Question: Why can’t women be priests? Isn’t that discrimination? Answer: Well, if the priesthood was reserved to men because the Church thought that men were better or superior to women, then that would be discrimination. But, that’s not the reason why women can’t be priests. The crux of this issue is the nature of the priesthood and the sacrament that the priest makes present. Every … Continue reading
Question: Why do we put ashes on our forehead on Ash Wednesday? Answer: Ashes are a symbol of mourning, mortality, and penance. After all, “you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Gen 3:19). That was God’s reminder to Adam after he commited the original sin. During Old Testament times, God’s people would cover themselves with ashes in times of mourning, or to make … Continue reading
Question: I have a Protestant friend who is considering becoming Catholic. I’ve taken him to Mass a few times and we’ve had a few conversations about our beliefs. But, usually when I ask him about converting, he just says, “I’m still thinking about it.” Is there anything more I can do? Answer: Well, patience is key. If it was up to us, we would have … Continue reading
Questions: What is the difference between an angel and a saint? Answer: Good question! I think it depends on what you mean by the word “saint.” Usually when people use this word they are referring to those holy men and women who came before us and who are now in heaven praying for us. When you use the word “saint” in that way, then the … Continue reading
Question: Does “ask and you shall receive” mean that we should expect to get anything from God as long as we pray for it? Answer: The passage you are referring to is Mt 7:7 – “Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” A passage from John’s gospel is similar to it: “if … Continue reading
Question: I was reading a commentary on the Bible that said it used the “early Church fathers” as a guide in interpreting the various passages of the Bible. Who are the “early Church fathers” and how much weight should their writings have in our understanding of the Bible? Answer: The early Church fathers are those men from the first few centuries of the Church who, … Continue reading
Question: I know that it is good to pray FOR the souls in Purgatory, but can we also pray TO them? Short answer: From what I can tell, the Church has not definitively settled this question. There is certainly nothing that explicitly forbids it. As such, it remains a topic that is up for debate, and it is for each individual Catholic to decide whether … Continue reading