Straight Answers - The Arlington Catholic Herald

Our website is made possible by displaying online ads to our visitors.
Please consider supporting us by whitelisting our site.

Faith / Your Faith / Straight Answers

The canonization process

Pope Francis will declare Pope Paul VI and Archbishop Oscar Romero as saints Oct. 14

10/10/18

By Fr. WILLIAM P. SAUNDERS | For the Catholic Herald

The Catholic Church's teaching on assisted suicide

Variations of Death with Dignity Laws or End of Life Options Acts have been enacted by eight legislatures throughout the country: California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Montana, Oregon, Vermont and Washington.

10/3/18

By Fr. WILLIAM P. SAUNDERS | For the Catholic Herald

Straight Answers: Making a Good Confession

I have heard the priests of my parish encouraging us to go to confession during Lent. I admit I have not been to confession in years because I am not sure I know how to go to confession. With all the changes that occurred in the '60s, would you please review how to go to confession?

9/19/16

By Fr. William Saunders
Straight Answers: The Origins of Ash Wednesday

What are origins of Ash Wednesday and the use of ashes? More

9/19/16

By Fr. William Saunders

Straight Answers: Myths, Truths about Mary Magdalene

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 Alexandria More

9/19/16

By Fr. William P. Saunders Herald Columnist (From the issue of 6/1/06)

Straight Answers: The Gnostic Gospels

The Da Vinci Code talks about the gnostic gospels. What are the gnostic gospels? - A reader in Potomac Falls More

9/19/16

By Fr. William P. Saunders Herald Columnist (From the issue of 5/25/06)

Straight Answers: Who Wrote the Gospels?

Who wrote the Gospels? - A reader in Springfield More

9/19/16

By Fr. William P. Saunders Herald Columnist (From the issue of 5/18/06)

The Feast of Corpus Christi

Q: I recently learned that the feast of Corpus Christi was inspired by a Eucharistic miracle. Can you please give more details about this? - A reader in SpringfieldMore

6/10/15

Fr. William P. Saunders

May Crowning

Q: (The) Catholic Herald had an article about the May Crowning at St. William of York (Church) in Stafford. (When I was) growing up, my parish never had such events. I never experienced them until moving to the Diocese of Arlington. What is the background for this devotion? - A reader in AlexandriaMore

5/27/15

Fr. William Saunders

St. John Paul II and Mary

Q: In the Catholic Herald (April 23-29), there was the article, "Personal, intimate devotion to Mary." I was surprised to read Father Majorano's comment, "The sense of Pope Francis' devotion to Mary is a little more personal, more intimate than St. John Paul's was. Pope Francis expresses that feeling that exists between a son and his mother, where I think Pope John Paul's was more that of a subject and his queen." I think Father Majorano is wrong. What do you think? - A reader in Oak HillMore

5/13/15

Fr. William P. Saunders

The sudarium of Oviedo

Q:On Easter Sunday, the priest at my parish made a point in his homily about the burial cloths left in the tomb of the Lord. I know about the Shroud of Turn being the burial cloth of Jesus, but is there another cloth that we have? - A reader in Sterling More

4/29/15

Fr. William Saunders

Passover and the Last Supper

Q: During Holy Week, I read the Passion stories of Jesus' Last Supper, Crucifixion and Resurrection. It seems confusing: The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke have Jesus and the apostles eating a Passover meal, but the Gospel of St. John has Jesus dying before Passover began. Is there a reason for this? - A reader in Sterling. More

4/15/15

Fr. William P. Saunders

The meaning of 'dewfall' in the Eucharistic prayer

Q:I have wondered about a new phrase in Eucharistic Prayer II: The priest says "like the dewfall." It sounds sort of funny. - A reader in PhiladelphiaMore

4/1/15

Fr. William Saunders

The Inquisition — Part 2

Q: In light of the President's recent remarks at the Prayer Breakfast referencing ISIS to the Crusades as if the beheadings, burnings, etc. throughout the ages had already happened in the "name of Jesus," I would like to know a little history of the Crusades/Inquisition. - A reader in Woodstock More

3/18/15

Fr. William P. Saunders

The Inquisition — Part 1

Q:In light of the President's recent remarks at the Prayer Breakfast referencing ISIS to the Crusades as if the beheadings, burnings, etc. throughout the ages had already happened in the "name of Jesus," I would like to know a little history of the Crusades/Inquisition. - A reader in WoodstockMore

3/3/15

Fr. William Saunders

More