Ask a Franciscan

Excommunicated for an Abortion?

Our diocese distributed a pamphlet on examining your conscience. It states that having an abortion or encouraging a woman to do so would mean automatic excommunication from the Catholic Church. If I do that, is this so?

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Missing Mass on Sunday

As an 80-year-old Catholic, I was taught that missing Mass through your own fault is a mortal sin that, if unconfessed and unabsolved, could send you to hell forever. I know friends and other Catholics who are good people but ...
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What about Limbo?

Question about limbo: Are souls in a state of eternal happiness outside heaven or do they go to hell forever? I pray for my granddaughter’s soul.
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Statue in a church

Franciscan or Roman Catholic?

I like what I read in St. Anthony Messenger and enjoy other products from Franciscan Media. One question keeps coming back to me: Are you Franciscan or Roman Catholic? I ask this because these days I feel much closer to ...
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Was Saint Peter the Bishop of Rome?

In his book The Future of the Catholic Church with Pope Francis, Garry Wills states that there is no evidence before AD 100 that there was any bishop in Rome. Is that true?
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Writing out a note

What About Sins of Omission? 

I cannot find an examination of conscience for sins of omission. Does such a list exist?
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Sun in the sky

Assurance about Heaven 

How can I know if I will go to heaven? 
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