Jenna Marie Cooper

Our Sunday Visitor is a Catholic publisher serving millions of Catholics globally through its publishing and communication services. Jenna Marie Cooper, who holds a licentiate in canon law, is a consecrated virgin and a canonist whose column appears weekly at OSV News. Send your questions to CatholicQA@osv.com.

Question Corner: Post-COVID, why can’t we use intinction rather than the communal cup?

August 8, 2023
By Jenna Marie Cooper
OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner

The Unites States Conference of Catholic Bishops specifically allows for the possibility of intinction in its document “Norms for the Distribution and Reception of Holy Communion under Both Kinds in the Dioceses of the United States of America.”

Question Corner: Is it a sin to argue?

July 31, 2023
By Jenna Marie Cooper
OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner

Simply having an emotion is morally neutral experience, so merely feeling angry is certainly not a sin.

Question Corner: Are Protestant martyrs of the English Reformation heretics or in heaven?

July 25, 2023
By Jenna Marie Cooper
OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner

Heresy consists of an obstinate — that is, persistent and stubborn — rejection of Catholic teaching by a person after they were baptized.

Question Corner: Who is condemned and why do Catholics wear crucifixes?

July 18, 2023
By Jenna Marie Cooper
OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner

As Catholics, we believe that God created us with free will, meaning that we decide for ourselves to love God and seek to follow his commandments; or we can choose to reject or ignore God.

Question Corner: Why can’t any sacrament be received at any church?

July 6, 2023
By Jenna Marie Cooper
Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner

Some sacraments are intended to be ordinarily celebrated in specific churches, and marriage is one of these sacraments.

Question Corner: Baptismal certificate function; annulments and hell

June 28, 2023
By Jenna Marie Cooper
OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner

When Catholics request a copy of their baptismal certificate, their parish of baptism issues a new hard copy based on the information in the baptismal register.

Question Corner: How can Father Rupnik remain a priest after dismissal from Jesuits?

June 21, 2023
By Jenna Marie Cooper
OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner

Religious life is a call to follow Christ more closely by living a vowed life in community according to the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

Question Corner: Can an “ecumenical Catholic service” satisfy our Sunday obligation?

June 14, 2023
By Jenna Marie Cooper
OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner

The short answer to your question is that anything other than a normal Catholic Mass would not fulfill one’s Sunday obligation.

Question Corner: Is incorrupt Sister Wilhelmina possibly a saint?

June 6, 2023
By Jenna Marie Cooper
OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Saints

In the canonization process, the state of the person’s mortal remains is of minimal relevance.

Question Corner: Must I make my confession at the altar, as my pastor asks?

May 30, 2023
By Jenna Marie Cooper
Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner

You are not required to make your own confession out in the open. You can always ask your priest to hear your confession in a more discreet place.

Question Corner: Are our intentions actually remembered at the shrines we donate to?

May 24, 2023
By Jenna Marie Cooper
OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner

While the law is strict about avoiding any semblance of commercializing Mass intentions, it’s just as strict about ensuring that the faithful’s intentions in this context are respected as a matter of basic justice.

Question Corner: On women priests and on repairing statues

May 17, 2023
By Jenna Marie Cooper
OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner

The reason why women can’t be ordained priests is because of the pattern set by Jesus himself while he walked the earth.