Msgr. Charles Pope is the pastor of Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian in Washington, D.C., and writes for the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. at blog.adw.org. Send questions to msgrpope@osv.com.
Question: If a person commits a capital crime, isn’t absolution dependent upon the penitent turning themselves in to the police? Referring to the clergy who committed abuse over the years, would not absolution be dependent upon turning himself in to the police?
Question: Why does Mary have the title “Our Lady of Sorrows” if she is in heaven? — Anna Johnson, Fairfax, Virginia Answer: The feast of Our Lady of Sorrows on Sept. 15 commemorates Mary’s presence at the foot of the cross and
Question: If a priest would consistently violate his vow of celibacy, even to the extent of abusing others, why should a penitent feel assured that a priest will not break the seal of confession? — Ed Siering, Muscatine, Iowa Answer: Absolute assurance
Question: I have a friend who says she is leaving the Catholic Church because of the new sexual abuse scandals. What can I say to convince her to stay? — Name withheld Answer: Begin with empathizing with her anger and grief at
Question: We are told not to lie, but the Bible says Rahab the prostitute lied to protect the Jewish spies. The Bible later praises her as being justified for doing this. Does Scripture praise lying, which is a sin? — Tamarah E.
Question: This Sunday for the first time, the carafe containing the wine for the parishioners was placed on a table off the altar, right in front of the pews. After the consecration, an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist poured the wine into
Question: Since infant baptism is becoming controversial, why doesn’t the Church abandon the practice or emphasize individualized confirmation for older teens? —Robert Bonsignore, Brooklyn, N.Y. Answer: I am unaware of any recent controversy about infant baptism in the Church. There have been
Question: In Matthew 5:19, Jesus rails against relaxing or changing even the least of the commandments, and yet verse 19 also says that if one does, “[he] will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.” It seems the consequences should be “losing”
Question: Is it not more accurate to say that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Word? Calling the Second Person of the Trinity the Son came only after the Incarnation, whereas, “In the beginning was the Word” (Jn 1:1).
Question: At the Crucifixion, was Jesus stripped naked or did he have some clothing on? — Doris Fernandes, Philadelphia Answer: The answer to this is not certain. Early Christian tradition is divided on the subject, and the linguistic details of the New