Questions Answered

Twenty-four common questions about Catholic teaching, each answered in plain English with the relevant paragraphs of the Catechism and prayers to pray alongside it.

The Mass and the Sacraments

• What Are the Seven Sacraments?
• What Actually Happens at Mass?
• Is the Eucharist Really the Body of Christ?
• Why Do Catholics Baptise Babies?
• Why Can’t Catholic Priests Marry?

Sin, Confession and Mercy

• Why Do Catholics Confess to a Priest?
• Mortal Sin and Venial Sin
• What Is an Indulgence?

Mary and the Saints

• Why Do Catholics Pray to Mary?
• Do Catholics Worship Statues?

Death and What Comes After

• What Is Purgatory?
• Heaven, Hell and Judgment
• What Happens to Babies Who Die Without Baptism?
• Can Non-Catholics Be Saved?

Marriage, Family and Sexuality

• Divorce, Remarriage and Annulment
• Why Does the Church Teach Against Contraception?
• IVF and Fertility Treatment
• What Does the Church Teach About Homosexuality?

The Dignity of Human Life

• What Does the Church Teach About Abortion?
• What Does the Church Teach About Euthanasia?
• What Does the Church Teach About Suicide?
• Why Did the Church Change Its Teaching on the Death Penalty?

Living the Faith

• Why Is Sunday Mass an Obligation?
• Is Cremation Allowed?