ASK A PRIEST
QUESTIONS ABOUT SIN & REPENTANCE
“Ask a Priest: What If Our Priest Doesn’t Want to Hear the Same Sins?”
Q: Our priest has told us he doesn’t want us to go to confession with him if we are going to confess the same sins every time. I thought I’d read or heard in a religion class that it was OK to confess the same sin until you no longer ...
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“Ask a Priest: May I Receive Communion If I’m Cohabitating?”
Q: During confession, a Catholic priest told me that it is okay to receive Communion, even if I am unmarried and cohabitating – as long as I am sleeping with this man only. That troubled me a lot because my understanding is that if you are fornicating (even if with ...
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“Ask a Priest: Why Try to Scare People Into Believing?”
Q: Do you really believe that scaring people and telling them that they ought to live by this specific set of rules, otherwise they will burn for eternity, is the way a supreme being would attempt to obtain followers? Serious question. – S.W. Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC A: By ...
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“Ask a Priest: Is a Light Penance Normal?”
Q: I’m a 51-year-old male who went to a Catholic elementary school but for more than 40 years didn’t attend Mass. During the pandemic I felt a need to re-establish a relationship with the Church. I became confirmed. I spent a lot of time thinking about my sins over four ...
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“Ask a Priest: Is it OK to skip “steamy” content in novels and TV shows?”
Q: I am a 60-something married female. Is it a sin to read romance novels? My niece told me about a book she was reading and how good it was. I bought the book and started reading it. After a few chapters it started to get a little “steamy” with ...
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“Ask a Priest: Are we capable of perfect contrition?”
Q: Father, is everyone capable of perfect contrition? I do not feel that it is possible for me as I have been so fearful of the pains of hell for my entire life. -C.P. Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC A: One of the most beautiful things that Jesus reveals ...
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“Ask a Priest: What is Sin of Omission?”
Q: I do not understand what a sin of omission is. There are many good things I can do every day. Am I sinning if I do not do them? For example, sometimes I can get frustrated because I see a good thing I can do, that might not be ...
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“Ask a Priest: Could My Relationship With God Be Beyond Repair?”
Q: I’d been struggling with a particular mortal sin for a very long time. I hadn’t been taking it seriously. However, I started to notice that my mental health was declining. I was doubting God and fearing that he doesn’t exist because I didn’t feel a closeness to him anymore. ...
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