Father Shane Tharp recently presented the second session of “Answers to Catholic Questions”. His presentation covered an in-depth discussion on questions concerning the Bible and a “lightning round” that provided quick solutions to a variety of questions. The answers also include the reference from which the answer came.
The following text comes from the questions covered at the lightning round session and his answers. In most cases he cites references from The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) followed by the passage which identifies the teaching. In other instances, the reference is identified by name, (e.g. General Instruction of the Roman Missal).
As you will see, Father Tharp covers many questions in his lightning round. If this type of activity is something you feel you can benefit from be sure to attend future sessions of Catholic Answers. Watch the bulletin for dates and further information.
Question 1: Does the “Immaculate Conception” refer to Mary’s being born free of Original Sin or the conception of our Lord in her womb by the Holy Spirit?
Question 2: Was St. Joseph born without Original Sin?
Question 3: Why do some people hold hands during the “Our Father” and others do not?
Question 4: Why do priests wear a silver ring on their left hand?
Question 5: Why do Catholics worship Mary?
Question 6: Jesus told St. Faustina that everything is God’s will. If this is so, why is there so much evil in the world?
Question 7: Is it a sin to kill someone in self-defense?
Question 8: Is it a sin to leave the Catholic Church even if you practice another religion?
Question 9: Is it normal to question your faith?
Answer 1: The Dogma of the Immaculate Conception concerns Mary’s being conceived without Original Sin. The Conception of Jesus in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary is known as the Virgin Birth. Pope Pius IX stated (1854): “The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by the singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of Original Sin.” Ineffabilis Deus
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Answer 2: No, the Church does not teach that St. Joseph was conceived without Original Sin. However, the Church holds the Foster Father of our Lord in high esteem following the witness of the Gospel of this “just man”. According to the Catholic Encyclopedia: “This praise [St. Joseph as a “just man”] bestowed by the Holy Ghost, and the privilege of having been chosen by God to be the foster-father of Jesus and the spouse of the Virgin Mother, are the foundations of the honor paid to St. Joseph by the Church.
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Answer 3: There could be several reasons: could be the cold and flu Season, they are not accustomed to the gesture or perhaps they are “touch adverse.” The best reason to not hold hands during the Our Father is that it is not a part of the Roman Rite. The purpose of Liturgy is to render worship and praise to the Almighty Father, through the Son, in the Power of the Holy Spirit. The gestures and language of the liturgy should convey the truths of the Faith. According to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal, there is no gesture given for the faithful. However, there is a direction for the priest: “After the Eucharistic Prayer is concluded, the priest, with hands joined, says the introduction to the Lord’s Prayer. With hands extended, he then says this prayer together with the people” (GIRM 2000 #152).
“If no gesture is given, can’t we do whatever we want?” The motive for holding hands during the Our Father is this “feeling” of unity. What is the true source of our unity? The Holy Eucharist! The Liturgy of the Church is first and foremost, divine worship – it is given by God, to be administered by the Magisterium, for the good of the Church universal.
1. Regulation of the sacred liturgy depends solely on the authority of the Church, that is, on the Apostolic See and, as laws may determine, on the bishop.
2. In virtue of power conceded by the law, the regulation of the liturgy within certain defined limits belongs also to various kinds of competent territorial bodies of bishops legitimately established.
3. Therefore no other person, even if a priest, may add, remove, or change anything in the liturgy on his own authority (SC # 22).
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Answer 4: We don’t! There is no obligation stated for priests to wear a “wedding band.”
“Clerics are to follow a simple way of life and avoid anything which smacks of worldliness” CIC 282:1. Father Tharp adds, “I do have a ‘wedding ring’ proper to my state – my clerical attire. It is stated in CIC 284 that “Clerics are to wear suitable ecclesiastical dress, in accordance with the norms established by the Bishops’ Conference and legitimate local custom.”
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Answer 5: We Don’t! To God alone is worship and adoration owed. “To adore God is to acknowledge, in respect and absolute submission, the “nothingness of the creature” who would not exist but for God. To adore God is to praise and exalt him and to humble oneself, as Mary did in the Magnificat, confessing with gratitude that he has done great things and holy is his name. The worship of the one God sets man free from turning in on himself, from the slavery of sin and the idolatry of the world” (CCC #2097).
Rather, Catholics honor and venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary according to the mandate of the Gospels. “For he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold henceforth all generations will call me blessed” (Luke 1:48). “The Church rightly honors ‘the Blessed Virgin with special devotion . . . This very special devotion . . . differs essentially from the adoration which is given to the incarnate Word and equally to the Father and the Holy Spirit, and greatly fosters this devotion” ( CCC #971).
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Answer 6: When speaking of God’s will, there are two senses: His Active Will and His Permissive Will. Active Will relates to the good which God actively brings into existence. Examples of include Creation, Redemption, the Ten Commandments / Moral Life, and others.
God’s Permissive Will relates to the evil, which God allows so that He can bring Good from it. We can’t make evil into Good. Only God can. Examples of Permissive Will include the Era of the Judges, the Exile from the Land, and the Crucifixion. The presence of evil in the world is not so much an indictment of God as much as it is an indictment of us. Free will is for choosing the authentic good, rather than just anything we want.
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Answer 7: No. Self-defense is a proper, legitimate act. However, the intention must be clearly set toward “defending myself and others” rather than “smoking the dude.”
“The legitimate defense of persons and societies is not an exception to the prohibition against the murder of the innocent that constitutes intentional killing. ‘The act of self-defense can have a double effect: the preservation of one’s own life; and the killing of the aggressor…The first is intended, the other is not’” (CCC #2263).
“Love toward oneself remains a fundamental principle of morality. Therefore, it is legitimate to insist on respect for one’s own right to life. Someone who defends his life is not guilty of murder even if he is forced to deal his aggressor a lethal blow…” (CCC #2264). “Legitimate defense can be not only a right but a grave duty for one who is responsible for the lives of others. The defense of the common good requires that an unjust aggressor be rendered unable to cause harm.” (CCC #2265).
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Answer 8: Yes, it is with the usual understanding of sin. Not all religions are equal. It Galatians 1:6-7, Paul writes “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you a different gospel – not that there is another gospel, but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ”.
But wait, here is the real punch-line: “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8). Religious practice is an act of your conscience and conscience must be properly formed. It is “a judgment of reason whereby the human person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act that he is going to perform, is in the process of performing, or has already completed” (CCC #1778)
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Answer 9: Yes! Questions are the pathway to greater understanding. Questions do not equate to doubt. “Voluntary doubt about the faith disregards or refuses to hold as true what God has revealed and the Church proposes for belief. Involuntary doubt refers to hesitation in believing, difficulty in overcoming objections connected with the faith, or also anxiety aroused by its obscurity. If deliberately cultivated, doubt can lead to spiritual blindness” (CCC #2088).
Two species of the sin of doubt exist: Incredulity, which is the neglect of revealed truth or willful refusal to assent to it and Heresy, the obstinate post-baptismal denial of a dogma; obstinate doubt related to same (CCC #2089).
Questions are a responsibility. If you have a question, you need to find the answer. The best two essential resources are the Holy Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
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