Ask a Franciscan

Can Second Cousins Marry?

A niece of my husband has become very close to one of her second cousins. They and some family members are questioning if they are too closely related to marry one another. Are they?

Read More →

Must I Take All Medications Prescribed?

My wife and I are in our early 70s and each of us has quite a few medical problems. If we stopped taking all our medications and stopped going to our many doctors, we would shorten our lives. Would the ...
Read More →

Give Up Something Else for Lent?

The Church decided that Catholics could eat meat on Fridays outside Lent. As I remember, there was a slight catch: We were to give up something else.
Read More →

Can People Who Choose Cremation Go to Heaven?

My aunt says that her parish priest told her that God will not raise at the Last Judgment anyone who has chosen to be cremated. Is that true? If so, why?
Read More →

When Couples Divorce

What happens when a couple divorces? One person may not want a divorce but is unable to stop it in a state where there is a nofault divorce law.
Read More →

What Is the Curse of Ham?

What can you tell me about the curse that Noah placed on his son Ham? What about Ham’s brothers, Shem and Japheth? Where is this story in the Bible?
Read More →

How Many People Have Received the Stigmata?

Who besides St. Francis of Assisi and St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina have received the stigmata, the marks of Christ’s five wounds? Have any women received the stigmata?
Read More →

Ask a Franciscan

Do you have a question for Father Pat McCloskey, OFM? The author of St. Anthony Messenger's popular "Ask a Franciscan" column in ready to answer your toughest questions!

Name
Checkboxes

In order to provide you the content requested, we need to store and process your personal data. If you consent to us storing your personal data for this purpose, please tick the checkbox below.

Information Consent