Catholic Answers Live - Ask a Priest

Need to ask a priest? Fr. Meconi is here to answer.

Questions Covered:

• 04:10 - Why is the principle of first fruit giving not taught in the Catholic Church? 
• 07:06 - Which of the apocryphal writings are worth reading and learning from, and which ones should we forego reading? 
• 11:46 - I am interested in becoming a priest. How does that work? How much freedom does one have in deciding one’s role in the Church? 
• 13:46 - Is it permissible for a layperson to serve as a subdeacon if he is not on his way to Holy Orders? 
• 15:13 - My brother convinced his girlfriend to get an abortion a few years ago and he just confided this in me. I am having trouble not being angry and forgiving him for it. What can I do? 
• 17:30 - Why haven’t the clergy been teaching the laity? There doesn’t seem to be enough education or catechism for lay people. 
• 23:11 - Why are certain elements of the Levitical priesthood retained in the Catholic Mass and priesthood while other Old Testament laws are completely done away with by Jesus? 
• 28:44 - Why is Matthew 17:21 not included in so many Bibles? 
• 33:05 - How can I convince someone that Christ is God? They asked me why he would call himself Son of God if he is God. 
• 35:15 - How does our post-modern society, which doesn’t believe in real love, compare with the early pagan societies of Jesus’ time? 
• 40:32 - Is a person who has an eating disorder in a state of mortal sin every time they misuse food or their body? 
• 41:14 - Is it okay to date after a divorce? 
• 42:57 - Is it okay to make a spiritual communion in Mass when you’re not in a state of grace and so can’t receive? 
• 44:06 - I lost my brother to suicide. He struggled with diabolical things. Is my brother lost, according to Catholic teaching? 
• 49:35 - I am a born-again Christian but not yet a Catholic. If I die, will I not be saved? 
• 51:27 - My daughter has chosen a different sexual orientation. How can I talk to her about the truth of this? It is causing a lot of anger and frustration in our home. 

Resources Mentioned:

 

• When a Loved One Dies by Suicide by various authors