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Today’s secular world throws curve balls at us all the time. Ask A Priest is a Q&A feature that anyone can use. Just search the topics below for an answer to your question! You can ask about anything – liturgy, prayer, moral questions, current events. Our goal is to provide a trustworthy forum for dependable Catholic guidance and information. So go ahead and ask your question.
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I’m a Widow — Is It OK That I Watch Mass at Home?
Q: I lost my spouse and moved out of the state. I tried to attend the local church and didn’t feel right. Am I committing a sin for not attending? I do watch TV Mass or EWTN or Mass on YouTube. Keeping my faith is the only thing I have to hold me together. I hope I’m doing something right. — K. Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC: Please accept my condolences on the death of your husband. May Our Lord rest his soul. There is still one man with you who loves you dearly and who wants you close ...
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“Ask a Priest: How Can I Share My Pro-Family Views With Friends?”
Q: I have a group of secular friends who believe in abortion and gay marriage. I haven’t explicitly told them that I don’t support these things, and at times I just want to rip the Band-Aid and end the friendship. However, I know the mission is to evangelize, something very ...
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“Ask a Priest: What If I’m Attracted to Someone Who Is Married?”
Q: What’s the best way to end an attraction to a married person? I find myself attracted to a married man at my job. Since he is married, I’ll do nothing, but it’s disturbing because “Thou shalt not covet …” I’ve tried to put all thoughts of him out of ...
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“Ask a Priest: How Should I Ask for a Blessing at Communion Time?”
Q: At Communion time, what is the proper way to ask for a blessing if you are unable to receive Communion? – Jeanne Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC A: This might come as a surprise, but the Roman Missal mentions nothing about the reception of blessings at communion time. ...
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“Ask a Priest: Why Do We Baptize Babies?”
Q: Why do we baptize babies instead of letting them reach a mature age like that of Jesus and decide for themselves? – V.C. Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC A: A quick clarification: Jesus’ baptism wasn’t a sacramental baptism. He didn’t have any sin and thus wouldn’t need baptism. He ...
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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 It OK to Read Self-Help Books?”
Q: Should a Catholic read self-help books, such as The Magic of Thinking Big? I ask because I have read that books related to the power of thoughts or mindset should be avoided because they are incompatible with our faith. Could you clarify things for me? – Virginia Answered by ...
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“Ask a Priest: Did I Do Right by Hiding My Singing Talent?”
Q: Recently, I was asked repeatedly by my mother to sing for a relative’s birthday party. I rejected her time and time again. Even her cousins came to ask me to sing, but I declined. My mom said she felt hurt and embarrassed, especially since she knew I could sing ...
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“Ask a Priest: Why Do the Wayward Seem to Have It So Easy?”
Q: Why does God keep pouring blessings on the ungodly and withhold or remove his blessing from those of us who take him seriously? I have two older cousins. One is an atheist who enjoyed the “spirit of the age,” went through multiple marriages and left the Church, and God ...
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