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Q u i c k Q u e s t i o n s
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This Rock
Volume 16, Number 9
 November 2005 
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What about Embryo Adoption?
Q: An article in the October 2004 issue of National Right to Life News advocates adopting frozen embryos left over from in vitro fertilization. At first reading, it seemed like a good idea, but how does it square with Church teaching, specifically paragraphs 2376 and 2377 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church? Can a Catholic, in good conscience, participate in such a procedure?
A: The Church has not yet ruled on whether a couple may "adopt" a frozen embryo with the intent to implant it in the mother’s womb and carry it to term. At the present time, orthodox Catholic moral theologians have different opinions on whether it is a morally licit course of action. Some think that the Church’s position against in vitro fertilization means that it is not morally licit to take part in this activity; others say that it is no different from adopting a born child who was conceived through illicit means (e.g., rape, premarital relations). Until the magisterium addresses this issue, Catholic are free to make their own judgments about it.
Q: While visiting at the home of a Jewish friend, I was thumbing through the magazines on her coffee table and was curious about one titled Lilith: The Independent Jewish Women’s Magazine. My friend said the title comes from the name that Jewish tradition gives to Adam’s first wife. Who was Lilith, and was she really Adam’s first wife?
A: It is not quite accurate to say that the story of Lilith comes from Jewish tradition; rather, the story is more aptly described as Jewish folklore or legend.
Although the Jewish story of Lilith has its roots in the anonymous medieval document The Alphabet of Ben-Sira, some Jews interpret the Bible’s mention of the wife of Adam in the first creation story (cf. Gen. 1) to refer to Lilith and the Bible’s mention of the wife of Adam in the second creation story (cf. Gen. 2) to refer to Eve. Such an interpretation is unsupported by Jewish rabbinic tradition and can be considered an instance of eisegesis (i.e., reading into Scripture what one wishes to find).
The story of Lilith originally comes from Mesopotamian mythology, in which she is a night demon believed to prey upon children. As the story later became incorporated into Jewish legend, Lilith became the runaway wife of Adam who vowed revenge upon the descendants of Adam and Eve. Out of pious superstition, some Jews, past and present, put amulets around the necks of their children to protect them from Lilith’s murderous designs.
Because legend holds that Lilith refused to be subservient to Adam, she has been adopted by some Jewish feminists as a heroine of religious egalitarianism in modern Judaism.
Q: Is there a rule about abstaining from eating meat on Fridays during Advent?
A: In the United States there is no requirement that one abstain from meat on the Fridays of Advent. In other countries the situation may be different. The Church’s universal law, found in the Code of Canon Law, is that all Fridays of the year are days of abstinence unless the local bishops’ conference has made other provisions with the approval of the Holy See. The American bishops’ conference has decreed that abstinence is required only on Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent. Abstinence on the Fridays of Advent thus is not required here.
Q: When was it first recognized that deacons could consecrate the eucharistic host?
A: Deacons can read the Gospel at Mass and preach; they can baptize, witness weddings, and officiate at funerals. They cannot celebrate Mass because they to not have the power to consecrate the bread and the wine. This is a power that only priests and bishops possess and has always been the case.
Q: I am expecting a baby just before the beginning of Lent. Unless the baby is born early, we probably won’t be able to have the baby baptized before Lent, but my church refuses to baptize babies during Lent. Because of this, it is possible that my baby will not be baptized until Easter. Shouldn’t a baby be baptized as soon as possible?
A: Babies should be baptized within a few weeks of birth, and infant baptisms are not forbidden during Lent. Canon 856 of the Code of Canon Law states that "baptism may be celebrated on any day" and canon 867 says that "parents are obliged to see that their infants are baptized within the first few weeks." Take these canons to your pastor and request baptism for your child as soon as it is reasonably possible after the birth, even if that time falls during Lent. If he refuses, seek out another priest who will. If you cannot find one, then you might contact your diocese for a recommendation. If that fails, the St. Joseph Foundation (www.st-joseph-foundation.org) can assist you in finding a solution.
Q: Would a hysterectomy be justified for contraceptive reasons if pregnancy is guaranteed to be fatal for both mother and child?
A: A hysterectomy could be done if there were a medical problem with the uterus itself that endangered the life of the mother (e.g., cancer, unstable or ruptured uterus). In such a case sterilization would be an unintended side effect, and therefore the procedure would be morally licit. But a hysterectomy cannot be performed if the intention itself is sterilization, which appears to be the case in the hypothetical situation posed. A woman facing such a situation should contact the National Catholic Bioethics Center (www.catholicbioethics.com) for help in determining the morally licit actions that are possible to protect her life.
Q: What does the word maranatha mean, and from what language does it derive?
A: The word maranatha comes from Aramaic. In that language it is not a single word but a pair of words that means "our Lord (maran) is coming (athe)." Paul uses these words in his first letter to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 16:22), but because the early manuscripts did not have spaces between words, the phrase came to be treated as a single word by those who did not speak Aramaic.
Q: Inside my church, we have an area with a statue of Mary where candles can be lit and donations can be offered. What is this area for, and what is it called?
A: Though this is not a technical architectural name, some call this place in a church a "devotional area." Often the statue is recessed in a niche or alcove. The purpose of this area is to honor and show devotion to the saint represented. The votive candles (the word votive is derived from the Latin word votum, which means "vow") represent our prayers.
Q: What is Opus Dei?
A: Opus Dei (Latin, "Work of God") is a Catholic movement founded by St. Josemaria Escriva (1902–75) that was granted personal prelature status by Pope John Paul II. Opus Dei has as its mission helping laypeople achieve holiness in their everyday lives. Their web site is www.opusdei.org.
Q: I struggle with the dogma of Mary’s Immaculate Conception. I understand the general idea, but the fact that she did not sin throughout her entire life is something that I cannot entirely understand. If she was perfect, why does she need a Savior?
A: Mary’s sinlessness was not due to any inherent perfection she had apart from God; her very sinlessness was purely a gift from God her Savior (cf. Luke 1:46–48). As a human being who descended from our first parents, Mary was due to inherit original sin. Had God done nothing at the point of her conception, she would have inherited it. Because she was to be God’s own Mother and thus was to have a unique role in setting right the damage done to the human race by Adam and Eve, God used the grace Christ would win for humanity on the cross to save her from all stain of sin from the moment of her conception. Her sinlessness does not diminish God’s saving power; if anything, his work to preserve Mary’s soul free from any and all stain of sin demonstrates the limitlessness of his saving power.
Q: Can a penitent share his own confession with others, or must he keep what he has confessed secret?
A: It is the priest who is bound to secrecy by the seal of the confessional, not the penitent. While the priest may not reveal a sacramental confession under any circumstances, the penitent may share it with anyone he wishes. The penitent should remember, though, that those he tells of his confession are not bound by the seal. Only if someone overhears a sacramental confession or in some way participates in the confession process (e.g., as a translator) is he as bound to secrecy by the sacramental seal as the priest is.
Q: Can dogs be present at Mass? A colleague told me that a priest allowed his dog to stay under the altar during Mass. The dog didn’t make a sound and just lay perfectly still throughout the whole Mass. Was this improper?
A: In principle, dogs can be present at Mass (for example, as guide dogs that blind members of the congregation need to get to and from church). What is less clear is whether dogs can be present in the sanctuary. As a general matter, animals should not be present in the sanctuary.
In the case you mention, it would not be possible to assess what the priest did without more information about why this dog was in the sanctuary. Given the dog’s quiet, non-disruptive behavior during the Mass, it is possible that the dog was a trained assistance animal. If the dog was there as a service companion to the priest, it might not be a problem for the dog to be present in the sanctuary. Liturgical law is not specific on this point.
Q: Should Christians build prayer labyrinths? My child’s Catholic high school is considering building one.
A: In Christian spirituality, labyrinths originally symbolized the winding streets of Jerusalem, and walking in a labyrinth while praying Christian prayers was a form of virtual pilgrimage for medieval Christians who could not afford the expense and risk of an actual pilgrimage to Jerusalem. If the prayers said in a labyrinth are representative of authentic Christian spirituality and the purpose of the labyrinth is explained to those who will be using it, then the proposed labyrinth would not pose a problem. If, on the other hand, the prayers are representative of a non-Christian or an otherwise questionable spirituality, Catholics should not pray them and a Catholic high school should not promote it to its students.
Q: Whatever happened to extreme unction? I thought it was one of the seven sacraments.
A: "Extreme unction" is the traditional name given to the sacrament of the anointing of the sick. The old name extreme unction means "last anointing." The sacrament has not changed, but the name sacrament of the sick or anointing of the sick better conveys that fact that it is a healing sacrament that is meant for the living as well as those near death.
Q: What is the significance of Jesus calling his Mother "Woman" in John 2:4 and John 19:26?
A: In the ancient world, Woman was a title of respect—Mark Antony is said to have called Cleopatra "Woman"—and can be considered roughly equivalent to calling a modern noblewoman "Lady." The term Woman also recalls the protoevangelium in the book of Genesis (cf. Gen. 3:15), where Eve is referred to as "Woman." By calling his Mother "Woman," Jesus was making a theological point and showing great respect to Mary.
Q: My fianceé and I are planning a simple, family-only wedding in our local parish church and have a question as to wedding attendants: Are we required to have a maid of honor and a best man? We are trying to have as simple a nuptial Mass as possible.
A: There is no rule that states that you must have a maid of honor and a best man. All that is required by canon law is that you have two witnesses to your marriage (Code of Canon Law 1108).
Customarily, the honor attendants are the official witnesses to the marriage, but the witnesses do not have to be labeled "honor attendants." Your celebrant can give you instructions on responsibilities and requirements for witnesses that you can give to the two people who agree to be your witnesses.
Q: How can I love Adolf Hitler as I love myself and my family? I don’t think it’s possible.
A: There is a distinction between two different kinds of love. The kind that you have for your family is affection. This form of love depends on feelings, and it would be very hard to feel affection for someone who is known to have committed horrendous crimes against humanity. Fortunately, Christians are not called to feel affection for such people.
Christians are exhorted to love others, even their enemies, by willing their ultimate good, which is that they repent of their sins and be united with God in the next life. In other words, Christians are called to will salvation for everyone, regardless of personal feelings toward them. A Christian can and should despise Hitler’s crimes while still hoping that he died repentant and that his soul was not lost.
Q: My pastor has a habit of frequently reminding us that "each of us is the greatest sacrament, next to the Blessed Sacrament." What does he mean by this?
A: Your pastor is using the word sacrament in a loose, poetic, sense rather than a strictly theological sense. In the proper sense, "the sacraments are efficacious signs of grace, instituted by Christ and entrusted to the Church, by which divine life is dispensed to us" (CCC 1131). They include only the seven the Church recognizes: baptism, confirmation, the Eucharist, confession, anointing of the sick, holy orders, and matrimony.
It is common for the term sacrament to be used in other senses, though, as when the Church is described as "the universal sacrament of salvation" (Lumen Gentium 48). This does not mean that the Church is a sacrament in the sense described above, but it does mean that the Church is a means by which God imparts his grace to mankind.
Your pastor probably is trying to say that there is an important sense in which we as people also convey God’s grace to the world. The phrasing he has chosen, though, is prone to misunderstanding.
Q: What is "obstinate doubt"?
A: Obstinate doubt is a person’s refusal to give assent to something and persistance in this refusal through his own fault. It is important to distinguish this willful refusal to assent from merely having hesitancy or conflicted feelings about something that one accepts.
Doubt is distinguished as either voluntary or involuntary. The Catechism explains: Voluntary doubt about the faith disregards or refuses to hold as true what God has revealed and the Church proposes for belief. Involuntary doubt refers to hesitation in believing, difficulty in overcoming objections connected with the faith, or also anxiety aroused by its obscurity. If deliberately cultivated, doubt can lead to spiritual blindness (CCC 2088). Involuntary doubt is not sinful and may be experienced by any sincere believer. Voluntary doubt, on the other hand, is grave issue.
Q: How can I find a good Catholic parish in my area? Is there a Better Business Bureau of Catholic parishes?
A: One means of finding a good Catholic parish is to ask spiritually mature and orthodox Catholics in your area for suggestions. If you have an orthodox Catholic apostolate or university within your diocese, you can also call its office and ask for suggestions.
That said, please be aware that a weak parish can improve over time if its members are committed to orthodoxy and its priests are open to change. Also keep in mind that even a suspect parish most likely offers valid sacraments. While it is ideal to receive the sacraments at a great parish, the validity of the sacraments does not depend on the holiness or the complete orthodoxy of any individual, including a priest.
Q: My boyfriend and I are both Catholic and have lived together for six years. Can we have our baby baptized in the Catholic Church even though we are not married?
A: As Catholic parents, you have an obligation to baptize your child: Parents are obliged to take care that infants are baptized in the first few weeks; as soon as possible after the birth or even before it, they are to go to the pastor to request the sacrament for their child and be prepared properly for it (CIC 867 §1). To baptize your child licitly, though, the Church requires thatthere must be a founded hope that the [child] will be brought up in the Catholic religion; if such hope is altogether lacking, the baptism is to be delayed according to the prescripts of particular law after the parents have been advised about the reason (CIC 868 §1). The fact that you and your boyfriend are not married raises questions about your commitment to raising the child Catholic, as your life situation is contrary to the teachings of the faith and can interfere with your child’s education in the faith.
Q: What is the definition of the word denomination? Is the Catholic Church a denomination?
A: Generally speaking, the word denomination is used to classify a particular Christian sect within the Christian religion, such as the Assemblies of God or the Russian Orthodox church. For Catholics, using the word denomination for the Catholic Church is inappropriate because the Church is not one Christian sect among many but the visible religious body founded by Jesus Christ to teach, spread, and administer the Christian religion.
Q: Why doesn’t the Catholic Church emphasize reading the Bible?
A: The Catholic Church does emphasize reading the Bible. Catholics meditate on Scripture at every Mass. The readings and responsorial psalm during the Liturgy of the Word are taken directly from Scripture.
The Second Vatican Council "forcefully and specifically exhorts all the Christian faithful . . . to learn the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures" (Dei Verbum 25).
The Church even grants indulgences for reading the Bible! The Handbook of Indulgences explains: A partial indulgence is granted the Christian faithful who read Sacred Scripture with the veneration due God’s word and as a form of spiritual reading. The indulgence will be a plenary one when such reading is for at least one-half hour.
Q: I read an article that says that Mary Magdalene was the author of the fourth Gospel, commonly considered to be the Gospel of John. Could this be true?
A: Christian tradition has never assigned authorship of the fourth Gospel to Mary Magdalene. Given the popular interest in Mary Magdalene’s place in the Church and her relationship with Christ, speculation that she is the "beloved disciple" referred to in the Gospel of John is more likely a modern phenomenon than an ancient reality.
The author of the fourth Gospel uses the phrase "the disciple whom Jesus loved" as a circumlocution intended to avoid referring to himself by name. He apparently did so for theological reasons (e.g., it refers to the love Christ had for him and every one of his disciples), but he did not want to name himself and thus make his relationship with Christ exclusive.
The author of John’s Gospel has no problem naming Mary Magdalene, though (John 19:25; 20:1, 18). In one passage, the author makes a distinction between Mary Magdalene and the beloved disciple: Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him’" (John 20:1–2; emphasis added). If Mary Magdalene were the beloved disciple who wrote the fourth Gospel, this passage would not make sense.
Q: Is there a difference between Protestant and Evangelical Christians? Do they have different beliefs?
A: A general rule of thumb is that all Evangelicals are Protestants but not all Protestants are Evangelicals. In some countries, Evangelical is the term used to pick out Lutheran Christians (as opposed, for example, to "Reformed" or Calvinist Christians). In America, though, Evangelicalism is a movement within Protestantism that is not tied to any particular denomination but occupies a kind of middle ground between Fundamentalism and the liberal or "mainline" churches. Historically, American Evangelicals have had a strong commitment to traditional Christian doctrines (like Fundamentalism), but they also have had a more culturally open attitude (like the "mainline" churches).
Q: Can a marriage be valid and not sacramental? Is it acceptable for a Catholic to be in a valid marriage that is not sacramental?
A: Yes, a marriage can be valid but not sacramental. This is the case when two unbaptized persons marry each other. Unless there is something else affecting the validity of their union, it is valid, though it is not sacramental. The same is true if one of the parties is baptized and the other is not. They also will be presumed to have a valid but non-sacramental marriage.
Matters change if both of the parties are baptized. A marriage between two baptized persons is automatically sacramental, so either their marriage is valid and sacramental or it is not a marriage at all. To keep this straight, remember that a marriage is valid if it exists (i.e., is a real marriage in God’s eyes), and it is sacramental if God adds certain graces to it. Those graces are always present when two baptized persons validly marry each other.
Q: Would the Catholic Church agree with Jews that the age of the earth is about 5,700 years?
A: Not all Jews think this. The Hebrew calendar, which is said to date from the creation of the earth, reckons 2005 on the Gregorian calendar to be the Hebrew year of 5765. While there may be some Jews who consider this date to be literal, many understand the calendar in a liturgical sense. Christians recognize that the Gregorian calendar does not date exactly to the birth of Christ, but we retain the calendar because of centuries of liturgical and secular custom. Many Jews do the same with the Hebrew calendar even though they do not believe that it dates to the literal creation of the world.
The Catholic Church leaves questions such as the literal age of the world to science. At present Catholics are free to have differing views about the age of the earth.
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