Ask a Franciscan
Handling Post-Abortion Guilt
I have had two abortions. My friend at work told me that the Catholic faith can help me with the massive guilt that I feel. Please tell me how.
Thanks for writing. You are not alone in realizing that an abortion has lingering psychological effects for many people — mostly women but also for men. God gives life to born and unborn humans.
The best-known Catholic group offering help to people in your situation may be Project Rachel, founded in 1984 by Vickie Thorn, a Milwaukee wife and mother who reached out to a friend who had an abortion.
Nurturing a Franciscan Spirituality
I need some practical advice for how to live and grow in Franciscan spirituality as a layperson. Because I am not close to a Secular Franciscan group, I need to do this on my own.
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Is Agnosticism a Sin?
I know that being an atheist is looked down upon, but I want to know if being an agnostic is a sin.
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Why Does God Make the Devil So Powerful?
If God created the angel Lucifer, who failed God through pride, why didn't God simply dump him in hell instead of allowing him to torment and wreck so many human lives? Isn't God more powerful than Satan? I have heard ...
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Understanding the Term ‘Born Again’
Q. The term born again has become very popular among many Christians now, but I am not sure of its meaning. I suspect that it is misused or misunderstood by many people who proudly use it. Also, we read in ...
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How Can Mary Be the ‘Mother of God’?
In the second part of the Hail Mary, we say, "Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen." My fundamentalist brother wants to know how Mary can be the mother ...
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When Does Jesus Become Present?
The Western Church asserted the body and blood are present at the completion of the words of consecration. The Eastern Church supported the view that the real presence takes place through the epiclesis (the prayer for the sending or coming ...
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