Ask a Franciscan

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Ask a Franciscan: Does God Change?

God can appear harsh in the Old Testament, compared to the just and merciful God of today. How is this possible?

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Anglican Bishops Who Become Roman Catholics

If a bishop from the Anglican Church or the Episcopal Church becomes a Latin-rite Catholic, is he still considered a bishop? Does he then become a recipient of apostolic succession?

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College of Cardinals

When and how did the College of Cardinals come into existence? How long has this group been responsible for electing the pope?

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A Scary Prayer for a Child

As a child, I was taught to pray: “Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take.” If this prayer hastened my returning to God, should I have been taught to say it?

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Withdrawing Food and Water?

Hospitals today really encourage people to have living wills. Is it permissible for patients to choose to have water and food withheld in case of very severe illness? I think this is suicide.

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Quick Questions and Answers

What is the best way to handle petitions such as prayers for children, family, and others? I have a prayer list, but I don’t feel right reading the same list every day.

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Mary a Co-Redemptrix?

I’ve heard Mary may soon be officially declared “Co-Redemptrix with Christ.” Why hasn’t that already happened?

Some Catholics were advocating this in the 1960s. It has not happened because Pope Francis and his six immediate predecessors have thought that doing so could confuse people about the uniqueness of Christ’s role in redemption.

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

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