Is it true that a pope once condemned all modern civilization?
You may be referring to a document published by Pope Pius IX in 1864, called "The Syllabus of Errors." The various errors listed in the document are phrases or terms that were taken from encyclicals, apostolic letters, and other documents of the Holy See. They have to be understood in the context from which they were taken. For instance, the term "modern civilization" was used in certain liberal Italian publications and by Italian Freemason-Politicians to mean that the State must be hostile to the Church at all times and that the State must control the Church within its territory. It was in the sense of that usage that it was condemned.. Whether the Syllabus falls under the charism of infallibility is disputed by theologians. However, it is beyond dispute that all Catholics are obliged to assent to it and accept what it says. However, the exact wording and the papal document in which the error was originally listed must be carefully studied to understand precisely what is condemned. When the proposition is condemned, for example, that the State has an absolute and exclusive right to control all schools, this does not mean that the civil government does not have a right to some authority in school matters.
Reprinted April 16, 1999
Which side of an altar should the Papal flag be on?
It is a fine custom in Catholic churches in the United States to display both the national flag and the Papal flag. The flag arrangement in these cases is dictated by national custom and laws. In the United States the national flag, when standing on a pole, is to be placed to the right of a speaker. Therefore, it is usual in our churches to place the flag somewhere to the right of the priest (from where the priest would usually preach) and then put the Papal flag in the opposite place in the church. In this case the U.S. flag would appear to the left of the people in the pews. It is incorrect to have unequal poles (either in church or out side) for American and Papal flags. The American flag should not be flown in the U.S.A. any lower than any other flag, nor should the pope's flag be flown beneath or lower than any other.
Reprinted March 26, 1999
Is it all right to genuflect in church on one's left knee and
to bless oneself with the left hand?
Normally, genuflection is to be the bending of the right knee in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, with the right knee touching the heel of the left foot. (Sometimes in the liturgy the genuflection is called for in front of some people or sacred objects as a sign of profound respect, but as adoration it can be directed only to God). If a person is handicapped or crippled, he is not required to genuflect. However, sometimes such people are capable of genuflecting only on their left knee and choose to do so. We should not judge them rashly. Likewise, the sign of the cross is always to be done with the right hand and arm. However, handicapped people sometimes use their left hand and arm and are permitted to do so.
Reprinted April 30, 1999
It is a blasphemous image of Christ, depicting a crucifix with Jesus having the anatomy of a woman. These kinds of insults to our Savior are promoted by radical feminists and they are sold at conventions and meetings of the Call-to-Action sect, which seems to foster blasphemy.
Reprinted April 30, 1999
Is it immoral for infertile couples to get involved in "in
vitro" fertilization? Is it immoral to freeze human embryos?
Yes, it is immoral. All "in vitro" fertilization in general is seriously sinful for those who are involved in it, including the medical and technical personnel, the couple and all who cooperate in the act. It is well to know that there are good Catholic doctors, who abide by the teaching of God and His church on these issues and who are often able to assist infertile couples to have children in a morally acceptable way. Also there is one type of "gamate transfer" that some reliable and truly Catholic theologians (but not all) claim could fall into the realm of the morally permissible. Your parish priest should be able to direct you to a proper source for more advice about these issues. Those who are involved in "in virtro" fertilization often form more human babies in test tubes or dishes than they need and they destroy the "leftovers," thus incurring the additional dreadful mortal sin of those abortions and the ecclesiastical excommunications that fall upon those who do such crimes. Freezing human embryos for future use or destruction, of course, is gravely sinful and might also involve excommunications. Because all these issues can have myriads of aspects and circumstances involve in them, I recommend you talk over these questions and problems with your priest.
Reprinted March 12, 1999
A family friend was ordained a deacon recently. What is
a deacon?
A deacon is an ordained
minister of the Church who has received the first of the "Orders"
in the sacrament of Holy Orders. (The next "Orders" are priest and
bishop.) The word "deacon" means "servant" or "helper."
They are mentioned in the Bible (Philemon 1:1; and 1 Timothy 3:8 and 10:12-13;
Acts of the Apostles 6:1-6) and it is part of Sacred Tradition, a doctrine
of the Catholic Church, that the diaconate is of divine institution. Ordination
to the diaconate gives certain powers to the ordinand, including the privilege
of proclaiming the Gospel during Mass, preaching (when given faculties by
the bishop to do so), being the ordinary minister of baptism and Holy Communion,
presiding at weddings and funerals (when given faculties by the bishop for
this), assisting the priest in a direct way at the altar, etc. Deacons are
members of the clergy. (There are no such things as "lay deacons.")
Deacons may be either permanent or transient (this latter, a step to the priesthood).
Read more about deacons in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (numbers 1536,
1543, 1569, 1570, 1571, 1855, 1593, 1596, 1630).
Reprinted March
12, 1999