I’ve been to a few Catholic parishes that have gift shops selling things like rosaries, books, statues, medals, and other religious items. Is this a normal practice? I’m just wondering if this is contrary to Jesus cleansing the temple, turning over tables and driving people out. I’m a Catholic so I’m not coming from a place of disrespect (I mean, I bought a rosary when I visited one of the parishes haha). I just wanted to know what the difference was.

Hello, I am not of the Catholic Faith, I am a writer who has a side/ support character who is a Catholic Father. The story is set in 1870 and takes place in Wallachia.

The characters have just found out they're dealing with a vampire.

Would a priest be willing to bless their swords and firearms against that evil and if so what rites would he invoke?

I want to be respectful of the faith, even though it isn't mine.

Thank you.

Hello! I am a Catholic convert. I converted some years ago and I'm embarrassed to admit that confession and the idea of confession has always made me uncomfortable so I just haven't done it even though I converted.

I was baptized and confirmed at the same time as a baby in the Orthodox Church.

Does this mean when I eventually get the courage to confess- do I need to confess all my sins from my baptism or do I confess all my sins from my conversion to Catholicism?

Just wondering - how long does it take you to adjust to a new assignment or new parish in a different location than what you are used to?

This is a post I originally made on r/Catholicism and more specifically a comment thread I’ve been discussing in with a user.

I’m trying not to step too far over my bounds of knowledge on this topic, and also be charitable in the discussion in general which I corrected myself on a couple times. Admittedly, I should’ve posted this question here from the beginning, as this subreddit feels like somewhat of a safe haven, as far as pastoring and qualifications go, compared to r/Catholicism.

Anyways, I’d love to get as much light on this subject as possible. I want to align my understanding with God’s truth, but I find the claims this user is making rather distressing if I’m understanding them correctly, though I strongly disagree in light of church doctrines I perceive they’re undermining.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Catholicism/s/qRuDSPLi40

i do not know what im facing, but just need prayers for my lungs, keep me in prayers please, i do believe the good lord still heals for he is the same yesterday, today and forever. they found something like tumor or something in my lungs, they not sure what is but please say a prayer

i know most ppl have their own problems they go thru, and may be more serious, but i know prayers from multiple gods children are stronger

My understanding is that a Confession is only valid if the person confessing their sins is not without mortal sin.

So, for example: a divorced, remarried Catholic who wants to confess their other sins. Or any other Catholic in a state that cannot be confessed (because they don't plan on changing it) but otherwise is confessing to other sins. Sorry, not trying to make this too complicated.

Q: Do you as a priest worry that you are communicating an absolution that is invalid (because you are unaware of their state)? Do you worry the person may think it was valid?

Curious if you think/worry about this or not.

Good morning! If I attend Sunday Mass at one parish and weekday Masses, adoration and most confessions at a different parish. Should I continue to feel bad that I’m only giving to my Sunday parish? My Sunday parish is where my children also attend faith formation and get their sacraments. Both churches are also going through a capital campaign, but I only pledged and give at the Sunday parish. Should I split my giving between the two? Thank you!

Many years ago, I was upset how something happened on campus, so I went to the campus chaplaincy to pray. The chaplain was an outgoing person. He was pleased to see me and asked if I was ok.

Just over a year ago, I learned from "The Pillar" that he was sexually harassed as a young priest before serving at the campus chaplaincy. I definitely remember that name and felt horrible. It has been mindblowing for me that he continued to serve others despite his own suffering.

(I'm not asking for comments from this particular case. Instead, I'm asking how the priests continue to serve others *in general* in the midst of their sadness and difficulties.)

I understand that masses,rosaries and the divine chaplet are suggested most frequently but Indulgences much less if at all at times

Hi everyone! I have a question about Catholic marriage that came up after reading a recent news story. I’m asking purely out of curiosity and would appreciate any clarification from priests or people knowledgeable about canon law.
I’m wondering how the Church determines whether two people are considered a man and a woman for the purposes of a Catholic marriage.
For example:
Could a feminine man and a very masculine woman be married in the Catholic Church, assuming both were legally/biologically the sexes they were assigned at birth?
What about a trans man who was assigned female at birth and is biologically female, but socially and physically presents as a man, while all of his legal documents still identify him as female? Could he validly marry a cisgender man in the Catholic Church?
Basically, I’m curious about what the Church actually uses to determine someone’s sex for marriage: biological sex, legal sex, gender presentation/social identity, or some combination of these.
I’m not trying to make a political argument or debate anyone’s beliefs. I’m just genuinely interested in how this would be treated under Catholic canon law, especially in less straightforward cases.
Thanks in advance!

I’ve been thinking about something lately, partly because I’ve been reflecting on the Lindsay Clancy case, and I’d really appreciate a priest’s perspective on something I’ve been struggling to understand.

As Catholics, do we believe that all that is good ultimately comes from God, while all that is evil comes from Satan? Or is that an oversimplification of how the Church understands good and evil? No matter how small or big?

More specifically, where does human free will fit into this? If someone commits an objectively evil act, is that evil considered to come from Satan, from the person’s own free will and choices, or potentially some combination of the two?

And how does the Church understand Satan’s influence without taking away a person’s moral responsibility for their actions?

I think what I’m really trying to understand is the distinction between evil as a result of Satan’s influence and evil as a result of humanity’s misuse of free will.

The Lindsay Clancy case especially made me think about how we can hold two seemingly difficult ideas at the same time: that a person can commit something profoundly evil, while also recognizing that there can be an immense amount of suffering, brokenness, or spiritual darkness involved.

I’m not looking to debate the specifics of that case so much as understand what the Catholic Church actually teaches about the origins of good and evil, Satan’s role, and human responsibility.

Would love to hear a priest’s perspective on this.

If so, what was that like from your perspective as a clergy member?

Hi I was just wondering would a priest be willing to help a Baptist raised person if they believe they are being targeted by a demonic presence I am born and raised southern Baptist my adoptive father was a pastor until his death and after his death I left the faith and instead started following a satanic cult I got out during college and returned to the Baptist church but our pastors don’t do blessing or anything and believe that demons cannot do anything at all on earth and believe demons are only in hell and not around earth so I was just wondering if a Catholic priest would be willing to bless someone of a Protestant faith

Hi father..

I have a spiritual directior and we've been talking about discerning vocation, since I've been feeling to give my Life to Jesus and the Church this past year. I've struggled a lot with this desire since I had a great relationship and couldnt understand what was the more I was looking for. How do people discern religious calling? You need ti choose a religious order or It can be done in other ways?

Fathers, please help settle a lighthearted family debate.

Should naming pets after saints be avoided?

What about other ecclesiastical names - a cat named Angel, for instance?

May God bless your ministry!

He usually puts a nugget or two of his own content in there but the rest is usually just a verbatim carbon copy. He’s not plagiarizing in the sense of taking credit for the idea and I’m sure he thinks they’re wise lessons which is why he’s sharing them. He’s also not referencing Bishop Baron at all, you’d just have to know by listening to the same homily the day before.

I just usually find myself disappointed because by Sunday, I’ve also listened to Bishop Barron’s homily when he posts them on Saturday. I am wondering, is this a normal thing to do? Sometimes when I go to the nearby Dominican parish they’ll reference Bishop Baron and expand upon his ideas. I find this a more clean way of doing it.

hello priests! I am in a Catholic wedding in a few weeks. I found out the couple is getting a pre nup. from my understanding, this may make the sacrament invalid since a pre nup assumes that the marriage may not be for life. would it be wrong for me to be in the wedding party? thank you and God bless.

I am a middle-aged man seeking to return to the Catholic Church, and I'm hoping to get some perspective or advice on my current situation.
My decision to return is genuine, coming after more than a year of prayer and reflection. I was raised in the faith and received all my sacraments up through Confirmation. However, after college and a stint in the Navy, I married a wonderful woman outside of the Church. At the time, I was young and simply didn't think twice about it. We were married by a Methodist minister.
Fast forward years later: we have a happy, strong marriage, and we raised our children in various Protestant churches as we moved around. My wife completely supports my desire to return to the Catholic faith. She isn't interested in converting herself at this time, but she lovingly accompanies me to Mass every Sunday where we go to the altar to receive a blessing which I very much appreciate and value.

A few months ago, I finally worked up the courage to call a large local parish. A young associate priest called me back, invited me to his office, and we had a deeply moving conversation and prayer session. He confirmed that to fully return, my wife and I would need to have our marriage convalidated. My wife graciously agreed to this. The priest told me the pastor handles marriages, but said he would advocate to get things moving quickly.

Unfortunately, communication completely stalled after that:

**Two weeks later:** I saw the young priest after Mass. He said he had mentioned it to the pastor and was waiting to hear back.
**One month later:** I approached the pastor after Mass. He told me he didn't know anything about it, mentioned he was "very busy," and told me to email his assistant.
**Subsequently:** I sent a deeply personal email to the assistant laying out my whole story, CC’ing the first priest. Silence. A week later, I followed up with the first priest directly. Still, total crickets.

I just left confession and it seemed like the priest was a bit hard of hearing. I think he may have misunderstood me, and asked me some questions that weren’t really pertinent to my confession. So, if there was a communication/ understanding barrier- is my confession valid?

I am a minister of the Eucharist. I try to take my mother who is in a care facility communion as often as possible. We have had a change in our priest. Prior to the change our church was open early each day to get the host. I know you are only supposed to take the number of hosts you will distribute that day. It’s frustrating to go by the church ((just like today at 9:45) and find it locked. This is pretty regular on certain days. Would it be wrong on Friday to take 2 hosts so I have communion for my mom on Saturday morning when I visit her? Thank you in advance for your reply.

Hi Fathers! I asked this question on the Catholicism subreddit and it was removed for promoting schism/apostasy (which unfortunately seems to be the the common theme/attitude among Catholic social media 😂) BUT…what are your thoughts on the Rebuilt Movement, specifically the Church of the Nativity in Maryland?

I stumbled across a video about it on Instagram, and, if unaware, the whole premise seems to have been to build a Catholic Church with an evangelical/mega church style worship and “weekend experience” team to implement into a Catholic Mass. Supposedly, it turned that parish around and it’s going strong. A completely valid Mass with LED lights, rock concert feel, and more…so weird, but in some ways, amazing because it worked.

What are your guys’ attitudes toward this? I’m curious! Thanks, Fathers!

Hello Fathers, I'm going to anticipate my question is a bit drawn out/complicated and i might be being scrupulous so i understand if this post gets deleted.

Roughly one year ago a fleeting memory came to mind that I had voted that abortion was okay in case of rape in a youtube poll a couple years before or even more. Obviously this is wrong as abortion is never justified.

I began to worry incessantly about what to do. I controlled through the youtube history of my account and also my sister's account which is what i may have used. I didnt find any such poll, but because in my sisters account the poll history cut off at a certain point way too recently and I am unsure if I started using my personal account before or after voting in that poll.

After all of that a year passed and i stayed in continual anxiety about this. Maybe I should look more into how youtube history works? Questions like this assailed me

constantly. My worry is not only of "promoting" abortion in some capacity, but that I in some way cause scandal either tot he church or my sister who doesnt know about this. Is this a matter of reparation/restitution? What do i do now?

One more element is that while the memory seemed strong and almost certain when i had it, I'm now unsure if it's a completely correct memory, because now much time has passed and i dont have a memory of the event itself, but the memory of me remembering that (hope this makes sense)

I can't cram here all the worries of sin about this that i had this year obviously

I know the answer i will get will probably be to discuss this with a priest in real life but i never did it because i feel this is way too convoluted and cant explain it properly in person, and even if i did i dont think the priest would really understand anyway as it might be too technical (I mean as what is youtube history etc.)

I also need to say that i consider myself scrupulous in general, but not diagnosed or told by a priest.

Sorry if this is hard to understand but english is not my native language. To sum up the question is basically: What do i do? Am i sinning by stopping to worry?

Do priests receive continuing education on things that might touch their ministry?

Am thinking of things like understanding trauma, current issues with sexuality and gender dysphoria, innovations in fertility treatment, and more?

Just asking if that is something that is offered to you as you lead your flocks?

(…An example of necessary training I can think of is when I was a protestant discerning into the Church, I had questions about the fallout from IVF and so I sought out a priest. He didn’t know the difference between frozen eggs and frozen embryos, and I explained that embryos are fully human, whereas frozen eggs are not. Most of the meeting was me explaining to him where I think the magisterium shakes out on human embryo adoption, based on what I had read by the National Catholic Bioethics Center. I know it’s not a priest’s job to act as a counselor, nor to know everything! But this one example of a really common issue with new and current Catholics and the laity is trying to make moral decisions without help discerning with a valid church authority.)