Burning Questions about Catholicism: Theology Q&A on CuriousCat

Last updated on: December 28, 2018 at 11:36 am by Fr. Matthew P. Schneider, LC

Burning Questions about Catholicism: Theology Q&A on CuriousCat 2018-12-28T11:36:52-05:00 Fr. Matthew P. Schneider, LC

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

(Photo: CC0 Aziz Acharki on Unsplash; logo: fair use)

People have asked me a bunch of theological questions online. I collected the best on my CuriousCat recently and am posting them here as a Q&A. This is the third in a series: the other two have been on prayer but this is theology. Hopefully, you enjoy these theological questions on laicization or defrocking, free will, fate, the death penalty, papal infallibility, Hell and Isalm.

I hear talk about “laicization” or “defrocking” of priests. Practically, what does this look like? Is priesthood an indelible mark or can one actually take away a priest’s ability to celebrate sacraments?

Laicization or defrocking of priests means that they are removed from the clerical state and lose the permission to celebrate the sacraments (unless someone asks for confession on their deathbed).

This does not affect that they are priests and could still validly – although completely illicitly and contrary to morals – celebrate the sacraments.

Sometimes priests ask for this when they don’t want to act as priests and sometimes it is forced upon them when they have done something seriously wrong as a priest.

Does fate exist? If so, do we have free will?

God foresees all that is to happen but he doesn’t cause it. Just because God knows what we’ll choose, doesn’t mean he causes it. The best analogy I’ve heard is that time is like a parade going on in a valley: all of us are part of are spectators right there who can only see a small bit but God is up on the mountaintop & can see the whole parade at once. This isn’t a perfect analogy but I hope it helps.

I’ve read your recent posts on the death penalty. In an online discussion that I’ve had, several people insist that the church’s ordinary magisterium has always taught infallibly that the death penalty is acceptable. Is this accurate?

There is a distinction between affirming someone or some organization has a power and affirming it can be morally exercised. The recent change in the catechism did not say states didn’t have the power, only in present circumstances, there was no moral time it could be exercised.

I explain this more in this article: see the section “Permission to a Power.” http://www.patheos.com/blogs/throughcatholiclenses/2018/08/capital-punishment-francis-the-tradition-are-both-right/

From whence does the Bishop of Rome derive his special charisms (e.g., infallibility when speaking ex-cathedra)? He didn’t get them by receiving a sacrament since he had already been ordained a bishop and received the charisms associated with that the sacrament of holy orders. The Papal election isn’t a sacrament, any more than the appointment of a cardinal is. So how did he get his special charisms?

The early Church recognized that the bishops were successors of the apostles. Like the apostles had one who had a certain priority in the group – Peter – the place he was a bishop – Rome – got enshrined permanently as the one holding that certain priority over the successors of the apostles as a group.

According to Islam, God has, since the establishment of the final faith, promised to no longer incur his wrath onto humanity till the final day of judgment. I was wondering if this was the belief in Christianity also? Will God, who has established the true way of salvation, abstain from bringing his wrath down onto humanity till the day we come before Him? If so, how does that mesh with age-old ideas of diseases, natural disasters, etc. being ‘God’s wrath’ for sinful societies?

We Christians believe that God will not destroy the earth until the final day of the second coming when we will get a new heaven and a new earth. That is the promise to Noah.

However, that God will not express his wrath on humanity might imply that nobody will suffer in Hell until the end of time. We know Hell is real, people suffer there, and at least some people go there. If someone is in Hell they will be suffering God’s wrath before the end of time but the main force of God’s wrath is held back until the end of time. Hopefully, this clarification helps.

If you enjoyed that, check out my other two Q&A articles or ask me more on CuriousCat.

Catholic Social Teaching

Previous Post

December 20, 2018

A Different Story When a Bishop, Not a Priest, Is Accused (LA Auxiliary)

Next Post

December 28, 2018 The Pope Didn't Deny the Immaculate Conception

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Autism Bioethics Book Review Business and Economics Catholic Social Teaching Culture Diocesan Life Disability Discipleship Euthanasia Family Life Genetics Global Politics History Immigration Inspiration Interview Liturgy Moral Theology My Life News Analysis Original Articles Prayer Privacy Pro-Life Science Sexual orientation or identity Social Media Sports Technology Theology Uncategorized US Politics Vatican

Select a Month March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz