Again, I’m opening up a post to questions on a wide range of topics in theology. You can ask me general questions on faith, morals, or salvation. You can also ask questions on my writings in particular is eschatology, ethics, and other subjects.
This feature is only for questions that sincerely seek answers. Please do not ask a question merely to have a platform for your own views and arguments. If you think that you know the answer to your own question better than I do, then don’t ask.
Ronald L. Conte Jr.
the reproach of Christ 
Would a medical procedure that removes senescence from the human body, so that people might live centuries or even millennia if they are careful and lucky, be morally licit (assuming it does not do something like use aborted fetuses)?
It would not be intrinsically evil, since the act is ordered toward preserving life. So the morality would depend on intention and circumstances.
Not that this is likely, just wondering.
What might the Church do if some blight wiped out grapes and wheat? How could Mass be celebrated (as a science fiction fan, I like to think about low probability/high impact scenarios)?
I’m sure God’s providence won’t permit that to happen. But you can’t have the Eucharist without wheat bread and grape wine.
In brief, what do you believe is the identity or personal profile of the prophesied Great Catholic Monarch [edited] ?
Thanks.
See my post:
https://ronconte.wordpress.com/2011/02/24/who-is-the-great-catholic-monarch/
Some prophecies say he will be somewhat sinful in his youth, but NOT evil at any time.
My children are becoming friends with classmates whose parents are in same-sex relationships. Circumstances have sometimes either caused us to meet those parents at their house or at our house. I find same-sex relationships quite repulsive and I can not approve of them. It has put me in a very awkward position. Also there are other parents who are divorced multiple times or some living in sin. I don’t want to forbid my children from being friends with these classmates as they are all innocent. However, as a devout Catholic, I find myself struggling not to be a Pharisee but a good Christian witness. How do I witness to these parents who are in such deep sin without offending them?
We must treat everyone with respect and true love of neighbor. But it is difficult to live in a world where grave sins are considered goods or rights. There’s no easy answer to your question. I also suggest praying daily, not only for your children, but for their friends and their friends’ families.
I’m having difficulty explaining to my friend how an infant can be baptized from parents who are unmarried. She seems to be insisting that baptism to the child is illegal because the father of the child is still in a valid Catholic marriage and does NOT plan on getting an annulment to her previous wife. Both the father and mother of the infant is living together is both Catholic. Can you help me?
The Sacrament is valid because it meets all the conditions for validity. The marital state of the parents, and their sins, are not part of the validity of the Sacrament. No Canon in Canon Law makes such a baptism invalid.
Since identical twins are a zygote which splits in two, and genetic chimeras are two or more zygotes which fuse into one preborn, how does that square with ensoulment at conception? Does a soul split in two? Do two souls merge into one?
A soul cannot split into two, and two souls cannot unite. Other than that, we don’t know what happens.
Hi Ron,
I hope you still open for questions. My questions are:
1) Which should be a proper relationship between a Catholic and a non-Catholic (protestant)? For example, is that ok to participate at a meeting organized by our Protestant brothers?
2) I read your book, The Catechism of Catholic Ethics, but I didn’t understand well how one can avoid lying, but not say the “whole” truth. You cited the example of Abraham when asked who was Sahara, and he said that she was his sister (instead of his wife). Please, correct me if I misunderstand your example.
3) Are the prophets and patriarchs of Old Testament saints? I asked this because I never heard the Church call them saints.
4) At Heaven, are we all receive the same reward or it will be given according to individual achievement? I mean, some will be given higher place than others.
Thanks a lot.
Sincerely,
Emanuel
1) we have to limit participation in Protestant religious events, so as to keep the true faith. But we can be friends with Protestants, and sometimes pray with them.
2) mental reservation asserts one truth, while withholding a related second truth. Sara was his half sister; he omitted that she is also his wife.
3) Some Saints were never baptized into the Christian faith: St. John the Baptist, St. Joseph, Ss. Elizabeth and Zechariah, St. Joachim. St. Ann was probably baptized, as she lived long enough. OT prophets and patriarchs are not typically called Saints, but they have the holiness of Saints.
4) We all receive the same reward: eternal life with God, but it is also true that we each receive a different reward, according to how well we lived our lives. Everyone is entirely happy, but some have a greater glory.
Thanks for the above answer. I’m confused about intrinsic evil. One can say drinking alcohol is not intrinsically evil, but getting drunk is intrinsically evil. So is intrinsic evil a matter of degree or should we look at each and every separate act to determine if something is intrinsically evil? Also, we can use my question above about shopping. It is not intrinsically evil to shop on Sunday(although it should be avoided), but would it be intrinsically evil if we shopped for 4 hours neglecting the Holy Day?
Intrinsic evil is never a matter of degree. It is based on the type of act that is knowingly chosen. See my booklet
Roman Catholic Teaching on Intrinsic Evil
It is not intrinsically evil to shop for 4 hours on a holy day.
hi ron,
thank you for your efforts..i want to know whether the apparitions at zaro are authentic or false.
http://www.madonnadizaro.it
thank you
I don’t know.
What are your views on shopping on Sunday and other Holy Days?
It’s not intrinsically evil to shop on those days, but it is generally to be avoided so as to keep holy the Sabbath.