The palms should be burned. The medals and rosary parts should be buried someplace, where they will not be disturbed. If this is impossible for you or very hard to do, bring these things to your pastor, who will help you to dispose of them properly.
Reprinted from April 11, 1997
Is there some place where I can find a list of all the
Catholic priests in the United States.
Yes. The Official Catholic Directory is published annually, with semi-annual updates, by P.J. Kennedy and Sons. It can be purchased through R.R. Bowker (121 Chanlon Rd., New Providence, N.J. 07947). It is quite expensive, however. If you just want it for some simple information, it is less expensive to call the Chancery Office and ask to use the copy there.
Reprinted from February 21, 1997
Is it a sin to watch magicians on TV?
Magicians who play tricks with eyes and hands and other deceptive activities to entertain an audience can certainly be watched and enjoyed. Only if someone were to claim that his or her "magic" was not due to trickery, but to some supernatural or preternatural powers would it be wrong to support such notions. It is hard to know if there would be any "magicians" of this sort around in our country these days.
Reprinted from December 19, 1997
Are there any Catholic churches in Saudi Arabia?
None that I know of. The Muslims of Saudi Arabia are extremely intolerant of non-Muslims, whom they consider "infidels." They do not permit any Christian churches or buildings, nor do they allow Catholic priests to enter their kingdom, although during the Gulf War, U.S. chaplains were allowed to minister to U.S. and allied soldiers and airmen. Cardinal Arinze, who is in charge of the Holy See's dialogue with members of the Islamic Religion, urges that Christians, in their discussions with Muslims, press for freedom of religion in Muslim countries. Recently, a Saudi official claimed that Christians present in Saudi Arabia can express their religion in their own homes and that is sufficient, in his view, to constitute "religious liberty."
Reprinted from December 19, 1997
Many years ago I vandalized a car and stole a radio out of it. When I recently
confessed this, the priest told me that I had to make restitution or these
sins would not be forgiven. Was he correct?
Yes. You must make a good faith and sincere effort to find the owner of the car and pay for the damage and return the radio, having it properly installed. It is not necessary that you reveal your identity, however, unless there is not another way to make restitution. In case, you cannot locate the owner, after a long and hard attempt, you must give the equivalent amount of money for your restitution to the poor or to the Church. Incidentally, congratulations for your repentance and confession of your mortal sins.
Reprinted from January 17, 1997
Are organ transplants (such as heart, lungs, kidneys) permitted
to Catholics?
Yes. If we may lay down our entire life our a friend (John 15:13), we may donate an organ. Some donations such as a kidney, may be made while the donor is still alive. Vital organs, however, may only be donated after natural death occurs. This means that before doctors may remove, for instance, a heart to transplant into another person, the original owner of the heart must be truly dead in a full clinical and theological sense. To deliberately cause the death of an innocent human being, even for the good cause of saving or healing another, is always illicit. This must be remembered in regard to fetal tissue, which is sometimes extracted from unborn infants, killed by abortion.
Reprinted from January 17, 1997