The internet has created a new minefield for marriages and relationships. People who would never think of visiting an adult shop or ordering pay-per-view suddenly find these temptations only a click away in the comfort of their own homes, and thus the consumption of pornography has skyrocketed. Many spouses and partners experience pornography use as infidelity, and it takes a subsequent toll on relationships. Right now you may feel devastated, and rightly so. It’s important (though extremely difficult) for the non-offending spouse to recognize that it is not about you. You didn’t make your husband do this, and if he really does have a problem, only he can own up to it and resolve to change. The reasons that…

Before I answer this question directly, it should be noted that forgiveness does not give assent to the horrible actions committed by another. Forgiveness allows us to heal from harms done to us by moving forward and not allowing this pain to continue to control our lives.

First, let’s look at the broader context of the Mary/Joseph relationship. Church tradition maintains that Mary was a virgin at the time of the conception of Jesus, and that she remained a virgin her entire life, never having sex with Joseph. This belief is reflected in numerous early Church writings and can be found in the apocryphal Protoevangelium of James, as well as in the writings of Church fathers like Augustine.
So if Mary and Joseph never had sex, did they ever even kiss? It’s a great question, but the teaching of the Church doesn’t get that specific. Some Catholics might interpret Mary’s perpetual virginity to mean that they probably avoided kissing altogether, while other Catholics might argue…

What’s the Apocrypha and why is it part of some Bibles and not others?
The Apocrypha is the set of 15 books generally placed between the Old and New Testaments that is included in Catholic but not Protestant bibles. The set includes the books of Tobit, Judith, The Wisdom of Solomon, Ecclesiasticus, Baruch, 1 Maccabees, 2 Maccabees, and portions or additions of other books in the Old Testament. None of these apocryphal books were a part of the original Hebrew scriptures (what we generally call the Old Testament). However, they were written in Greek and were included in early Greek versions of the Jewish scriptures.
Hundreds of years ago Protestants decided that since they weren’t a part of the Hebrew scriptures…

Question: I have a sister who recently converted to Mormonism. I have heard several different things about it and most things are not good. What is the church’s official stance on the matter and how do I approach the matter?
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon) is not considered an orthodox Christian church by the Catholic Church or by other mainline Protestant churches. This is largely due to it’s addition of new scriptural books such as the Book of Mormon, The Pearl of Great Price, and the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and certain ways that it has changed the traditional understanding of the Trinity as three persons in one God. The Latter Day Saints have an active missionary program…

From a legal standpoint, your husband can express his desire to be cremated in a will or cremation directive. As his next of kin, you will then have the task of honoring his wishes. Thus, regardless of what your daughter thinks, you can go ahead with plans to have your husband cremated. The moral issue here is different. Upon your husband’s death, your daughter will also be grieving. Death can shatter our security and expose old wounds, but it can also offer opportunities to strengthen ties and bring families together. Whether your daughter has had a good or bad relationship with you and your husband, his death may prompt her to reexamine that bond and draw closer. Though it is a difficult time for you, see if you can…

Though it’s an intriguing idea, the Scriptures don’t give any evidence to support the theory that the shepherds later became disciples. Remember that about thirty years passed between their encounter with the infant Jesus and the beginning of his ministry, so it’s unlikely that the shepherds would be around for both events.
There’s also the issue of geographical distance; the shepherds were from Bethlehem, but the Holy Family settled in Nazareth. This makes it unlikely that the shepherds continued to be a part of Mary and Joseph’s life after their memorable meeting on the occasion of Jesus’ birth.…

What translation of the Bible should I be reading? There are a lot to choose from — which one is the best?

If you want to sit down specifically to pray and meditate on scripture, I recommend you use whatever translation you have on hand that is familiar, comforting, and appealing to you. If you love…

Jesus appears often in the Qur’an (in a total of 93 verses scattered throughout 15 suras or chapters), but with significant differences. The Qur’an refers to him as the “messiah,” but the word has a different theological import than in Christian thought. In Muslim understanding, Jesus was not more than a creature, a human being. He is not divine. He did not die on the cross (it was a look-alike, possibly Simon of Cyrene or an apostle) nor rise from the dead. The Qur’an seems to indicate that God caused him to ascend after his apparent death. Tradition has it that he will return at the end of time to usher in an age of justice and, after 40 years, will die and be buried in Medina with Muhammad, then rise in the general…

Stand in front of a mirror and ask yourself: Can I look myself in the eye, knowing that I made it to graduation not because of what I learned but because I cheated? Does my diploma represent my real achievement, since I paid a bribe to complete a class?
That was hard to do, wasn’t it?
Both you and your teacher made poor choices, but two wrongs do not make a right (or, in the language of Catholic moral theology, one cannot do evil that good may come of it.) Now you both have an opportunity to change direction. Tell the instructor that you will admit to cheating and accept the consequences, even if that means delayed graduation. Your school’s disciplinary proceedings will probably give you a chance to explain what you learned…

No. The Gospel of Luke tells the story of two disciples who encounter the risen Jesus on their way from Jerusalem to Emmaus. We know the name of one of the disciples (Cleopas), while the other is unnamed. There’s no reason to believe that it was Mary, though, who would be unlikely to be making such a journey in the first place and who would surely have been identified by name if she had, given the prominence that she has elsewhere in Luke’s Gospel.…

Can you give me a brief description of how marriage prep works in the following situations where a Catholic is marrying a non-Christian? For example,

a)  Catholic marrying a Jew
b)  Catholic marrying a Muslim
c)  Catholic marrying a Buddhist

What rituals can be performed for the wedding that encompasses both faiths but still be valid in the eyes of the Catholic church?

The marriage preparation process is usually at the discretion of the pastor of the parish in which the Catholic is a member. Sometimes the diocese has programs like Pre-Cana or Engagement Encounter in place for couples from all the parishes. Whether participation in such programs is required may vary from place to place. 
The process will…

Question: I caught two students drinking in a dry dorm. I decided not to report them for a first offense and I confiscated their beer. Am I now free to drink it myself? I am over 21.
If you’re the resident assistant in the dorm, then doubtless you know the policies on violations and what the consequences are. Maybe you’re allowed to use your discretion when it’s a first offense — talk that out with the hall advisor. In any case, you’ve put yourself in a predicament. Think about the temptation you’ve created for yourself: a potential source of free beer. What if you catch these same students again, and even though it’s a second offense you decide to be lenient? Free beer! What if word gets around that you…

The Church of our day refuses to claim that someone is in Hell — even if their last act was to kill themselves. Yes, it is always intrinsically evil to aim at the death of an innocent person, and this includes one’s self. But especially in this context, “intrinsically” does not mean “very.” Determining the level of guilt in another person (aside from being something only God can do) is always different from determining whether what they did was morally wrong. Suicide is almost always driven by powerful forces which are beyond the control of the person — especially when it involves mental illness. It is always wrong in the abstract, but the person who does it is often not blameworthy.
This question…

There is not a specific place where a manger scene should be placed. The only guideline is that the Manger Scene should not be placed directly in front of the altar (off to either side of the Altar would be fine). However, if the Church is exceptionally small and the manger can only fit in front of the altar, an exception can be made.…

Did Mary tell the apostles anything in the upper room?
Luke, the author of Acts of the Apostles, doesn’t mention any conversations between Mary and the apostles as they wait in the upper room. He specifically mentions her presence in 1:14, but aside from that, we don’t know anything about what they may have discussed as they waited.
It seems likely that Mary would have been treated with respect by the apostles. As the mother of Jesus, she would have been a terrific source of information about his early life if they wanted to know more. But all this is speculation, given that the Scriptures don’t give any record of their conversations.…

This is where a good study Bible or biblical commentary comes in handy. In the last century biblical scholars have been trying to parse out historical facts from the extensive literature included in the Bible. They have been studying the literary genres to give them more clues about what sections or books were never intended to be read as scientific data, for example, the creation stories in Genesis. In their study and archeological findings, scholars have found others sources that corroborate some historical facts, such as the Israelite monarchy before the Babylonian exile.
But this kind of background knowledge isn’t common to many readers of the Bible, so reading the introductory sections in The Catholic…

While celebrating birthdays can boost staff morale and provide a bit of a break for everyone, it can also easily get out of hand. Even in the best work environments, office politics quickly get mixed in. How much do we spend? Do we spend more on the boss? Who has to organize? Who organizes for the organizer? Talk to your supervisor or the human resources manager about your concerns. He or she can raise the issue at an appropriate time, without naming names, and help your staff develop a policy on these kinds of celebrations. Yet sometimes these extras are part of the cost of doing business, even though you’re not bound to participate. If it will help keep the peace — especially if your staff is small and everyone…

What do other Christians believe about Mary (Baptists, Episcopalians, Lutherans, etc.)?

Christians believe that Mary was chosen by God to be the mother of Christ. In general, however, Mary plays a much less significant role in Protestant faiths than in Catholicism. In post-Reformation Europe, Protestants viewed Catholic devotion to Mary as excessive and non-Biblical. For many, that feeling has persisted over the centuries.

Though it’s hard to generalize, certain Catholic beliefs about Mary are rejected by most Protestants. These teachings include the Immaculate Conception (the belief that Mary was conceived without original sin), the Assumption, Mary’s perpetual virginity, and the role of…

While the Deacon has the responsibility in the Mass to do some proclamations, (for instance, he says, “Let us give each other of sign of that peace,” or “The Mass is ended…”) the proclamation “Let us proclaim the Mystery of Faith” is in the Eucharistic Prayer. The priest should be the only voice heard throughout the Eucharistic prayer.…