Questions of Faith Many Eastern religions hold to the doctrine of reincarnation – from Latin literally meaning ‘entering the flesh again’ – proponents of this idea hold that living organisms like human beings repeatedly take on a new physical form after death. In some traditions, a human can be reborn as an animal or even…

Questions of Faith The topic of married priests is hotly debated in Catholic circles today – the Bible tells us that man must leave his mother and father to be joined to his wife, so why is this injunction not applied to the clergy? It’s important to note that most clerics in the early Church…

Questions of Faith Every December 25, family and friends come together to relax, exchange gifts and celebrate the year that has just passed. For Christians, this moment in the calendar year is more that just a party, but a time for rejoicing in the birth of Jesus Christ over 2000 years ago. The Church teaches…

Questions of Faith The first image that probably pops into your head when you think of Santa Claus is a jolly, old, bearded man who delivers presents to children once a year. However, the origins of this story date back to a real life person in the 4th Century. St Nicholas of Myra was a…

Questions of Faith It’s commonly asserted – namely from those in the Protestant tradition – that Catholics commit the sin of idolatry by worshipping statues. It’s an intriguing claim, namely because the Bible couldn’t be more explicit about the worship of graven images. “You shall not make for yourself a graven image or any likeness…

Questions of Faith In the last two decades or so, there has been a powerful worldwide focus on the impact of global warming. It’s widely accepted that if this problem is not tackled, it will detrimentally affect future generations. Climate activists have shaken up the consumerist status quo, challenging all of us to live in…

Questions of Faith The Pope doesn’t have an easy job; while some think of him as a mysterious man who lives in the Vatican, Catholics know him as the head of the Church and a shepherd to his entire flock. The Catechism describes his role as such: “For the Roman Pontiff, by reason of his…

Questions of Faith Judas Iscariot is known as the apostle who betrayed Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane – an act which ultimately led to the crucifixion. Emeritus Pope Benedict explained in 2006 that the betrayal took place in two moments: “first of all in its planning phase, when Judas comes to an agreement with…

Questions of Faith Now more than ever, people are freely opting for a plant-based lifestyle not only to improve their health but also for moral reasons. It’s estimated that about 11% of the global population is vegetarian and this number is increasing daily given society’s changing attitudes towards meat consumption. For Catholics who are considering…

Questions of Faith The practice of marrying multiple spouses – also known as polygamy – is a hot topic at the moment. Not completely dissimilar to an open relationship where a couple agrees to having sexual relations with other people, polygamy takes this a step further and enshrines the relationship in marriage. There are three…