Questions Catholics Ask
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More questions...and responses
- Who are the Twelve?
- What is meant by "just war"?
- What does it mean to repent?
- Is Epiphany about giving gifts or getting them?
- What's an evangelist? How many are there?
- How should we prepare for holy communion? Is fasting still necessary?
- Why are Catholics so focused on the Eucharist?
- What difference does it make that the current Pope is a Jesuit?
- What is grace?
- What is a kiss of peace?
- Can women religious work in law enforcement or in forensic labs?
- Why is being rooted in Peter's authority so important to the Catholic Church?
- My mom asked me to promise her a Christian burial. What does that involve?
- What's the vocation of a religious brother about?
- Are Hebrews the same as Jews?
- What does it mean to be saved?
- Who invented the sacraments?
- The Bible mentions Zion a lot. Where or what is Zion?
- Are halos biblical, or just an artist's idea?
- Do Catholics believe in fate?
- What am I to understand from the term "Kingdom of God"?
- Why don't all Christians celebrate Christmas on the same day?
- What do theologians do all day?
- How did the Catholic church get into the hospital business?
- Where did the breviary come from?
- What's a tertiary?
- What is heaven?
- Who are the church fathers?
- How are we to understand Jesus as both divine and human?
- Why does the Catholic church place so much importance on sacraments?
- Our pastor uses incense—a lot. Are there reasons for this?
- What are sacramentals?
- What are the marks of the church and why are they important to know?
- I'm not at peace. Is there a Catholic way to get there?
- What's a synod and why are we having one in Rome now?
- How many feast days does Mary have?
- I noticed the name "Yahweh" was taken out of a hymn I like. What's up with that?
- Why do some feasts, formerly celebrated on the church calendar, later get suppressed?
- I'm confused about "James" in the New Testament. How many are there, and who are they?
- Where did the "Hail Mary" prayer come from?
- As a Catholic, what do I need to know about racism?
- Where did the Stabat Mater come from?
- Why is Jesus called the Lamb of God?
- Please sort out these words for me: catechesis, catechetics, catechism, catechumen. What's the difference?
- What's the purpose of a wake service?
- Can a priest run for public office?
- How many church councils were there, besides Vatican I and II?
- What are the Last Rites?
- What's the significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls? I want to know—but not enough to read them!
- What are we to believe about "the Fall" in Genesis?
- The New Testament doesn't mention seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. So why was I taught about them at Confirmation?
- If you do something you didn't know is wrong, or break a church rule you didn't know exists, is it a sin?
- The Bible prohibits images, but Catholic churches are full of them. Explain?
- What does it mean to have faith?
- What are the different forms of prayer?
- As Pontius Pilate says: what is truth?
- Is it true that receiving the vaccine for COVID-19 is a sin because of how it is made?
- Do Catholics believe in faith healing?
- I thought scrupulosity was a good thing. My confessor tells me it’s not.
- Is Taizé a Catholic prayer practice and if not, what are its origins?
- We hear so much about what men do in the Bible. Do women do more than participate in the “begats”?
- Where did the idea of a Pre-Cana program come from?
- Why do Catholics light so many candles?
- Exactly how is the Pope, a human being, infallible?
- In this era of fake news, is it a sin to share juicy but unsubstantiated reports?
- How should Catholics decide how to vote?
- Why is Christianity so negative about the human body?
- What kind of authority does the church really have?
- You always hear about Vatican II. What happened at Vatican I?
- What do you have to do to get kicked out of the church?
- Have you, personally, been back to Mass yet? And if so, what was it like?
- My sister’s parish has been completely reopened for a month now, but my pastor has yet to open ours for Mass. Why is he refusing to serve us?
- How will church re-openings be handled as restrictions due to COVID-19 are relaxed?
- Will the church be different after a time of global crisis?
- Why would a global pandemic happen? Is God doing this?
- What should we do if we can't go to Mass?
- Shouldn’t churches stay open in times of crisis?
- What is temperance and do we still need it?
- When we give a blessing, what do we actually do?
- Does the church teach pacifism?
- If Jesus is God, isn’t his humanity a form of play-acting?
- Who are the Fourteen Holy Helpers?
- Are parishes necessary?
- Isn’t it a sin to vow something for life to God and then break it? Don’t fully professed sisters sin if they leave their order?
- How can I prove the existence of God to atheists?
- When will there be saints of color the U.S. can claim as their own?
- How many times has Mary appeared in history and where?
- Who or what is the Holy Spirit?
- Is Jesus the Messiah?
- What exactly is the Easter duty?
- What are beatitudes, and why are they so important?
- How does the church determine who’s “Great” and who’s a regular saint?
- Whoever came up with a feast called “Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe” to end the church year?
- What are small church communities? Are they the same as base communities?
- I keep hearing we’re all supposed to be saints. Is that realistic?
- Has Pope Francis changed church teaching on birth control?
- After we die, we “see God face to face.” Then what?
- Is Pope Francis doing anything about the sexual abuse crisis and the bishops’ woeful response?
- How can I find God in my life?
- What is prayer?
- If I attend a wedding with a full Mass on Saturday at 1 p.m., does that Mass count for Sunday?
- What’s the difference between a psalm and a canticle?
- Is it appropriate to speak of “lay ministries”?
- I’m a Eucharistic minister, and was corrected for saying cup instead of chalice. Why does it matter what you call it?
- What is the Catholic teaching regarding marriage? Does it say a marriage must be between a baptized man and a baptized woman?
- What are the “four last things”?
- What is canon law and why do we have it?
- Do I have to take a saint’s name at my Confirmation?
- Where does the Catholic teaching on abortion come from?
- Who decided we should have holy days of obligation and what they should be?
- What do Catholics believe about demons?
- Why do we have Knights of Columbus?
- Why do older folks keep quoting the Baltimore Catechism?
- Why is Easter Season so long?
- What do I need to know about Mary?
- What is spirituality?
- What do Catholics believe about the Eucharist?
- What does it take to be recognized by the church as a saint?
- Two Americans were beatified by Pope Francis. What do I need to know about them?
- What’s the purpose of Ordinary Time?
- The church made Mother Teresa a saint overnight. Why is it taking so long for Bishop Oscar Romero?
- What does the phrase “consubstantial with the Father” in the Creed mean?
- What does Pope Francis mean by “rapidification”?
- I'm having trouble finding a religious community that will consider me as a candidate because I'm older. Why?
- I don’t read papal documents. What do I need to know about Laudato Si?
- Is God a name, like Allah or Jesus?
- Why should I go to church?
- What is the common good?
- Why is prejudice against Catholics called “the deepest bias in the history of the American people”?
- Why does going to Mass on Saturday night “count” to fulfill the Sunday obligation?
- Don’t we have to obey what the church teaches, or be kicked out?
- How do I reconcile patriotism and faith? Sometimes it feels like dueling citizenships!
- Our priest cancelled Saturday Vigil Mass, citing Dies Domini and pastoral necessity. Is this valid?
- With the recent opposition to Muslim immigrants, I wonder: Were Catholics always welcomed here?
- Is Pope Francis the first Catholic leader to address the environment?
- Do all Christians basically agree on the purpose of baptism, Eucharist, and ministry?
- What is natural law?
- Some of my friends view belief in God as anti-intellectual.
- How did the veneration of relics get started?
- Why do we worship in buildings instead of in God’s beautiful creation?
- What are Catholics to believe about the Antichrist?
- How can I understand and explain the Catholic position on contraception?
- How is it determined that someone is a saint?
- What can we expect from the Vatican Commission on women deacons?
- Who were the women at the cross?
- Is the Bible infallible?
- Can Catholics practice yoga?
- Where can Mass be celebrated?
- I've been told Catholic devotion to saints contradicts what the Bible says about graven images.
- Where in the Bible does it say Jesus' birthday is December 25th?
- Is Jesus truly the Son of God or is it just a story?
- If you're married, is it still possible to become a priest? If yes, what are the steps needed?
- What's a halo, really?
- Why do Catholics put so much emphasis on Mary and the saints?
- Is the parish expected to give the pastor and secretary a bonus at Christmas?
- I recently became a Freemason but feel a calling to be a priest. Do I have a canonical impediment?
- Is it necessary to attend Mass on Sunday? I can't go to church because of my job. What should I do?
- Can Catholics be cremated?
- Is it a sin to eat meat on Fridays during Lent or just a suggestion?
- What exactly is a "Jubilee Year"? What's a "Holy Year"? I hear the Year of Mercy called both.
- Is astrology compatible with Christian belief?
- What does Advent have to do with Apocalypse?
- Petra is the coolest historical site in Jordan. Is it biblically significant?
- Where is Moses buried?
- Settle an argument for me. Was Jesus baptized in Jordan?
- Is the clerical sexual abuse crisis over?
- Who is Karl Rahner, and why is he important?
- Is there a protocol for paying the priest: for marriages, sick calls, last rites?
- Are priests obliged to say mass every day?
- I heard all the big heresies were invented by the 5th century
- What does the church have to say about suicide?
- Where did Limbo come from?
- Mary's parents aren't mentioned in the Bible. How do we know their names?
- Was there ever such a thing as a deaconness?
- Who was Origen?
- How do you know if you're committing heresy?
- Do Catholics believe in psychology?
- Is there a heaven? What is it like?
- What's important about the Avignon papacy and the Great Schism?
- What do I need to know about the Crusades?
- What's an abbess, and what power does she wield?
- Is premarital sex a sin?
- Do the Eastern churches have popes?
- What is papal primacy and where does it come from?
- What does Jesus have to say about family?
- Why do we have priests?
- Why do we "respect life"?
- Why do we honor martyrs?
- What is a patron saint?
- Is there truth in other religions?
- What do Catholics believe about war and peace?
- Why do some buildings have feast days?
- How do you figure Transfiguration?
- What is the Immaculate Heart of Mary?
- What is the Sacred Heart of Jesus?
- What is humility?
- Is it possible to prove the existence of God?
- How “Roman” is the Roman Catholic Church?
- How do can you deal with sinful thoughts?
- What is virtue?
- Does God get angry?
- Why do we have a Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults?
- Why do we fast?
- What are the qualifications for being pope?
- Is it OK for Christians to be rich?
- What is the Roman Catholic view of work?
- What is Baptism?
- What do we know about Saint Joseph?
- Why is there a church calendar?
- What is the “deposit of faith”?
- What’s the purpose of incense?
- What is “mission”?
- Why is marriage a sacrament?
- Where did American Catholic schools come from?
- What is the Anointing of the Sick?
- Why do we hear scripture readings at Mass?
- What about the violence in the Old Testament?
- What’s the difference between “the gospel” and “the gospels”?
- What is the Sacrament of Confirmation?
- Why are there cults?
- What’s in a papal name?
- What is Pentecost?
- What is Christ’s Ascension?
- What are the different forms of prayer?
- What is the Real Presence of Christ?
- How can the pope resign?
- Can Catholic doctrine change in light of new information?
- Why is the Lord’s Prayer so important?
- Love thy extraterrestrial neighbor: Does the church believe there could be life on other planets?
- What do Catholics believe about the divine inspiration of scripture?
- Who was John the Baptist and what was his relationship to Jesus?
- What is the structure of the church and what do the people in it do?
- Are there other kinds of Catholics besides Roman?
- What does the "Word of God" mean?
- What are visions?
- What is Purgatory?
- What are third orders, oblates, and associates?
- Why sing at Mass?
- What about all the different gods in Hebrew scripture?
- Is there a place for dissent in the church?
- Do Catholics believe in evolution?
- What does the Bible say about God?
- Why do we say Jesus "descended into hell"?
- Why does God let bad things happen?
- Is it OK to use “real” bread at Mass?
- What is Wisdom?
- Is there a “right time” to be called by God?
- How can I understand the Holy Trinity?
- Why are there two Creeds?
- “How can I live as a Christian in the modern world?”
- Saint Thomas Aquinas did what, exactly?
- Why did American Catholicism begin in Baltimore?
- Do religious communities work for human rights?
- Why isn’t the "Gloria" sung during Lent?
- Should people in discernment date?
- Why do Catholics wear ashes on Ash Wednesday?
- Where did Lent come from?
- What’s so important about the Council of Trent?
- What are the “Precepts of the Church”?
- Do Catholics take the biblical creation story literally?
- Why can’t a woman be ordained?
- Why does the liturgy change?
- Which religious community is right for me?
- Is Purgatory still “on the books”?
- Why is it important to participate regularly in the Mass?
- Why pray the rosary?
- Why can people go to Mass on Saturday evening instead of Sunday?
- I feel called to be a sister, but I am not yet 18 years old
- Did King David compose the psalms?
- Who were Jesus' “brothers and sisters”?
- Is there really a Catholic Index of Forbidden Books?
- What can I do about my student loan debt if I want to join a community?
- What are the corporal and spiritual works of mercy?
- Is a long or short discernment process better?
- What’s the difference between celibacy and chastity?
- Is it “Catholic” to be vegetarian? Do Catholics care about animal suffering?
- What does the Bible say about Judgment Day?
- How can I talk to my parents about my vocation and get their support?
- Why do Christians believe Jesus is God incarnate?
- What’s that picture of Jesus with rays flowing from him?
- What is the Triduum?
- Can someone change religious communities?
- Who chose the "Seven Deadly Sins"?
- What should I believe about hell?
- Why are there different kinds of Franciscans?
- Is the Mass a “holy sacrifice” or a “celebration”—or both?
- Pulpit, lectern, ambo: What’s the difference?
- What was the Reformation?
- If you have a mental illness, can you still join a religious order?
- What is “discernment of spirits”?
- Why would someone want to be a priest, sister, or brother?
- Is environmentalism “Catholic” or a political football?
- Why do Catholics believe in the Immaculate Conception?
- Why are there parishes?
- Do Catholics believe in ghosts?
- Who was Saint Augustine?
- Is a college degree needed for religious life?
- What is "sanctuary"?
- What is the Liturgy of the Hours?
- How do I discern my calling to priesthood or brotherhood?
- How does God “answer” prayers?
- As a sister, would I have to give up sports?
- What does “salvation history” mean?
- Why do Catholics believe in the Assumption of Mary?
- Can I keep doing my music when I enter religious life?
- Why do priests wear vestments?
- Do miracles still happen?
- How can I find a good spiritual director?
- What do deacons do?
- How is the Mass “prayer”?
- What is Catholic decision-making?
- Can I have a job if I join a religious community?
- Who wrote the gospels?
- Can converts become sisters or brothers?
- What is “original sin”?
- How does the Catholic Church view other religions?
- The "Five C's" of Confession
- Discerning your vocation
- What's the difference between chapels, churches, cathedrals, and basilicas?
- Where do the Stations of the Cross come from?
- What's the relationship between the Old Testament and the New Testament?
- What about wearing habits and and taking "religious" names
- When and where is it appropriate to bow inside Catholic churches?
- Older vocations
- Can I come back to the church?
- Why does the priest talk after the readings at Mass?
- Is being divorced an obstacle to religious life?
- What's the difference between catechesis and evangelization?
- Didn't Saint Paul write all the letters attributed to him?
- Are we supposed to believe in angels and demons in the 21st century?
- Who are the saints and why do we pray to them?
- How does a religious community start?
- Why pray for the dead?
- Dealing with stage fright
- Who are the "Doctors of the Church"?
- How were the books of the Bible chosen?
- What's the difference between saying "set" prayers and prayers in my own words?
- Paying for seminary
- If I join a religious community do I have to change my name and cut my hair?
- What do Catholics have to believe?
- Who were the prophets? Does God still call people to prophecy?
- What is the lectionary?
- Why do Catholics bless themselves, genuflect, and so on?
- How did we get from following “the Way” of Jesus to the church?
- What do we mean by the church’s “magisterium”?
- Is there salvation outside the Catholic Church?
- What do people in religious life do for fun?
- Why is celibacy important to religious life?
- Vocation: For all of life, or only "religious life"?
- What is contemplation?
- Is my vocation from God or just my imagination?
- What does the Bible say about discipleship?
- How do I know whether be an order priest or a diocesan priest?
- What do Catholics believe about scripture and tradition?
- "Sin" is such a negative word. Can't we just talk about “failure”?
- Why should I read the Bible?
- Will my faith make me happy?
- How can I live a holy life?
