Catholic Replies
Q. First, thank you for your “Special Course on Catholicism and Reason.” Second, I recall many years ago that a priest had written a book for priests to use incorporating the entire Catechism of the Catholic Church into their Sunday homilies over the three-year scriptural readings cycle. His work followed the rule to give a homily on the Scriptures each Sunday, while relating the corresponding relevant teachings in the CCC to those readings. I think that the laity are extremely lacking in an understanding of the Catechism, and this book would be an invaluable tool for helping to evangelize our Catholic faithful. But I cannot remember the name of the priest or the title of the book. Can you help? — K.R.P., Colorado.
A. The only book that we could find was Doctrinal Sermons on the Catechism of the Catholic Church by Kenneth Baker, SJ. Unfortunately, however, the book does not seem to be in print any longer. Perhaps some publisher would consider reprinting Fr. Baker’s book.
Q. How can I respond to people who say that Jesus would not be against “gay marriage” since He so often told us to love one another and would not be opposed to those of the same sex who say that they really love each other? — M.W., via e-mail.
A. There is probably not much that you can say if these people really think that God now approves of a relationship that contradicts His divine establishment of marriage as the fruitful union of one man and one woman. To Jesus, love does not mean doing whatever we want, but rather doing what is right. His kind of love is a sacrificial love that always puts the other person first, as when He put our salvation ahead of His own well-being when He suffered so terribly for us on the cross. The love of Jesus is always identical with the truth, said Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger in his 1991 book The Yes of Jesus Christ. The future Pope Benedict XVI went on to say (pp. 94-97):
“A Jesus who is in agreement with everybody and anybody, a Jesus without his holy wrath, without the toughness of the truth and of true love, is not the true Jesus as Scripture shows him but a miserable caricature. A presentation of the ‘gospel’ in which the seriousness of God’s wrath no longer exists has nothing to do with the biblical gospel. True forgiveness is something other than weakly letting things be. Forgiveness is exacting and makes demands on both the person who forgives and the person who receives forgiveness in that person’s whole being. A Jesus who approves of everything is a Jesus without the cross, because the tribulation of the cross would not then be needed to bring men and women salvation.
“In fact, to a noticeable extent the cross is being interpreted out of theology and its meaning changed so as to become merely an unpleasant accident or a purely political affair. The cross as atonement, the cross as a way of forgiving and redeeming, does not fit into a certain modern pattern of thought. . . . Forgiveness has to do with truth, and for that reason it requires the cross of the Son and it requires our conversion.”
The future Pope also said that “a pastoral practice of appeasement, of ‘understanding everything and forgiving everything’ (in the superficial sense of this phrase), stands in glaring contrast to the biblical evidence. The correct pastoral practice leads to the truth, arouses love for the truth, and helps people to accept the pain of the truth. It must itself be a form of accompanying people on the difficult but beautiful way into new life that is also the way to true and lasting joy.”
Q. Shortly following the “great wreckovation” of our churches after Vatican II, statues were removed from the churches and replaced sometimes with grim figures often suspended from cables. The most prominent of these are renderings of the Risen Christ. Were these changes ever authorized? — M.R.S., Michigan.
A. No. The only authorization was to show restraint in the number and prominence of these images, not to remove them entirely or to replace them with grotesque substitutes. The current Code of Canon Law (n. 1188) says that “the practice of displaying sacred images in churches for the reverence of the faithful is to remain in effect. Nevertheless, they are to be exhibited in moderate number and in suitable order so that the Christian people are not confused, nor occasion given for inappropriate devotion.”
The General Instruction of the Roman Missal (n. 318) gives a longer explanation:
“Images of the Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the saints, in accordance with the Church’s most ancient tradition, should be displayed for veneration by the faithful in sacred buildings and should be arranged so as to usher the faithful toward the mysteries of faith celebrated there. For this reason, care should be taken that their number not be increased indiscriminately and that they be arranged in proper order so as not to distract the faithful’s attention from the celebration itself.
“There should be only one image of any given saint. Generally speaking, in the ornamentation and arrangement of a church as far as images are concerned, provision should be made for the devotion of the entire community, as well as for the beauty and dignity of the images.”
Q. During a recent Mass, the deacon walked side by side with the priest at the beginning of Mass. Is this permissible? Second, when did it become permissible for an extraordinary minister of Communion (EM) to go to the tabernacle and take out the Hosts? I thought only the priest could do thar. — R.L.W., North Carolina.
A. According to the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (n. 172): “Carrying the Book of the Gospels slightly elevated, the Deacon precedes the Priest as he approaches the altar or else walks at the Priest’s side.” The role of the deacon includes ministering at the altar with the chalice and the book, proclaiming the Gospel, giving the homily at the priest’s direction, announcing the Prayers of the Faithful, distributing Communion, and purifying the sacred vessels.
Second, usually it is the priest, or deacon, who goes to the tabernacle before and after Communion, and we have not seen anything in the Church’s liturgical rules about an EM carrying out this function. However, it may not be impermissible since EMs are allowed to expose and repose the Blessed Sacrament for Eucharistic Adoration, but not to give the faithful a blessing with the Sacrament.
Here are the words of the document Holy Communion and the Worship of the Eucharist Outside Mass:
“Such ministers may open the tabernacle and also, if suitable, place the ciborium on the altar or place the Host in the monstrance. At the end of the period of adoration, they replace the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle. It is not lawful, however, for them to give a blessing with the Sacrament” (q. 15).
Q. Does Satan have the ability to create? For example, the plants from which come illicit drugs, such as opium, marijuana, and cocaine. — J.B., Pennsylvania.
A. No, there is only one Creator, God, and Satan is a creature who was created as a good angel, but who chose to rebel against God and became a devil. So, too, the plants you referenced can be put to good use, but also can be used for evil purposes. They were not created by Satan, but he and his minions have corrupted humans into misusing them for profit and for the moral and physical destruction of others.
