For readers to ask me questions on a range of theological topics
Ron Conte
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Those who reject the Magisterium, grasp at straws seeking its replacement.
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the reproach of Christ 
Are TV broadcasts of the Mass equivalent to attendance? The sick are excused from Mass, but what if others “participate” in a broadcast Mass for relatively mundane reasons?
No, it doesn’t count as Mass attendance, if you are not sick.
Does John Paul II’s private teaching contradict traditional sexual ethics? As for example about non-procreative sexual acts between married people?
No. There is nothing in his private teaching that approves of non-procreative sexual acts in marriage. Sometimes that claim is made, but it is baseless. In fact, his private teaching emphasizes that conjugal sex must retain its procreative dimension at all times.
Can a protestant receive the Eucharist? For example a protestant married to a catholic.
In some cases, it is permitted, as when a Protestant marries a Catholic and they have a Wedding Mass. The Protestant bride or groom can receive at that particular Mass. Generally, it is not permitted.
How do I respond to an online commentator that states a Catholic politician can vote in favor of abortion and same sex marriage laws since other grave sins like adultery are legal under societies laws? He uses adultery saying that if we make abortion and same sex marriage illegal then what aboit the sin of adultery? Shiuld we make that illegal too?
The Church teaches that not every sin needs to be made illegal under secular law. The State has a grave obligation to protect the lives of innocent persons, and an obligation to protect marriage as necessary to the good of procreation. The State does not necessarily have to prohibit every grave sin. Its role is limited.
Many Saints who were canonized long ago were known for performing supernatural acts such as floating, flying, raising the dead, communication with animals, etc. However, more recent saints’ miraculous acts are usually related to physical healings or conversions. I suppose we have two options to consider: 1) the older saints’ stories were embellished by legend or 2) saints today are for some reason denied these abilities. How do we reconcile this difference in miraculous ability throughout the ages?
In Butler’s lives of the Saints, he comments on these claims and classifies some as legends, and other miracles as believable. I think that there are many legends attached to the Saints in ancient times. However, miracles are real and they do occur.
Real life example: A man was sitting at Mass wondering if miracles were limited to Biblical times. He asked God for a sign to show that miracles occur subsequent to New Testament times. He saw another man, whom he knew to have a speech impediment, sitting away from him at Mass. So he said to God, “If miracles really do occur in the present time, not only in Biblical times, have this man get up, go to the pulpit, and speak for 5 minutes without any speech impediment. Furthermore, have this woman who is speaking be quiet and sit down, because she is boring. And do all this when I say ‘Amen’ ” Then he said “Amen” (silently to himself, I think). The woman stopped speaking in mid sentence and sat down. The man with the speech impediment spontaneously got up and went to the pulpit — and this was during Mass when he was not scheduled to speak — and spoke for 5 minutes without any impediment. So then the man became convinced that miracles do occur in the present time. I was not at that Mass. The story was related to me by the man who asked for the miracle.
I would suggest reading about St. Padre Pío. He was a 20th century saint and mystic associated with various phemnomena (stigmata, bilocation, reading souls, interceding for the dead, incorrupt body, visions, healings, …).
Good, the man himself who asked for the Miracle.
Of course, he could have been lying, but this is much better than the “friend of a friend” (called foafs in urban legend studies).
Amazing story by Ron. As turnrod already mentioned, I was also going to comment on St. Padre Pio, who, to my knowledge, is the latest great mystic canonized Saint that we have so far (I have chosen him to be one of my patron Saints); and there are others who are coming who one day may become canonized Saints as well, such as Maria Esperanza from Venezuela for example.
Another mystic is Fr. Zlatko Sudac (still alive).
In terms of Ecumenism, do you think we will see any of the other Christian Churches reunited with the Catholic Church within our lifetime (say, 40 years)? It seems that the most promising reunification would be with Eastern Orthodox, but even with them there seems to be much to work on. Do any approved apparitions hint of a date for reunification? Also, do you feel that the German Bishops’ proposal to allow Lutheran spouses access to the Eucharist is a prudent decision?
The Lutheran spouses decision is the least problematic thing the German bishops have done. I believe that the first part of the tribulation and the Warning will cause the unification of all Christians in one Catholic Church with seven branches: 1 for the Latin Rite, 1 for the eastern Churches, 5 for the formerly Protestant Churches. This should occur within the next decade or so.
What will the five Protestant branches be?
I’m not sure. Maybe Anglican, Lutheran, Evangelical, and others? This is highly speculative.
Who advised you to prepare for the Garbandal warning? Secondly, I observed that you are the only person said Tribulation has 2 parts. For this, is there any proof from the holy bible or direct from mother Mary in Garbandal or some other place? 3rdly, Why do not you believe St. Malachi Pope list final pope as Francis. Who said there are more popes after St. Malachi Pope list. If Jesus is coming in our time, then we all have to suffer during Great tribulation period.But I observed that people do not like to suffer and said that will be in future, that is after our generation. That means, future generation will be suffered. Instead, shall we say and pray God and Jesus, we are ready for your return but minimize our sufferings and our children sufferings.
It is a common opinion among theologians who write eschatology that the tribulation has two parts. There are indications of this in Mt 24, Revelation, and Daniel, as well as in the secrets of La Salette. https://ronconte.wordpress.com/?s=tribulation+two+parts
Since the tribulation is in two parts — including the rise and fall of the four kingdoms described by Daniel chapter 7 — there must be many generations and therefore many Popes before the end. The description of Peter the Roman fits any and all Popes during the tribulation.
Jesus crucified for our sins. He paid for us from his blood. So why people will be sent to hell? Are there any conditions? secondly, We pray “Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.” Here we accept we as sinners.
Jesus died so as to offer salvation to all human persons. But we have to accept that salvation by loving God and neighbor. Whoever dies in the state of love, faith, and hope, that is, the state of grace, is saved. The conditions are: we must enter the state of grace by some form of baptism, and then remain in that state — or return to it by repentance if we have sinned gravely.
How can you be happy in Heaven if a loved one is in Hell?
All the Blessed in Heaven realize that the souls in Hell are being justly and mercifully punished. They also do not inordinately love anyone, out of mere emotion or for other non-spiritual reasons. They understand that the souls in Hell have no true selfless love of anyone, and have rejected the love of God and neighbor.
If two people get married in the Church, and neither one actually believes in the permanence of Marriage, is there a permanent Sacrament? What if one believes and the other doesn’t?
If even one of the couple do not intend a lifelong commitment, then the Church might decide, on that basis, that the marriage is invalid.