Question Corner: Can voting for a politician in a particular political party be sinful? May 22, 2024By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: 2024 Election, Commentary, Question Corner Catholics are called to vote according to their well-formed conscience so as to support the dignity of human life in all areas.
Question Corner: Does an obligation to attend Mass on Ascension Thursday include those traveling outside the diocese? May 15, 2024By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner The holy days of obligation you are actually bound to observe as a Catholic depend on what your local bishops’ conference (the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in the United States) has decided to do.
Question Corner: Can I go to a Methodist church since there are no Catholic churches nearby? May 8, 2024By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner A Methodist Sunday service would not fulfill the Sunday obligation for a Catholic.
Question Corner: What role might artificial intelligence play in catechesis? May 1, 2024By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner While AI can share information on a given topic in perhaps a more accurate or more efficient way than would be possible for many humans, nothing can replace the value of a person-to-person relationship in evangelizing and handing on the faith.
Question Corner: What is the church’s position on the treatment of animals? April 17, 2024By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner We believe that all of nonhuman creation is ultimately meant to serve humanity, which is why we are permitted to kill animals for food and to meet other reasonable needs.
Question Corner: Is there still responsibility for past sins after confession? April 10, 2024By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner We are truly and fully forgiven from our sins when we receive absolution after a good confession. However, sacramental absolution by itself doesn’t necessarily resolve all the consequences of our sins.
Question Corner: Why does a paschal candle holder have bee artwork and when does Lent officially end? April 3, 2024By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner The joy found in the paschal candle is actually a sign of the joy we find in the resurrected Christ, who brings light out of darkness.
Should Jesus be depicted on crucifixes as alive or dead? March 27, 2024By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner The crucifixion was a progressive event in time, not one static snapshot, so it would be reasonable for an artist to choose to portray any number of given points of this part of Jesus’ passion.
Question Corner: Why isn’t a pro-life petition part of the Prayer of the Faithful for every Mass? March 21, 2024By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner, Respect Life In more typical parish settings, perhaps the pro-life intention might be “hidden” and implicit rather than explicit and obvious in a given intercession.
Question Corner: Does the Polish National Catholic Church have a valid celebration of the Eucharist? March 13, 2024By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner In our lives as Catholics, we are not only obligated and privileged to partake in the Eucharist, but we are also called to maintain communion with the body of Christ, which is the church, which is united visibly under the teaching authority of the Holy Father in Rome.
Question Corner: For those who avoid meat anyway, is there another Lenten Friday penance? March 7, 2024By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Lent, Question Corner if you personally feel that Friday abstinence during Lent is not enough of a sacrifice to be spiritually beneficial for you, you are certainly free to incorporate another penitential practice in addition to abstinence on Fridays.
Question Corner: Are you relieved of the duty to attend Mass on Sunday at a certain age? February 28, 2024By Jenna Marie Cooper OSV News Filed Under: Commentary, Question Corner An 80-something Catholic in good health who was capable of physically traveling to Mass would be just as bound to observe the Sunday obligation as their younger counterparts.
