Neela Kale is a writer and catechetical minister based in the Archdiocese of Portland. She served with the Incarnate Word Missionaries in Mexico and earned a Master of Divinity at the Jesuit School of Theology. Some of her best theological reflection happens on two wheels as she rides her bike around the hills of western Oregon.

	May 3rd, 2012 Do Catholics believe in hexes and jinxes? The word “hex”, meaning a spell or curse, derives from a German word for practicing sorcery; the word “jinx”, meaning something that brings bad luck, may derive from the Latin name of a bird used ...
	April 26th, 2012 As a sports fan, is it a sin to root against another team – for example, to hope a kicker shanks a last-second field goal? It is always better to root for someone than to root against someone. What you really hope for is your team’s success, not the opponent’s failure, even though the latter is a necessary consequence of ...
	April 19th, 2012 My pet is dying but I don’t really believe in euthanasia for pets. Is it morally objectionable to let her suffer in her old age? Suffering and death are part of life, for humans and animals alike. We strive to eliminate unnecessary suffering brought about by cruelty and sin. But there is no such thing as a life without suffering, ...
	April 12th, 2012 Do I have to serve the needs of the poor as a Catholic? In a word, yes. Our whole moral law rests on the great commandment given to us by Jesus: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul and with ...
	April 5th, 2012 If I’m poor, can I drive to work with an expired registration and risk not getting caught? Question: If I’m poor, can I drive to work with an expired registration and risk not getting caught? Or am I morally bound to renew it as a Catholic? Being poor does not give you ...
	March 29th, 2012 Can I be a participant on a reality show like Jersey Shore as a Catholic? No matter what your profession, you can’t leave your moral obligations at the door when you report for work. You have to strive to do what is right, whether no one ever sees you or ...
	March 22nd, 2012 Is it a sin to watch raunchy reality shows like “The Bachelorette”? The image of marriage in popular culture, as presented on "The Bachelorette," is a serious distortion of the real meaning of marriage, as understood in the Catholic tradition. Both involve two people expressing love for ...
	March 15th, 2012 Am I bound to tell my sister that her fiancé was debaucherous at his bachelor party? Did your future brother-in-law do something silly and harmless, or was it inappropriate enough that you have concerns for your sister’s well-being? If his behavior reveals a pattern of disrespect for himself, for your sister, ...
	March 8th, 2012 Is it against Church teaching for me to be a Mason? The Masons are a worldwide fraternal organization which originated in 18th century Europe. Membership includes ritual practice, charitable activity and adherence to a moral code; members seek to develop a broader sense of the self ...
	February 23rd, 2012 Do I Have to Turn In a Student I Caught Cheating? Question: If I caught a student cheating, but he’d lose a scholarship to a good college if I turn him in, should I look the other way? He is poor and from the inner city. This is ...
	February 22nd, 2012 What resources exist to help me vote as a Catholic beyond the USCCB’s Faithful Citizenship? If you’re already familiar with the US Bishops’ document Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, you’re off to a good start. This document, reissued in 2011 in anticipation of the presidential election cycle, helps Catholics discern ...
	February 16th, 2012 Can Catholics join the Tea Party? As Catholics participating in civic life we have the responsibility to inform ourselves about candidates and issues and to form ourselves with the teaching of the Church, rather than blindly (or lazily) following any kind ...
	February 9th, 2012 What does the Church teach about homosexuality? The Catholic Church's teaching on all aspects of human sexuality is derived from our belief that God created human beings, male and female, out of love, and gave us a special vocation to love and ...
	December 22nd, 2011 Can you tell me about Christmas traditions from the Philippines? One beautiful Christmas tradition in the Philippines is the novena known as Simbang Gabi, from Tagalog words meaning “night worship” (sometimes translated as “misa de gallo” or “mass of the rooster” because of the early ...
	November 24th, 2011 Why do engaged couples have to do marriage preparation? Marriage in the Catholic Church is different from civil marriage. It is no mere legal contract, easily made and easily broken; rather, it is a covenantal relationship in which a man and woman commit ...
	November 17th, 2011 Should I offer a small offering of money to my pastor for doing my wedding on top of the church fees? Fees for a wedding ceremony go directly to the parish and are generally applied to administrative expenses: church upkeep and utilities, staff time and paperwork. The pastor receives a salary from the parish; weddings ...
	November 10th, 2011 Is it appropriate to invite my priest to my wedding reception? If you’re planning a Catholic wedding, then you and your fiancé have been working closely with your priest throughout the preparation process. He has probably met with you many times, helped you to arrange ...
	November 3rd, 2011 What is appropriate attire for priests when they are “off-duty”? Priests should dress tastefully and modestly, just as we all should, whether they are “on” or “off” duty. But, except for members of some religious orders that wear habits, they don’t have to follow any ...
	October 27th, 2011 My mother wants my crazy aunt to sing at my wedding.  Auntie can’t sing but she thinks she can.  How should I decline the offer without making waves? If your only disagreement with your family about your wedding has to do with your aunt’s voice, you’re probably ahead of the game. But in the interest of family harmony, rather than reminding your ...
	October 20th, 2011 Are seminarians supposed to wear something distinctive so women will know they are unavailable? Although Roman collars, habits and wedding rings are widely recognizable signs of the wearer’s life commitment, these visual markers are customs, not requirements (except in the case of some religious orders that do require the ...