I have read that some Catholic religious orders enslaved people. How did the Church respond to slavery? The Church, like most American institutions that existed in the antebellum period (the years in American history after the War of 1812 but before the Civil War in 1861), was a participant in …

What is the difference between the moral teachings of the Christian Bible and the Quran? In recent years, especially as the number of Muslims has increased in the U.S., there have been more discussions about the differences between Islam and Christianity, including their sacred writings. Both the Bible and Quran …

Is it true that the Church destroyed other gospels besides the four Gospels? In the early Christian world, there were many writings about Jesus and the apostles—not just the four canonical Gospels and other writings that became part of the New Testament. Additional related writings from this time that the …

What is the role of parish councils? I understand that some councils are being reorganized due to Beacons of Light. How will the new councils function? The Church recognizes the lay faithful’s vital role in assisting with their parishes’ governance, including participation in pastoral councils. This is one of many …

What are the origins of the Stations of the Cross? When were they first placed in churches? The Stations of the Cross, also known as the Way of the Cross and the Via Crucis, is a Christian devotional practice that commemorates the events of Good Friday, specifically Jesus’ journey from …

Why can’t non-Catholics receive Holy Communion in Catholic churches? The Catholic Church ordinarily does not admit non-Catholics to Holy Communion. This practice can be especially difficult for those with close family members who are non-Catholic, especially spouses, children or siblings. This limitation on who is invited to receive Communion does …

When a person is diagnosed with a serious disease, do they have an obligation to treat it? According to the Catholic understanding of the human person, each person is obligated to use ordinary means to preserve their health, including medications, surgery and other procedures to address serious illness. This does …

Dear Father: I have a question regarding godparents. It seems mandatory that a godparent be a Catholic. I could have a Catholic be a godparent and move three years after the baptism to another state. The child would only rarely see them, possibly only on holidays. I could ask a non-catholic …

How is it decided what is the proper age for receiving Holy Communion and Confirmation? Why do some parishes offer the sacraments at different ages? The age considered proper for sacramental reception has changed over time. In the early Church, the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion) were …

What does it mean to say the pope is infallible? Can any human truly be infallible? The doctrine of papal infallibility is rooted in the belief that the pope, as the Bishop of Rome and the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church, has been given a unique role by Jesus …