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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: What If I and My Kids Prefer a Non-Denominational Service?”
Q: I was raised Catholic and have been married 13 years to a non-religious man. I have my own struggles with wanting to stay in the Catholic Church or to venture out. I recently went to a non-denominational service and enjoyed it more than I have Catholic Masses. The pastor’s ...
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“Ask a Priest: Has there ever been a pope from Israel?”
Q: I just want to know if we had a pope in the past who came from Israel. -P.B. Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC A: The first pope was Peter, who came from Galilee, a region in northern Israel. Jesus himself made the appointment. “You are Peter, and upon ...
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“Ask a Priest: How could Mary’s marriage to Joseph be considered valid when it was not consummated?”
Q: As a non-Christian, I am baffled. Why was Mary’s marriage unconsummated? As it was not, how could it have been considered valid? And if it was not valid, how could it have been appropriate for her and Joseph to travel together? -D.G.K. Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC A: ...
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“Ask a Priest: Is It Sinful to Disagree With a Church Teaching?”
Q: Is mere disagreement with official Church teachings as laid out in the Catechism a major sin in and of itself? – A. Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, LC A: The answer depends on a lot of factors. There are various levels of teaching within the Catechism. Some are dogmatic. These ...
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“Ask a Priest: Who should be directing my yearly spiritual exercises?”
Q: When doing our yearly spiritual exercises, should we only attend retreats that are led by a priest connected with our ecclesial movement? Or can we attend exercises led by a parish priest or by a priest from another movement or religious order? -R.R., Missouri Answered by Fr. Edward McIlmail, ...
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“Ask a Priest: What If My Stepson Doesn’t Like to Talk About the Faith?”
Q: I am looking for guidance on how to better connect with my stepson from a faith perspective. He and I have a decent relationship. We can talk sports or life issues with no problem, and he is fully attentive. When I bring up discussions about Catholicism, he basically just ...
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“Ask a Priest: Too engaged… What should I do now?”
Q: I have been with my boyfriend a year and a half. We are both Catholic, in our mid-20s, and go to church every week. From the very beginning I said that I wanted to wait until getting married to have sex, and he agreed that he felt this way ...
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“Ask a Priest: Can you explain what is meant by spirit-and-soul from ‘The Interior Castle’?”
Q: I read “The Interior Castle” and came across the spirit-and-soul issue that has me confused. From the book I get the idea that the spirit in man’s soul is what guides a soul to God. The Bible differentiates soul and spirit and body as a trinity unto itself, just ...
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