Question Corner: Why doesn’t the Church require more demanding fasting for Lent? February 18, 2026By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Lent, Question Corner A more demanding common discipline would require far more exceptions, which could make it difficult for the majority of the Church to observe them together as one spiritual family.
Question Corner: Why is it a problem for the SSPX to ordain new bishops? February 11, 2026By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner SSPX’s proposed episcopal ordinations are a problem because ordaining new bishops without the permission of the pope (technically called a “mandate”) is gravely injurious to Christian unity.
Question Corner: Why are there so many different kinds of convents out there? February 4, 2026By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Consecrated Life, Question Corner We believe God gives us the kinds of consecrated life we need for the good of all the people of God.
Question Corner: Do Catholics have a theological problem with a woman being the Archbishop of Canterbury? January 28, 2026By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner Insofar as some Anglicans might indeed see themselves as “ministers” rather than sacramental “priests,” in a certain sense we might even “agree” with them about a female archbishop of Canterbury, since the Catholic Church has always acknowledged that women are capable of non-sacramental teaching and leadership.
Question Corner: Should girls be altar servers? January 21, 2026By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner Some might point out the pastoral benefits of an all-boys altar server team in promoting priestly vocations, while others might appreciate how allowing female altar servers emphasizes our common baptismal priesthood.
Question Corner: Is confession required for obtaining a plenary indulgence if there is no mortal sin? January 14, 2026By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner It’s useful to observe that the Church presumes that one seeking an indulgence will already be in a state of grace, meaning free from unconfessed mortal sin.
Question Corner: Why is Mary’s perpetual virginity so important to Catholics? January 7, 2026By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Marian Devotion, Question Corner Beyond the Gospel accounts, Mary’s perpetual virginity is something that has been continuously affirmed though our sacred tradition.
Question Corner: Why is New Year’s Day a holy day of obligation? December 31, 2025By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Marian Devotion, Question Corner Jan. 1 is not a holy day of obligation because of the civil new year, but because it is the feast of Mary, the Mother of God.
Question Corner: What does the term ‘protomartyr’ mean? December 29, 2025By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner, Saints The martyrs always bear witness to the truth in the most convincing way of all, by dying for what they believed and staking their life on the reality of heaven.
Question Corner: Will the Catholic Church have women deacons? December 17, 2025By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner While we should not expect to see women literally ordained alongside male diaconate candidates, the question of deaconesses in general is a complex and multifaceted one with many positive implications.
Question Corner: When can Catholics sing the Advent hymn ‘O Come, O Come, Emmanuel?’ December 10, 2025By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Advent, Commentary, Question Corner The church does not have any explicit rule about when the hymn “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” can be sung. In principle, it’s perfectly allowed to sing this throughout Advent. However, I think I can guess why your choir director wants to hold off on using this hymn until later in the season.
Question Corner: Do Catholics give things up for Advent? December 3, 2025By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Advent, Commentary, Question Corner Catholics aren’t required to “give anything up” for Advent. And even while the practice of taking on an additional, personal Lenten penance is a well-established and praiseworthy custom, Catholics technically aren’t required to do anything extra for Lent beyond the usual fasting and abstinence from meat (see Canon 1251 of the Code of Canon Law).
