Did Jesus Have a Soul?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 22, 2026
As fully divine and fully human, Jesus must have had a human soul, right?
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.
Baptizing Grandchildren Secretly
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 21, 2026
At a recent meeting, the topic of unbaptized grandchildren came up. I have been told by many priests and deacons that I could not baptize my grandchildren because it can only be administered once. What happens when grandparents baptize their grandchildren, and no one is ever told?
Facing Up to Systemic Racism
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 20, 2026
What do I tell the students in my CCD class when they ask me what the Catholic Church says about systemic racism?
Pro-Life or Pro-Choice?
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 19, 2026
Can a Catholic be pro-choice? I am a practicing Catholic who is very pro-life. I know several Catholic women who are pro-choice. I’m an old man who thinks this is a contradiction.
Substituting for the Gloria
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 16, 2026
For the past few years, from midnight Christmas through Epiphany, the director of music in our parish has elected to use “Angels We Have Heard on High” instead of the Gloria. What is proper in this regard?
The Larks of Assisi
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 15, 2026
Francis had a special affection for larks; he considered their brown feathers a sign of their closeness to God, of their humility.
Casual Sex on TV
Pat McCloskey, OFM
October 15, 2026
Q: Many TV shows include sexual remarks or people sleeping with people to whom they are not married. I don’t watch much television, but I do enjoy several hospital-based programs that have good plots but frequently include these situations, which are becoming more and more common.
Is it a serious sin for me to watch such programs? Do I need to confess such viewing?