What are the moral obligations of married adult children
to their aged parents?
We all have an obligation from the natural law to love and respect our parents, even after marriage and after reaching the age of emancipation (in our country 18 years old), when one is no longer required to obey them. (A person over 18 who continues to live with his or her parents must still obey them in matters pertaining to the order of the house.) The duty to love and respect our parents does not depend on whether they are good, bad, cruel, mean, etc. This obligation includes caring for them in their sickness or old age. However, a married person has a higher obligation to a spouse and children, and this must receive a priority for a married person's time and resources. Sometimes there can be a sin of neglect on the part of adult married children in their parents' regard. Its seriousness can depend upon its duration and intensity. Sometimes, however, aging parents can be sinfully demanding and selfish too, and cause harm by expecting ton much from their adult children. In individual cases in these matters, it is al ways wise to seek the advice of your parish priest or of the priest who hears your confession. Read the Catechism of the Catholic Church, numbers 2196-2233.
Reprinted October 15, 1999
What is nepotism? Is it a Sin?
It means the favoring of one's relatives in considering promotions. It could be a sin in Church promotions if such favoritism would result in unworthy persons assuming positions of authority in the Church or if there were any harm done to souls or to the goods of the Church because of such favoritism. There are currently Church laws at tempting to prevent nepotism in the Church. For instance, a bishop may not appoint his relatives to have any financial authority or position in his diocese. In past centuries nepotism had caused much damage to the Church, with unworthy nephews of popes, for instance, being appointed cardinals.
Reprinted October 15, 1999
The fallen angels, the devils in hell, do have faith according to the Bible (James 2:19), but their faith is not salvific because it is not "filled tip" with hope and supernatural love. St. James uses the fact of demonic faith to prove that faith "alone" is not sufficient for salvation.
Reprinted October 15, 1999
In a parish, can a pastor spend the parish money as he wishes.
No, he cannot. The general law of the Church requires that every parish have a finance council to assist the pastor in economic and financial matters. In the Diocese of Lincoln, every Parish also must have an advisory group of people (parish council usually) to assist the pastor with ad vice. Also, in the diocesan rules (Synodal Legislation in the section called "material administration") for Lincoln, the rule is that no pastor can spend more than $5,000 (for things other than salaries and utilities) with out permission from the bishop. At the end of each year in the Lincoln Diocese each pastor must also prepare a budget for the coming year and give a detailed financial report to the bishop for the year that is just concluded. Also, parish budgets and expenditures are subject to auditing at the bishop's discretion.
Reprinted September 10, 1999
Is there any moral teaching of the Church regarding tattoos?
There is no direct specific teaching of the Church about this matter as far as I know. However, there may be some general moral principles which could apply. For instance, a minor child (in the U.S.A. any one under 18) would be morally obliged to obey his or her parents when they forbid a tattoo. Also unnecessary bodily mutilation is forbidden by the fifth commandment. If a tattoo or body piercing or other practices done for aesthetic reasons were to entail what most people would call mutilation, these things could be sinful. If a tattoo were particularly repulsive to most people, obtaining it could also be a violation of Christian charity.
Reprinted April 23, 1999
I have read about a new exorcism rite. May a priest practice
an exorcism?
The solemn ritual by which demons are driven out of possessed persons and places is carefully regulated by the Church. The Holy See in 1999 published a revised rite for this practice. Church law (Canon 1172) for bids anyone from performing a public exorcism without permission from the local bishop. Bishops usually check very carefully to learn if there might be any natural explanation for alleged cases of diabolical possession before giving permission for an exorcism. If bishops appoint an exorcist, it is usually a priest endowed with special gifts of piety, knowledge, prudence and holiness.
Reprinted April 16, 1999