR. JOE,
WHAT IS YOUR OPINION OR REMARKS ON FR. CUTIE’S SCANDAL??
THANKYOU,
GOD BLESS
JESUS
“…As for what happens to unbaptized babies or children lost in the womb, the universal catechism is fairly optimistic that a good God would not condemn them. I am somewhat uncertain myself, and had been raised to believe in a limbo of the innocents where the children would be naturally happy but never see God. ..”
Father Joe,
I have always found this ‘limbo’ for unbaptized babies so difficult to accept, especially that they ‘never see God.’ As so because so many babies are aborted against their will (and God’s) why should the vision of God be denied them?
Is there no prayer for aborted babies to receive spiritual baptism before they die?
Are tattoos a sin? I feel that they are a way to express yourself. i.e. I have a tattoos of names of the people I love and a tattoo of Jesus. Am I going to hell because I have tattoos? I can’t see it as being self-harm because it doesn’t hurt…and my artist uses sterile tools. I have an “Examination of Conscience” book. It says “Excessive Tattoos” What exactly is considered excessive? Please Explain.
Dear Father;
Good day to You! If I may ask a question; What do Priests do in their daily lives?
I have struggled with this as far as paying tythes and knowing what I can ask of my Priest? I was looking for one to bless my apartment. Or for spiritual guidance, yet I haven’t received encouraging responses. As a matter of fact just getting a return call is a huge endeaver.
As far as paying tythes the selfish and self centered me wonders; Why pay to support someone who I only see for Mass? That don’t respond to queries and aren’t around. They have houses, and food. They have cars supplied to them, and don’t have to worry if they can pay their electric or air conditioning. I live without Air because I can’t afford it.
I am a single Mom. Isn’t it wrong for the church to ask me, to give? To give to men that can support themselves? I often here of Priests traveling and doing things I never will be able to do. Because their way is paved by donations from people like me. Is that fair? Shouldn’t it be the other way around?
Thank you for reading and God Bless!!
Dear Fr. Joe,
I need your advice and I have no one else I can talk to. One of my best friends was recently killed. My friend did not live a good life. And I fear for the salvation of his soul. He said a few times that he did not want to become catholic. Because I knew the truth and that he needed to change his ways and yet I spoke so little about it, or sometimes not at all, will God hold me responsible somewhat for his soul possibly not making it?
Father, my reasons for not telling him or speaking so little on it were not because of selfish reasons, it was because I couldn’t find the right time, words, or sometimes I thought he wouldn’t recieve it. Should I confess the sin of ommission in confession?
I am catholic, btw. But most of all Father, I am holding myself responsible because I could have done more, though I didnt’ really know how.
Any advice you could give would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Fr. Joe,
Thanks for your response. Right now, I just don’t know why I am feeling so guilty and responsible. Thank you again. May God bless you now and forever.
Fr. Joe,
Thank you for answering my very long inquiry. I have passed it on to my friend. With prayer and our Lord’s graces I know it will make a difference in both their lives. Thank you for making yourself available to us. May the Lord be with you always. I and our Cenacle group is praying for you always.
Love in Christ,
Luis
Hi Father. Thanks again for your response. I have a couple of questions. Right now, I am overly fearful, and sometimes feel like its my time to go, so to speak. I am lamenting for my sins, and yet at the same time feel so unsaveable. I love God with all of my heart, and fear final judgement, and I lament offending love itself. I don’t want to lose God for all eternity. My question is, is this grief over the loss of my friend who I wrote you previously about, or could it be this is about to happen? Could it be lack of faith, or true contrition for my sins? Father, I am still having a hard time forgiving myself for ever offending Love Itself, and for not being able to remember if I ever told my friend to change his ways. Father, am I just being crazy, or is this just the grief? Please keep my in your prayers as I go through this hard time.
Thanks.
Just found your site and am wondering what your thoughts are on Garabandal, Medjugorje, the “Three days of Darkness” and if you’ve ever heard of or give any value to something called “Warnings From Beyond, Part 1 of 3 To the Contemporary Church [Confessions of Hell]
A literal text of the revelations made by the demons
Beelzebub, Judas Iscariot, Akabor, Allida, and Veroba”? A supposed warning from heaven voiced by demons during a real exorcism. http://www.tldm.org/News4/WarningsFromBeyond.1of3.htm please check this out and give me your professional opinion, its fascinating and doesn’t seen to go against the values of the Catholic Faith I just want the truth.
I know we as Catholics aren’t required to believe but I give a lot of credence to the mystics and stigma-tics (Padre Pio, Anne Cathrine Emmerich, Cure de Ares, St. Faustina, Therese Newman) and am always looking for more information about heaven, hell, and especially purgatory. I worry about all the changes that occurred during Vatican II and how they truly affect our Church and spiritual lives. Thank you for your time.
“FATHER JOE: The Church’s verdict on Garabandal was negative. ”
EWTN website says the Church is neutral on Garabandal. Another website that claims to be all things apparitions says it is ‘negative’, but then mysteriously links to the EWTN website as a source, the same EWTN website says the verdict is still out on Garabandal!!!! So that website is in error, and sadly many people quote from that mistaken website. I have pointed it out to them but did not see them change it.
Sad, really. So much disinformation. And now you repeat it here.
check out ewtn for yourself:
bottom of this page:
http://www.ewtn.com/library/bishops/garaband.htm
and they have a page that defines
3) non constat de supernaturalitate (it is not established supernatural)
as being:
3. Non constat de supernaturalitate. Finally, it may not be evident whether or not the alleged apparition is authentic. This judgment would seem to be completely open to further evidence or development.
see for yourself, go to this link and search on 3. non constat:
http://www.ewtn.com/expert/answers/apparitions.htm
God bless you!
The Church is often diplomatic in such language for fear that adherents will be hurt and lose faith over the dismissal of apparitions. Pastors were told not to lead pilgrimages to Medjugorie out of respect to the local bishop’s wishes and verdict. While I am sympathetic but unconvinced about Medjugorie, I am very negative about Garabandal. Garabandal Spain was given a negative verdict, but not everyone wants to accept this. Certain persons at EWTN were quite enthusiastic about it at one time, but I think they have sobered up over the years. EWTN is a television site but is not an official site for the Church or Holy See. I have never been able to shake the suspicion that there was something sinister about the Garabandal happening. The bishops of Santander where it is located have all condemned it. The messages have repeatedly been proven false (predictions of future events). Conchita profited handsomely from the apparitions and was even found out to have commited sacriledge in stealing a host from the tabernacle. The purported apparition at one point asked that sacramentals like rosaries and crosses not be brought for blessing. Such worries me because this would seem to be the sentiment of a demon and not Our Lady. The unnatural movements of the bodies of the visionaries is also reminescent of trances and low-level possession. I am not saying this is the case, but like I said, Garabandal spooks me. There is something terribly wrong. Stick with Lourdes and Fatima.
Dear Father Joe,
I’m a catechist at a local Church here in NY. Today I learned from a catechist that a child who has a problem–will masturbate in front of others–has been placed in her class. She was told by the DRE that the child, a 5th grader, had a “little problem.”
Well, maybe I’m being overcautious but isn’t this child a liability to my Parish Church?
Yes, we’re required to teach our children about the faith, but at the expense of danger to other children? Why not place him in a special class?
What would be your suggestion regarding this?
Thanks.
Aida
Dear Father
How do i act towards pple who behave so hatefully towards me? Jesus has commanded us to forgive others, but even then i feel the more I bend, the more pple back stab or take advantage of me. Plz help.
I have posted on in one of your other forums and I am excited to see the questions and responses here. As a cradle Catholic, and someone who has worked for the church I find out everyday how much I do not know. We had an african priest at our parish for a time and in a conversation about raising my children he taught me about blessing my own children and was astonished to find out I did not already know the “powers” I possess as a Mother. His comment was “what is wrong with our catechism that these things get missed?” I remember that everyday. Yes everyday. I am determined not to use ignorance as an excuse for anything and now I REALLY understand why my Grandmother would always go to our Priest with everything. I have learned more thru teaching and working at the church then I think I ever did growing up and even still, as I read your blog am amazed at what I do not know…very fundamental things. We went to mass every week, confession regularly; my Father was very involved in the Knights of Columbus as was my Grandfather, Great Grandfather and uncle. Our Faith family was the center of our activities yet…I was not educated on marriage, sex, finances, birth control or any of these things outside of my family. Not that I expect the church to do it all, but like “formal” education, children learn at school and home as partners (ideally). In order to close this gap for my children I (as a single parent due to death and divorce) have worked hard to ensure that my children receive a formal Catholic education. This is financially devastating. I understand the cost of education but why does the church not work to make this more accessible nationwide? And how can we influence our local Diocese to do so? And lastly, how can I, as a Catholic Christian Mother ensure complete catechism of my children? Living a rich parish life and teaching them all I know hardly seems enough!
Last question of the day. Regarding marriage, sex and procreation: Is marriage not an option at middle age even tho both parties are free to marry, if having children is not a consideration due to a vasectomy and age?
COMMENT and RESPONSE at BLOGGER PRIEST.
Hi Father,
I would just like to ask something. I am currently having a relationship with a Christian (Born-Again) and we’re planning to get married by 2013. We are planning to have a Catholic and Christian wedding. Would this be possible?
Thanks,
P
A reply to Pochola has been posted at BLOGGER PRIEST by Father Joe.
Please pray for me, i need deliverance form either a demon or demons or devils
CLICK HERE to read comment and response at BLOGGER PRIEST.