Did An All-Good God Create Evil?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
November 13, 2026
Evil: How did it begin? What is its root cause? Is the devil absolute? If so, how could absolute evil come from God, who is absolute good?
Posts from:
Pat McCloskey, OFM
Pat McCloskey, OFM, is the Franciscan advisor for St. Anthony Messenger and the writer of its "Ask a Franciscan" column.
Dealing With A Father’s Abuse
Pat McCloskey, OFM
November 12, 2026
I am the youngest in a large family. Many of my siblings suffered physical or verbal abuse from our father when we were growing up. Although he has abused our mother verbally and continues to do so, she has stayed with him all these years. They are now in their 80s.
Did the Church Make Up Purgatory?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
November 11, 2026
My middle-aged daughter recently told me that there is no purgatory, that the Catholic Church made that up.
Did Jesus Have Siblings?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
November 10, 2026
If St. James is Jesus’ brother, would James not also be God’s son? Were Mary and Joseph the parents of James?
Too Much Emphasis on Christ Crucified?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
November 9, 2026
Why does the Catholic Church emphasize Christ crucified instead of Christ risen?
What about Limbo?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
November 6, 2026
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.
Why Do We Need Low-gluten Hosts?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
November 5, 2026
I don’t understand why someone who has celiac disease and is, therefore, allergic to gluten needs a low-gluten host. The bread at Mass changes substantially into the Body of Christ.