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Much has been written about the sacrament of reconciliation — the theology behind it, the scriptural evidence for it, the power and benefits of it for penitents. But what’s it like, experientially, for a priest to hear the sins of others week after week and month after month? Can it be a burden? Does it affect a priest’s spiritual life? Aleteia’s lifestyle editor, Zoe Romanowsky, asked Msgr. Charles Pope about what it’s been like to hear confessions over his 24 years as a priest. Msgr. Charles Pope is the pastor of Holy Comforter-St. Cyprian in Washington DC. He is a...

God loves His world — loves it so much that He set in motion a perfect plan to erase evil by offering sin’s ultimate redemption on a cross at Calvary In his superbly crafted poem entitled “The Creation,” famed African-American poet and educator, James Weldon Johnson, uses majestic imagery to explain how God built the cosmos. The Creator’s hands are key to this imagery, as illustrated in the following lines: Then God reached out and took the light in His hands, And God rolled the light in His hands Until He made the sun; And He set that sun a-blazing...

Every now and then I’m reminded of just how clever Satan can be, especially during Lent.Consider, for example, a pernicious little sin that seems to have taken root and grown in the age of social media: detraction. I’ve been seeing it more and more. Nobody really talks about it or the harm it inflicts — though the pope has stressed, often, the inherent evil of its close cousin,  gossip. (The pontiff has even compared gossip to terrorism.)So what’s the big deal? Let me count the ways.First, the catechism teaches that detraction is a sin against the eighth commandment: 2477 Respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude and...

We've been thinking over the confusion coming out of Pope Francis' latest in-flight interview and the danger that this poses to souls throughout the world; exacerbated as this all is by the many sensationalist headlines breaking everywhere, by Fr. Lombardi's deepening of the problem and by the silence of the world's bishops and priests. We want to offer a few pointers to help anyone who may be feeling confused, let-down or even shaken in their faith. 1. Know that the Magisterium of the Church has consistently affirmed the truth relating to the use of contraceptives according to natural and divine...

Genesis 3 is so revealing on how the devil tempts us to make wrong decisions. As a result we disobey God and thus, harm our our selves. He Strikes Up a Conversation"Did God really say, 'You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?," said the serpent to the woman? You see, how craft and deceiving he is? He didn't approach her with a scary look you see in movies, telling her about his evil intentions. Instead, he struck up a very casual conversation with Eve, where nothing seemed apparently wrong. Be careful of this. The devil is very...

Oh Troubler, why do you trouble us? We had just talked to you, we thought you were doing better… Why did you take your eyes off of Him who comes to us in the midst of every storm? What did you see, when you gazed at the Babylonian garment? What misery was so great that you were willing to sell out, just to relieve it? Did it work? Are you better now? Now, we who love you are miserable? Wouldn’t it be better to suffer than to sin? Which is worse, suffering or sin? Which is the cause and which...

The Chicago Archdiocese is responding to a published report in which a local priest comes out as gay, but it wasn't clear whether there would be ramifications for the clergy member. In a column by Washington Post religion reporter Michelle Boorstein, Rev. Michael Shanahan is interviewed at length about his decision to disclose that he is gay. "I'd like to be one of those priests, who, with great respect for the church's teaching, can say: I'm a human being. I'm a son -- one of six -- I'm gay and I'm a priest, period," Shanahan, a more than 20-year veteran...

'If this appeal is lost, government becomes head of every religious denomination'It's a case in which the U.S. government has been accused of claiming the authority to "determine what is in fact a sin." The critics, meanwhile, have accused the U.S. Supreme Court of tilting the playing field in advance. But the Little Sisters of the Poor case against the Obamacare law is moving toward a resolution with the U.S. Supreme Court announcing arguments have been scheduled for March 23. The nuns who run elder care centers worldwide are contesting the Obamacare requirement that their employee insurance plans cover abortion...

The one term that's used overwhelmingly in scripture to describe Almighty God's relationship with us is "Father." He most certainly IS our Father in heaven. He created us and knit every human being together in their mother's womb. He loves us with the fierce protectiveness of a father and the tender compassion of a mother. He delights in our company, trust and obedience. So, what do good parents do when their beloved child rebels against the rules of the home designed to keep them safe, meant to train them to mature into caring, productive citizens? What do you do when...

One of the three winners of the record-breaking Powerball lottery jackpot in the United States became wealthy overnight thanks to the generosity of her boss, one of the American Jewish community’s leading philanthropists. Shlomo Rechnitz, a health care magnate who owns 80 assisted living facilities throughout California, purchased nearly 18,000 lottery tickets for all of his employees, one of which happened to contain the winning numbers. The unprecedented $1.6 billion Powerball jackpot will be divided among three winning tickets purchased in Tennessee, California and Florida. Each ticket is worth $528.8 million, lottery officials said in California, one of 44 states...

Antidote for sloth? 4/8/2015 Q. Do you have any suggestions for a person who is guilty of sloth and laziness? On account of it, I am often sluggish and this keeps me from many of my responsibilities and duties to be a good and prayerful Catholic.— N.W., Baltimore, Md. A. Here’s a reply from Msgr. Charles Pope: Sloth, which is one of the seven capital sins, is sorrow or aversion to the good things that God is offering us. And thus one who has sloth — and hears that God can save them from sins and enable them to do many...

Consider this a dangerous post, and a post that will be easily misunderstood. For here I am about to make a point that explores a biblical theme and apply it to today. But in so doing, I am “holding other things equal”—a technique which examines a certain aspect of a problem and focuses on that one thing, while not denying that other factors and issues are also at work. Simply put, part of the explanation is that God is permitting increased violence, and not restraining it, as a kind of chastisement on the increasingly secular West for our unbelief. This...

40 Sins that WILL send you to Hell... UNLESS you repent and are saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and which is a faith that follows Him. (Jn. 10:27,28) Short summation: Sin is defined in the Bible as the breaking of God's Law. (1Jn. 3:4) God has given us both good things and good laws, which are to our benefit when obeyed. But we have broken God's good laws and misused His good things, to our own hurt and that of others. It is sin which separates man from God (Is. 59:2), who will not dwell with...

Child welfare services in Norway have reportedly removed five Christian children from their parents' home and placed them into foster care after the parents were accused of radicalizing and indoctrinating their children with Christianity. According to the British-based Christian Institute, Norway's child protection services, known as the Barnevernet, seized the three sons and two daughters of Ruth and Marius Bodnariu in mid-November. Although the family wasn't quite sure at the time why their children were being taken away from them, their lawyer discovered that the parents were being charged with Christian indoctrination. The family's ordeal began on Nov. 16 when...

Where Is God at Times Like These? A Meditation in the Wake of Recent Violent Atrocities Msgr. Charles Pope • December 3, 2015 • One of the great mysteries to believer and non-believer alike is that of evil and suffering. If there is a God who is omnipotent and omniscient, how can He tolerate evil, injustice, and suffering of the innocent? Where is God when things like shootings (e.g., in the U.S., Paris, and Kenya), church bombings (e.g., in Nigeria), and beheadings (e.g., in Egypt and Iraq) occur? Where is God when a woman or young girl is raped, or...

Sins of the Priests Msgr. Charles Pope • November 2, 2015 • The Book of the Prophet Malachi is set forth as a kind “riv” (a Hebrew word for a lawsuit, indictment, or controversy) by God. The Lord sets forth a legal case of sorts, which convicts ancient Israel of numerous deficiencies and calls for their repentance. The case that God presents shows a body of evidence that is just as true today as it was then. God has plenty to say and we have much to hear, much to repent of.I am going to examine the Book of the...

The Sins of God’s People As Stated in the Prophet Malachi Msgr. Charles Pope • November 3, 2015 • In yesterday’s post, we considered the sins of the priests (and they were numerous enough). Today we examine the sins of the people that the Lord sets forth in the Book of Malachi. Here, too, please understand that not everyone is guilty of all of these things. However, they are common human sins and sinful attitudes. So consider this inspired list (for it is from the Lord) and pray for conversion and repentance, for the picture here is all too familiar.I....

To keep up with the adventures of the Keswani family, visit PEOPLE.com/keswanis. It's been a big year for the transgender community, thanks in large part to Caitlyn Jenner. But not every member of the community is 66: Devina Keswani, the youngest of three children in PEOPLE's new web series, The Keswanis: A Most Modern Family, and a proud Girl Scout, is just 6. "One [of my classmates] hates transgender, and he hates me because I'm transgender," Devina says, adding, "Before that he liked me, but now he hates me. He spits at me and pushes me."

Since the election of Pope Francis and especially since last year’s Synod on the Family in Rome, there has been a storm of controversy within the Catholic Church on the issues that LifeSiteNews covers – life, family and related cultural issues (which include faith). Reporting on these controversies is a crucial part of our overall mission because of the massive international influence of the Catholic Church. All of our staff are faithful Christians, with the majority being faithful, knowledgeable Catholics. That helps to ensure that we well understand what we report related to Church matters. LifeSite was launched in 1997...

A German bishop is advocating Holy Communion for divorced and civilly remarried Catholic spouses and urging a special blessing for same-sex couples. In a recent interview with German newspaper Katholische Nachrichten-Agentur, Bp. Franz-Josef Bode of Osnabrück, Germany, admits marital indissolubility yet questions whether adulterous second civil marriages "might actually correspond better to God's covenant with human beings." Here's his full response: KNA: A major issue will be divorced and remarried individuals. You have advocated allowing such persons to receive Holy Communion under certain conditions. What are those conditions? Bode: Marriage is indissoluble according to the will of Jesus. With a...