Holding hands during the Our Father seems to have emerged from AA meetings, where it remains a common practice today writes Msgr. Charles Pope in this week’s Pastoral Answers. That’s why it was associated with ...
Scour the pages of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and you won’t find the term “time machine.” Watch, or re-watch, the 1985 blockbuster movie “Back to the Future” and you won’t spot a scene ...
When it comes to the Sacrament of Confession, Church law trumps that of the state. Regardless of the passage of any governmental legislation, breaking the seal of confession is simply not an option for a ...
In the light of "a worrying negative prejudice" against the Catholic Church, Pope Francis ordered the publication of a document affirming the absolute secrecy of everything said in confession and calling on priests to defend ...
In rare cases, priests can withhold absolution from the penitent if they refuse to cease immoral acts
When Catholic clergy, penitents, theologians and canon lawyers look at the wording in a California state bill that would compel a priest to reveal what's heard during confession if there is a suspicion of child ...
Church officials are urging Catholics to continue to oppose a California bill that would force priests to disclose information about child sexual abuse that they hear in the sacrament of confession.
In this week's In Focus, Russel Shaw writes, Regardless of his personality or character, his virtue or personal courage, virtually any Catholic priest would rather go to jail than betray a penitent who comes to ...
Chilean bishops said that while they support legislation requiring priests and religious authorities to report crimes, they also fear that an update to the country's current law would force clergy to break the sacramental seal ...
Question: When we go to confession, the priest usually gives a penance of saying prayers such as the Our Father or Hail Mary. Why should saying such beautiful and moving prayers be a penance? We ...
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