The Catholic Church and its views and teachings on specific subjects.
4
votes
1answer
101 views
What role does the Vatican play in marriage annulments?
I've heard that every annulment must go through the Vatican in some capacity. Does every annulment get reviewed by some tribunal there or is it just a rubber stamp for the tribunal of the diocese from ...
6
votes
1answer
347 views
Orthodox churches recognized by Catholic Church
Which Orthodox churches are recognized by the Catholic church? Are there any churches older than the split that are not recognized by the Catholic Church and that are still active?
Edit: "recognize" ...
2
votes
2answers
155 views
Seeking a richer Catholic understanding of passion vs intellect as it applies to our first parents
I was tempted to answer this question about freewill and Adam and Eve but I chose not to because all I've got it conjecture and I'm not even sure if it's not borderline heresy on the matter. What I'd ...
2
votes
1answer
374 views
What should a Catholic know about Pilgrims Progress?
I'm listening to the Librivox version of Pilgrims Progress and I like it a lot, I really liked reading Pilgrims Regress which I read before I ever even heard of John Bunyan. So far, in listening to ...
2
votes
1answer
187 views
Variations in the Hail Holy Queen (Salve Regina) prayer
In praying the "Hail Holy Queen" at the end of the Rosary with my Parish, there is a bit strangeness in the terms used.
For one, some people say
Mourning and weeping in this vale of tears
and ...
4
votes
3answers
216 views
Is civil divorce OK for Catholics, are there mitigating circumstances?
This is not a pastoral advice question, I'm happily married. I just really don't know the answer to this question to help a friend, so I guess it's pastoral pastoral advice, but I definitely don't ...
6
votes
2answers
125 views
What's the new rite in Tantum Ergo?
St. Thomas Aquinas' Hymn Tantum Ergo, which is usually sung at Benediction always seems better in Latin:
Et antiquum documentum
Novo cedat ritui:
Mainly because in both the transliterated and ...
5
votes
1answer
162 views
Does ex opere operato apply to infants?
"Ex opere operato" says that a person must have the proper disposition and desire in order to receive graces through sacraments (correct me if I'm over simplifying this).
Does this not apply to ...
10
votes
3answers
424 views
What is the difference between “catholicism” and “catholic”?
In the Apostle's Creed, the term "catholic" is used in describing the reciter's belief:
I believe ... in the holy catholic church
This creed is used by a wide variety of denominations, and ...
8
votes
4answers
815 views
What exactly was the original sin?
I always used to consider the original sin committed by Adam and Eve as eating the forbidden fruit from a particular tree. But recently my husband commented that Adam and Eve had sex with each other ...
1
vote
2answers
936 views
Is there any real significant difference between Protestantism and Catholicism?
I know a lot of people who have very strong views against Catholics and was really starting to wonder, just as the title suggests, other than Catholicism having priests, what differences are there?
11
votes
1answer
202 views
How do the Catholic and Orthodox views of original sin differ?
While reading about original sin, I often read that the Catholic and Orthodox churches disagree on the doctrine of original sin. But as far as I can tell, they both reject the idea that mankind ...
6
votes
1answer
250 views
What is the Catholic view of the rapture?
What is the Catholic view of the rapture? Does the Catholic church accept the idea that people will be caught up in the air to meet Christ? If not, how do they interpret 1 Thessalonians 4:17?
5
votes
1answer
59 views
Who is the oldest Blessed?
Just a question that ought to have a concrete answer and be a good example for how the process of canonization works for my Religious Ed. class:
Who has been declared blessed for the longest period ...
6
votes
1answer
136 views
What is the Biblical basis for the special mediatorial position of the Pope, Cardinals, etc in the Catholic church?
Following-up a previous question, what Biblical basis does the Catholic church claim for the special role of Priests, Cardinals, and Popes in the structure of the church?
13
votes
3answers
894 views
Significance of virgins in the Catholic church
Why are virgins so popular in the Catholic church (specifically in Mexico or Latin America)? Aside from the obvious, virgin Mary, there are "virgins" of practically every major Catholic church ...
8
votes
1answer
201 views
How is 1 Timothy 2:5 interpreted relative to the Mediatrix concept?
The concept of Mediatrix has Virgin Mary in a role of a mediator in the salvation process—at least that's what Wikipedia says:
Mediatrix in Roman Catholic Mariology refers to the role of the ...
2
votes
2answers
136 views
Are funerals a way to reduce the time of the dead in purgatory
I was reading an article on TVTropes and I've found this :
In a way, there's a "Person Needs Prayer Badly" in medieval European Catholicism... in order to go to Heaven (or reduced their time in ...
7
votes
1answer
198 views
What is the Catholic concept of grace?
This question reminded me of a question I've had for a long time: What is the Catholic concept of grace?
A look at the dictionary says:
grace [greys]
noun
favor or goodwill. Synonyms: ...
6
votes
1answer
124 views
What isn't spiritual communion?
Spiritual communion is a prayer one can pray if they can't receive communion at Mass and it's a good prayer to pray if you're making a visit to a tabernacle outside of Mass. Sacramental communion can ...
3
votes
1answer
121 views
What is the basis for the Catholic teaching that abortion is immoral/sinful?
What is the doctrinal basis for the Catholic teaching that abortion is immoral? I understand that these will be based on Scripture, but will likely come from official Catholic documents.
So, I'm ...
5
votes
1answer
714 views
What is the role of the Holy Spirit in the Roman Catholic church?
What is the role of the Holy Spirit in the Roman Catholic church? When I search online, I mostly find stuff about filioque. But I want to know specifically what he does. What is his role? How does he ...
7
votes
2answers
278 views
What is the basis for the Catholic teaching that artificial birth control is immoral/sinful?
I understand that the original commandment to be fruitful and multiply involves reproduction. However, planning to wait a little bit here and there seems reasonable enough.
So, what is the reasoning ...
3
votes
2answers
64 views
Where was Catholic doctrine defined before the Catechism?
Apparently the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) has only existed since 1992.
Was Catholic doctrine clearly defined in a specific set of sources before CCC? What would a priest have referred to ...
9
votes
1answer
242 views
What are indulgences and when and why were they used?
I seem to recall that indulgences had something to do with Roman Catholics doing something to receive forgiveness of sins prior to committing the sins.
So, is that what indulgences were? When did ...
4
votes
2answers
127 views
How do the Catholic and Protestant understandings of “Regula Fidei” differ?
In the Hermeneutics course I am taking, a definition of "Regula Fidei" was posed that seemed different from the way my Catholic acquaintances use the term. How is the term Rule of Faith used ...
7
votes
3answers
327 views
What is the biblical basis for the doctrine of Papal Infallibility taught by the Catholic Church?
I understand that the Catholic Churches teaches the doctrine of Papal Infallibility. What is the biblical basis for this and how does that account for the Scripture that references Peter's error?
...
28
votes
2answers
1k views
When did the prohibition of marriage for priests in the Catholic church originate?
The Bible mentions that one of the miracles Jesus performed was the healing of Peter's mother-in-law. This makes it quite clear that Peter himself was married, and Peter is the considered the first ...
9
votes
1answer
219 views
What is the purpose of minor basilicas?
What is the purpose of minor basilicas? What is the difference between them and a normal cathedral? As far as I can tell its purely ceremonial. If that is true, what aren't all cathedrals designated ...
10
votes
1answer
238 views
What does the Roman Catholic church teach about those who die having never heard of Christ?
What does the Roman Catholic church teach about those who die having never heard of Christ? Is there any possibility of salvation for them?
Related:
What happens to people who have never heard about ...
4
votes
1answer
345 views
According to Catholic doctrine, what effect does the Last Judgment have on those who are already in heaven?
Catholics believe we are judged immediately after we die (Particular Judgement). Some of us will go to heaven. Then there is still the Last Judgement (or Final Judgement). What effect does the Last ...
7
votes
2answers
134 views
What is the relationship between the Catholic churches of various countries?
I currently live in Mexico, where the Catholic church is quite different than the Catholic church I'm accustomed to in the U.S. This is most obvious to me by the hostility often shown by Catholics ...
15
votes
3answers
274 views
What significance, if any, does the doctrine of the eternal virginity of Mary have?
I understand that the Catholic Church (and perhaps the Orthodox church as well) teaches that Mary is "the eternal virgin" Mary.
If this were an important doctrine, it seems there would be fairly ...
18
votes
3answers
454 views
What is the Roman Catholic view on Matthew 23:9?
In Matthew 23:9, Jesus says:
Matthew 23:9 (NIV)
And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.
What is the Roman Catholic view on this? In the Roman ...
4
votes
2answers
90 views
Any dangers for the usage of sacramentals that are not-yet-blessed-by-a-priest?
I just bought a new Rosary, and I haven't asked our priest in the locality to bless it.
Is there any danger when I pray the Rosary (or use of any "not-yet-blessed" sacramental for this matter) using ...
8
votes
1answer
149 views
How is spiritual progress described in eastern monastic traditions?
Catholic church has a long monastic history, and there are excellent exponents of spiritual progress whose concepts are used even today. Take Theresa of Avila's "interior castle" or Juan de la Cruz' ...
6
votes
1answer
118 views
Who do Catholics say the Mary in Matthew 27:56 is?
Roman Catholics believe that Mary the mother of Jesus remained a virgin for her whole life. Mary the mother of Jesus is sometimes seen in the gospels with men referred to as Jesus' brothers, with ...
14
votes
5answers
773 views
What is the Biblical evidence against the perpetual virginity of Mary?
I understand that the Roman Catholic Church teaches that Mary is the eternal virgin in that she never had sexual relations with Joseph (or any other man)--either before or after the miraculous ...
9
votes
2answers
363 views
What is the biblical basis for the Immaculate Conception?
According to Catholic Doctrine, the Immaculate Conception refers to the teaching that Mary's own conception (not that of Jesus) was without the stain of original sin.
What is the biblical basis for ...
13
votes
1answer
188 views
On what do Catholics base their doctrine of the eternal virginity of Mary?
I understand that the Catholic Church teaches that Mary is the eternal virgin in that she neither had sexual relations with Joseph (or any other man) either before or after the miraculous conception ...
7
votes
2answers
230 views
What is the biblical basis for and against the “filioque”?
In order to contextualize the question I add the following quote from the wikipedia article concerning Filioque clause:
Filioque, Latin for "and (from) the Son", is a phrase found in the
form of ...
6
votes
1answer
235 views
Which doctrines are Catholics required to accept?
I only recently figured out that some Catholic doctrines are required for a Catholic to accept, while the denial of others doesn't prevent being a Catholic.
Examples of both cases:
Mark Trapp, in ...
12
votes
3answers
479 views
Do Catholics view atheism as a sin?
Are there any passages in the Holy Bible or any Catholic doctrine saying that it is a sin to be an atheist?
Please, don't refer to me any Biblical assertion where it is stated that you should follow ...
12
votes
1answer
547 views
Are Catholics allowed to read the NIV translation?
I know this is kind of an odd question. However, there is a question that has popped into my mind while considering these quality standards that we've been starting to implement.
My thoughts are ...
6
votes
1answer
85 views
Was “love your enemies” ever included among the evangelical counsels?
In Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin accuses his scholastic opponents of considering the commandment "Love your enemies" to be optional. Specifically, he says that they call it an ...
7
votes
2answers
130 views
How are doxologies formed for common prayers?
I'm not sure of the exact definition, but a doxology seems to be a prayer tagged at the end which consists of some sort of invocation of the Blessed Trinity.
I'm just wondering if the actual words ...
6
votes
1answer
74 views
What is the origin of the account of Lucifer found in Milton's Paradise Lost?
In Paradise Lost, Milton describes how Lucifer rebelled against God and was cast into Hell as a result. I've always wondered about the origin of this account since as far as I know, it's not mentioned ...
7
votes
2answers
73 views
What is the Biblical basis the for Immutable Nature of God?
Dei Filius sayeth this:
God cannot deny himself, nor can truth ever be in opposition to truth. The appearance of this kind of specious contradiction is chiefly due to the fact that either the ...
6
votes
1answer
202 views
What did the Dominicans have against the immaculate conception?
I was readIng an ad for a movie about blessed Duns Scotus which said he was debated and won against the Dominicans in the 13th century about the special privilege given to Mary, her Immaculate ...
9
votes
2answers
601 views
How are Catholic priests chosen and assigned to specific parishes?
I know that a certain amount of education is necessary before men can be ordained as a Catholic priest. But are all men that received the necessary education ordained as priests? If not, what is the ...
