Table of Contents

Introduction

Sin

• My non-Catholic friends think we are crazy to separate sins into venial and mortal. How can I explain the difference to them?
• What is the unforgivable sin?
• Is it a mortal sin to miss Mass on Sundays?
• Is masturbation a mortal sin? If it is, why?
• If we sin, can we bless ourselves with holy water and take Communion or do we have to go to Confession?
• Is it a sin to drink alcohol?
  Is it a sin to get drunk?
• Is it a sin to gamble?
• Is it wrong to "shop around" for a priest to let you use birth control?
• Is it a mortal sin to receive Communion without believing that it is truly the body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ?

The Bible

• Why don't you bring Bibles to church?
  How often is the Bible read in the Catholic Church?
• What is the oldest written record of the Bible?
• Why do you call your priests "Father" when the Bible says call no one Father but me?
• Why tradition and scripture rather than just scripture?
  Does the Bible support the use of oral tradition?
• Please explain why when on the cross and nearing death, Jesus said "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46)
• A Protestant man once asked me why we did not read the Protestant Bible.
  Is the Catholic Bible the only real Bible?
• Did Jesus drink wine, or was it grape juice?
• Why do we repeat prayers when in the Bible it says not to be repetitive?
  Isn't it a sin to repeat the same memorized prayers such as the Hail Mary and the Rosary?
• What about nuns? They are nowhere in the Bible.
• Evolution or creation: Which is right and why?
  Where did Cain and Abel go to meet other people, and where did these other people come from?
  How literally should the Bible be interpreted?
• Please explain the doctrine of predestination.
• Does God lead us into temptation (Matthew 6:13)?
• Is Mary the woman in the Book of Revelation?

God

• Why is God invisible? (asked by an 8-year-old)
• I am not questioned about my faith, but about the existence of God and heaven.
• I don't exactly know about the Blessed Trinity.
  Are the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all one person?
  Are God and Jesus two different people?
• How does God know where I am and why does He love me? (asked by a 6-year-old)
• Why would the Lord God on Jesus' death send Him to hell rather than a place other than hell?
• Man was made in the image of God. Was man made in the substance of God?

Birth Control

• Why can't we practice birth control?
  Why can't Catholics use artificial birth control?
  Why is birth control wrong?
  When the natural method (Natural Family Planning) fails and you have a huge family why is birth control wrong or is it?
  
• Is there an alternate form of family planning, other than Natural Family Planning (NFP), that is approved by the Church for those who cannot, for medical reasons, practice NFP?
  
• Why does the Church oppose abortion?
  Does "the Pill" cause abortions?
  
• Why can't our Priest tell people in the parish more about abortions, and that it should result in excommunication if Catholics vote for officials that are pro-choice?

The Papacy

• When Jesus told Peter "Upon this rock I will build my church," is Jesus the rock or is Peter?
• Explain Pope as successor of Peter.
  What is the exact role of the Pope?
  Why do Catholics think they have to have a Pope as a leader?
• Does the Pope have special power and why?
  Is the Pope able to make new rules for the Church? If so, why?
• Please explain Papal infallibility.
  I don't understand the infallibility of the Pope and Church dogma.
• Please explain the hierarchy of the Church as it relates to the authority for following doctrine.
• Are Catholics required to follow the Pope's teaching on moral issues, or only his teaching on doctrine?
• Did a reliable prophet really predict that Pope John Paul II is our last Pope?
• Someone at work told me they read in one of the news magazines that Pope John Paul was quoted as saying he would be the last Pope. The Pope that followed would be the antichrist.
  I have heard that it has been a message from Our Lady that he would be the last Pope.
• What is a conclave?
• What proof is there that Peter was the first Pope?
• Was there a female Pope?
• Was there ever a false Pope?

Purgatory

• What is purgatory?
  Why do you believe in Purgatory?
  What proof do you have of the existence of Purgatory?
• Why do you pray for the dead?
• Explain indulgences.
  What does it mean when they say 500 days indulgence?

Heaven

• Should Catholics believe in the "rapture"?
  Do Catholics believe in the rapture that is referred to in Revelation?
• What do Catholics believe about being reunited with their relatives in heaven?

Mary

• My friends want to know and don't understand why we worship Mary and place her as high as God.
  Do Catholics worship Mary above Jesus?
  Do Catholics worship Mary?
• Why do Catholics have to have Mary to intercede for us when we pray?
• Why call Mary the Mother of God?
• How do you know that Mary is not Satan's helper to get people away from God?
• How can a virgin become a mother?
• Why believe Mary was forever virgin and sinless?

The Saints and Angels

• Why do you pray to saints?
  Why pray to saints?
  friends don't understand praying to Saints. Why not pray directly to God?
  If Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.", why then do we pray to Mary and the Saints?
  Why pray to angels?
• Why do you have statues to praise to?
  Why do Catholics pray to statues?
  Isn't it a sin to kneel before statues and icons?
  How do we answer those who criticize us for worshiping idols?
• Why so many saints?
• Who was the last person to become a Saint?
• Who has given the greatest contribution to the Church and what was it?
• Why do we have novenas to different Saints?
• What good are all the medals and statues you have?
• Why are some angels, like St. Michael, considered Saints and others are just angels? People think that only humans can be Saints.
• Do people become angels when they die?
• Did St. Patrick raise people from the dead?

The Rosary

• What is the rosary? Why do Catholics pray the Rosary?
• What are the Rosary beads used for?
  Why do we pray with beads to the Blessed Mother?
  What is the significance of ten Hail Mary's per decade of the Rosary?

Jesus

• How do you know that Jesus is not St. Michael?
• Was Jesus an only child?
  How do you know that Mary had no other children?
  What tells us that Jesus doesn't have any brothers?
  Doesn't the Bible teach that Jesus had siblings?

Practices

• Why do we as Catholics have to take part in crucifying Jesus (saying the Passion)? I know that it is just so that we as humans can see what Jesus did for us, but to me it's like crucifying our Lord all over again. It hurts me to see everybody taking part in my Lord's (and our Lord's) crucifixion.
• Why can't you eat meat on Fridays during Lent?
  During Lent we do not eat meat on Fridays. Isn't fish considered meat?
  Why do you give up stuff for Lent?
• Why do we give peace to each other?
  When we give the sign of peace, is it necessary to shake hands? Can't we just nod and say "Peace be with you"? Some of us have arthritis, etc.
• Why do we sit, stand, kneel so much?
  Why is there so much kneeling during church?
• Why doesn't the congregation wait to sit back down when the deacon is putting away the chalices after Communion?
• Why do we have a cross on the altar?
  Why do Catholics celebrate the death of Christ more so than the resurrection?
• What is the significance of touching (slight pounding) of your chest during various periods of the Mass?
• Many of the church's decorative, ornamental pieces are beautiful. There was a gorgeous display of jeweled monstrances at the New Orleans museum of Art. My question is this: Why if Jesus and His followers were of a simple life with meager surroundings and no personal belongings, does the Catholic Church have such an over abundance of gilded, ornamental objects?
• Why with all its wealth doesn't the Church do more to help the poor?
• How is it that the very young people do not know how to properly approach the altar and to properly conduct themselves after receiving Holy Communion? I have seen some very disturbing sights.
• What is the Church's position on cremation for burial?
• What do the letters I.N.R.I. above the cross stand for and what is the meaning?
• Why have the tabernacles been removed from the center of the altars in some cases to other rooms?
• During the Eucharistic Prayer, how do we know which mystery of faith to proclaim?
• Why do you say written prayers? They are not as meaningful as prayers from the heart.
• Why can Catholics go to church on Saturdays and we cannot?
• Why does the Catholic Church believe that it is the only true Christian church? What about other churches?
• Why force non-Catholic spouses to raise children in the Catholic Church?
• When and who said women no longer had to cover their head with a veil?
• During Mass you light different candles and put out others. Please explain.
• Please explain how the Church can change their rules? Not God's Law.
• Shouldn't all nuns wear habits?
• Explain the parts of the Mass.

Sacramentals

• Why does the Church use sacramentals?
• Why do Catholics make the sign of the cross?
  Why do we make the sign of the cross with and without holy water?
• Medals, crosses, annulments; not understood by other religions.
  Why do Catholics wear medals?
• What is a scapular?
  Why do Catholics wear a scapular?
  What is the proper way to wear a scapular?
• What are the uses of holy water?
• What are "blessed" objects?
• What is blessed salt?

History

• How do you know that Jesus started the Catholic faith?
  How can you know that the Catholic Church is the one that Jesus founded?
• Since there is antiquity in the Greek and Slavic churches, how can the Roman church claim to be the real church of Christ?
• How can the Catholic Church be the "true" church when some priests do evil things?
• The inquisition.
• If Catholic doctrine has never changed, why were some doctrines supported by Councils or Papal Decrees in later centuries? (If the Church teaches that a doctrine is true because a certain council in a certain year says so, does this mean the doctrine was "new" in the year of the council?)

Salvation/Justification

• Have you been saved? Is this the same as having been baptized and confirmed?
  We are often asked "Are you saved?"
  Being saved. Some people believe that once they accept Christ they are saved.
• Are Catholics taught that they are the only ones to go to heaven?
• Do Catholics believe you have to "work " your way into heaven? (James 2:24)
  Aren't we saved by faith alone?
• Why is the Baptist belief that "Once saved, you're always saved" a heresy?
• Please explain justification.

Charismatic Movement

• Why is the charismatic movement coming into the church?
• I feel that I need some instruction on what takes place at the healing Mass. I really do not understand what I see happening.

The Sacraments

• What is a sacrament?

• Baptism
  • Why do you baptize infants?
  • Where do babies that die before they are baptized go?
  • What's the difference between John the Baptist's baptism and a Christian baptism? (Acts 19:4-5)
  • Why do Catholics only pour water on the baptized instead of submerging them?
    Total submersion at baptism?

• Confirmation
  • When you get confirmed at a particular time on a particular schedule, how can it really relate to accepting God into your life when you are ready? Wasn't there any time when you didn't have God in your life and then asked for him to come into your life and your life changed?

• Eucharist
  • Why do you believe that it is the Body and Blood of Christ?
    Where is the proof of the Eucharist in the Bible?
  • When you go to Communion are you completely saved through Christ?
  • Why do we receive Communion?
  • Is a person who doesn't believe that the Eucharist is truly the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus really a Catholic?e

• Penance/Reconciliation/Confession
  • What is Penance?
  • Why do you have confession?
  • Why do you confess sins to a priest?
    Why must we confess our sins to a priest and how can he forgive us our sins?
    If Jesus will forgive the truly repentant, why confess to a priest?
  • If you truly believe Jesus is present in the Eucharist, why do you have to see a priest for confession and why can't we confess to Jesus in adoration?
    Why can't I pray to God for forgiveness instead of telling a priest?
  • Not married in the church. Want to go to confession.
  • Some churches have group confessions. Since you are the only priest and seem to be overworked, why not give it a try? Is group confession legal?
  • What is the meaning of "Christ died for our sins?"
  • When was mandatory confession started and who did it?
  • When was the last time you went to confession?

• Sacrament of the Sick
  • What is anointing of the sick?
  • If a person has not been to Church or practiced his faith for many years are they forgiven their sins on receiving the last rites?
  • What if there is no priest around when you die, and you don't get the last blessing?

• Holy Orders
  • Jesus started the priesthood and not started the preacher? (Go out and preach my faith)
  • Were priests ever allowed to marry?
  • If the Church is experiencing a shortage of vocations, why will it not consider allowing priests to marry?
    Why don't priests get married?
    Why can't priests marry, but an Episcopal priest can marry and then become a Catholic married priest?
  • Why no woman priest? I'm very happy to see girls on the altar, why aren't women allowed to preach?
    Were there ever woman priests?
  • What is a deacon and what is his function? We like him.
  • The 11 Apostles I remember but the 7 Deacons I don't recall.

• Matrimony
  • Why oppose divorce?
  • Is a second marriage breaking a commandment or breaking a law of the Church?
  • On the question of divorce, Jesus said there was only one exception: Lewd conduct or sins of chastity. Why does the Church not honor these words of Christ?
  • Can a person who was married in Church and got a divorce, and then got married again, and when the second husband died married for a third time, receive Communion after the first husband has died? Can I receive Communion now?
  • Is someone who was married to a non-Catholic in the Church, considered married in the eyes of the Church?
  • Please explain annulments.
    How is it possible for Catholics to be married in the Church 2 or 3 times while their ex's are still alive?
  • Does an annulment make your children illegitimate in the church?

Miscellaneous

• Why doesn't the church pay taxes and owns so much land?
• What does spirituality mean to you?
  How has spirituality influenced the actions that you participate in?
• What are some things that we have in common with other religions?
• Were some of the truths revealed by the 2nd Vatican Council misrepresented by liberal priests in America?
• Why does the Church allow priests to disagree with the Pope on national TV?
• Aren't Catholics who disagree with Church teachings really Protestants?
• If a person is ignorant about Catholic doctrine is he really a Catholic?
• What must a person do (and believe) to be considered a Catholic by the Church?
• What to tell someone that says that they do not go to church because of the changing rules and also because of what the priest said?
• Why are Holy Days observed here and not up North?
• Why did the Church mishandle pedophile priests so badly?
• I would like to have a clearer understanding of what the Church teaches as it pertains to capital punishment, especially execution.
  Can Catholics support the death penalty for murderers, rapists, and pedophiles?
• We need to ask everyone to sing during Mass. We are praising God. God does not hear our singing if we don't sing.
• Why don't we have Sunday School for adults?