Customer Reviews

Catholic Questions Catholic Answers

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You can do far worse than read this book. Fr. Ryan covers a range of questions common to Catholics and non-Catholics alike. And for the most part he provides straightforward answers. Every now and then, however, he lapses into opinionated discourse.

For instance, in responding to a question about the inviolability of the seal of the confessional, Fr. Ryan speculates that it's likely some priests over time have broken it. No proof, no examples, just conjecture. Also, the book predates the Catechism of the Catholic Church and so lacks any reference to it.

Simply put, with so many guides to the Catholic faith on the market, readers can do much better than this book. The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Fr. John Trigilio's "Catholicism for Dummies," and his new "Catholicism Answer Book" are better resources.

Are you a Catholic seeking answers to some provocative questions about faith and Catholic practices? This book is ideal for you to begin your search. It's easy, simple and to the point. Fr Kenneth Ryan who has been a question and answer columnist for Catholic Digest, has an original way of presenting the brief and accurate explanations of the subjects under discussion. The sorts of issues raised in this book are of compelling interest to Catholic as well as non Catholic readers who are confronted by these questions regularly. The questions about purgatory, end of the world, antichrist, miracles, authority of the pope etc are always relevant. The book deals with 102 such questions classified into 12 chapters. It is good to have a copy of this book for easy reference.

Great book full of "How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?" questions but the most important questions for Catholics are gingerly sidestepped. In the light of the US Catholic Conference's letter "Economic Justice for All" and Pope Paul's Populorum Progressio how can we in any way support the ongoing absolute impoverishment of the vast majority of the American people and for generations to come by the current administration who only bribes certain groups through so-called "faith-based initiatives", bullies and intimidates other groups, including with threats of deblilitating lawsuits, and lavishly funds a few powerful multi-national corporations?

How can we in any way directly or indirectly as CAtholics in good conscience support this administration's invasion and occupation of Iraq which since 1990 has cost a million civilian lives, women and children included, especially in the light of Mater et Magistra, Pacem in Terris, Gaudium et Spes, and again the US Conference of Catholic Bishop's powerful delineation of the just war concept: The Challenge of Peace: God's Promise and Our Response?

I fail to find these questions answered in this volume, despite the amazon's generous and useful Search Inside feature. I find solace instead this Advent Season in contemplating by my Advent Wreath the gentle, powerful and holy words of the Reverend Father John Dear's Mary of Nazareth: Prophet of Peace. Read as well Father Thomas Merton's Peace in Post-Christian Era and Faith and Violence, etc., as well as Bishop Pedro Casaldaliga.

PACEM IN TERRIS: The first and most meaningful Christmas greeting given by the hosts of Heaven to the shivering Shepherds on that first Christmas night. Why do we no longer hear it?

A more recent and relevant and comprehensive and Catholic source of Catholic answers to Catholic questions comes of course out of the great and Catholic institution of higher learning Notre Dame, where the great Catholic scholar, professor, theologian and priest, the REverend FAther Richard P. McBrien editted the Catholic Encyclopedia, which never leaves my bedstand and is a source of continual wonderment and learning about our great faith. Catholicism is not for Dummies (and I am very offended by its picturing my most intimate laity-based communal prayer, the Rosary, as something for Dummies) nor is it for the "complete Idiot". Rather Catholicism is for the brlilliant like Merton, the compassionate like Dorothy Day, the courageous peacemaker like the Reverend Father John Dear and for martyrs for the faith in solidarity with God's poor in the face of overwhelming imperial military force like Archbishop Romero, Father Ellacuria, Sisters Ita Ford, Dorothy Kazel, and Maura Clarke, and Jean Donovan. But Catholicism is not for Dummies who believe they can serve two masters and get away with it. You cannot serve both God and bush. Read Gaudium et spes, Mater et Magistra, Pacem in Terris and the rest cited above.