Free Republic

Can the Pope Retire? By Fr. William P. SaundersHerald Columnist(From the issue of 3/3/05)Since Pope John Paul II has been ill, the media have mentioned his possible retirement. Can a pope retire? Has a pope ever retired in history? — A reader in AlexandriaThe Holy Father may retire if he chooses. The Code of Canon Law states, "If it should happen that the Roman Pontiff resigns his office, it is required for validity that he makes the resignation freely and that it be duly manifested, but not that it be accepted by anyone" (Canon 332, No. 2). Nevertheless, when a...

Our Father By Fr. William P. SaundersHerald Columnist(From the issue of 8/5/04) Last Sunday, the gospel passage at Mass had the "Our Father." Why do Catholics not include, "For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, now and forever," at the end of the Our Father like the Protestants? – A reader in AlexandriaWhen discussing prayer with His disciples, our Lord said, "This is how you are to pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed by your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread and...

Straight Answers: Who Was Mary Magdalene? By Fr. William P. SaundersHerald Columnist(From the issue of 7/22/04) I had a discussion with a friend of mine who read The Da Vinci Code who said that St. Mary Magdalene was neither a sinner nor a prostitute. Instead the Church made up that story to discredit her. What can I say to her? — A reader in AlexandriaControversy over the identity of St. Mary Magdalene has continued since the early Church. In the Gospels, there are three particular "characters" involved in the controversy: Mary Magdalene, a follower of our Lord (Jn 20:11-18); the...

Straight Answers: Cremation By Fr. William P. SaundersHerald Columnist(From the issue of 7/15/04) Recently, a neighbor’s wife died. She was then cremated. They want to take her ashes and spread them in the mountains she enjoyed hiking so much. As Catholics, are we allowed to cremate (I think we are now) and are we allowed to spread the ashes?  — A reader in Falls ChurchWhile cremation is definitely becoming more and more popular, it is actually something new to Catholic Christian tradition. The early Church retained the Jewish practice of bodily burial and rejected the common pagan Roman practice of...