Ask Christopher West

Can a priest have a deep relationship with a female friend? Similarly, can a married man have a deep relationship with a female friend who is not his spouse? What does the Church teach on circumcision?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: To what extent can a priest go in his relationship with a female friend if they both understand that they have been given a deeper connection and a deep friendship that bears fruit through working together in the apostolate. Are they allowed to live that love and express it through a deep emotional and spiritual friendship or do they have to repress and transform it. What exactly includes a vow of purity?

Q2: Thank you for both of your insight. I am trying to understand boundaries with the opposite sex within my marriage. My husband is a friendly guy and I feel that he does not shield our marriage. We have talked and he is very understanding of my feelings. My question is what insight do you have about relationships with the opposite sex when married? I guess I am not trusting of others or how others might perceive "niceness" in this fallen world, I want to trust and look for the good but am having a hard time.

Q3: What does the Catholic church teach on circumcision?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Springsteen on Broadway on Netflix

TOB Pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Fr. Thomas Loya

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

If masturbation isn't mentioned explicitly as a sin in the Bible, why does the Church teach that it's wrong? If my boyfriend and I feel we aren't ready for children when we get married, can we use NFP with the intention of avoiding pregnancy? I have a minor infection I'm afraid of transmitting to my pregnant wife. Can I use a condom to prevent this?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Q1: I was discussing with my Protestant friend. He says masturbation isn't wrong if you can do it without lust. In the Bible, it doesn't say that masturbation is wrong, unlike clear cut homosexuality or fornication. How would you explain it to someone who doesn't exactly share the same Catholic faith as us?

Q2: Should my boyfriend and I wait to get married until we feel ready for children, or can we get married, use NFP, and simply trust that God will only give us a child when He knows we are ready? We really want to get married and begin that chapter of our lives, but the thought of having a child right now is intimidating!

Q3: We are married and we follow NFP methods. My wife is pregnant and I have a minor infection. Is it possible to use condom during pregnancy in such a situation? Thank you for your enlightenment.

Resources mentioned this week:

Our Bodies Tell God's Story: Discovering the Divine Plane for Love, Sex, and Gender

Feasting on Faith, Food, and Beauty | Italy Pilgrimage | August 9-20, 2020

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

What do you think about the new Star Wars movies? What about Gone with the Wind? How do I love myself in the woman in the way I know I should?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: Hi Christopher and Wendy! I know you're interested in movies, and that Gone with the Wind is one of the most influential movies ever. Do you have any thoughts on it?

Q2: As a young woman I find it hard to love myself as I deserve. Do you have any insights as to treating my own sexuality with love and respect, and how do I touch my own body in a pure way?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Talk by Fabrice Hadjadj

Feasting on Food, Faith, and Beauty Pilgrimage

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

How do I talk about cohabitation with my secular friends? My wife wants to use contraception, what should I do? How does Theology of the Body speak into seminary formation and discernment for priesthood?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: How can I charitably discuss the topic of living together before marriage with couples who do not share the faith? And in some ways may find Christianity in general to be abrasive. I want the best for these people, and my concern comes from a genuine desire for their good. Do you know of a secular approach to the topic of living together before marriage?

Q2: My wife has been struggling greatly with NFP and has arrived at the point of wanting to use artificial contraception. What are my obligations as a husband and what should I do?

Q3: Hello Christopher and Wendy. I just wanna ask for tips on how you would connect the Theology of theBbody with seminary formation/discerning for priestly life.

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood - Film about Fred Rogers

Learn more about becoming a Patron of the TOB Institute!

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

I had a tubal ligation, have repented, and have been absolved, but I still feel guilt. Can you give me any guidance? Was the Crucifixion God the Father taking out his wrath on God the Son? What advice can you give to someone who is struggling with pornography and masturbation? What about someone in a relationship with such a person?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: My husband and I have 5 children. After 4 C-Sections and tremendous pressure from medics, I agreed to tubal ligation. I prayed about it all through my last pregnancy and decided to have the procedure. I have been left with very debilitating conditions following my c sections and another pregnancy and section would have been extremely risky. I have felt shame and guilt. I've spoken to several priests and I've asked and received forgiveness in the sacrament of reconciliation. Now I'm at a loss. Priests assure me that I'm not committing sin when my husband and I embrace but now having read your book "TOB for Beginners", I'm once again heartbroken. My husband does not believe in the teachings on contraception but he was loving and supportive when we used NFP. I'm 45. I adore my husband and now Im scared that we are committing terrible sin. I'm also a Eucharistic minister and lector and I just don't know where to go from here.

Q2: Just wondered if I could get the book reference that Christopher made in the Atomic Pumpkin episode from Pope Benedict, regarding not getting off track about the crucifixion on "paying the price"? I was just talking to a friend about the difference between Eastern and Western soteriology (Christus Victor vs. penal substitionary atonement models) and personally think the best approach is our Catholic "both/and". I'd LOVE to read more about what Pope Benedict had to say on this matter! Thanks-- I'm a 38, current theology student at Franciscan University, recent convert to Catholicism (three years), HUGE ToB fangirl, and lifelong lover of Jesus! Love you guys, so thankful for you--I pray for your ministry and family regularly!

Q3: What advice would you give to someone who is struggling with pornography and masturbation, but wouldn't consider himself addicted? And, what advice would you give to someone on the other end of that relationship? Where is the line between being compassionate/understanding and knowing when it's time to walk away?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Introduction to Christianity by Joseph Ratzinger

Fill These Hearts by Christopher West

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

How often should married couples have intercourse? How do I relate to my relative who is undergoing a sex reassignment surgery? Is it normal to experience resistance when trying to teach Theology of the Body at my parish?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

Theology of the Body for Beginners

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

How does one get as knowledgeable about TOB as Christopher West? Is it okay for Catholics to do yoga? As a mother, I often feel conflicted about covering up to breastfeed. What does TOB say about the theology of my body in this regard?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Q1: How does one become as knowledgeable about TOB as Christopher West?

Q2: I enjoyed attending yoga classes and found it had many beneficial effects, but stopped going as I was told it was not compatible with Catholic teachings. My understanding is that yoga has physical and spiritual elements and essentially you are using your body to get into a pose and in doing so opening yourself up to other undesirable forces.

However other Catholics I know are of the opinion that yoga is just a form of exercise. The poses are not inherently bad and you can avoid the [non-Catholic] spiritual & meditative side of it and therefore it is not in conflict with Catholic teachings.

There are different opinions amongst the Catholic community on this and counter arguments to the above and I’m a little confused. From a TOB perspective can you share your views ?

If incompatible with Catholic teaching what are the consequences of practicing yoga?

Q3: Becoming a mother was a very enlightening experience, especially in regard to the Theology of the Body. Breastfeeding in particular is something I often contemplate which led me to a deeper understanding of the Theology of MY Body as a woman and mother. That being said, can you address the over-sexualization of a woman’s breasts? In our culture, if a woman breastfeeds her infant away from home, she often feels morally obligated to cover herself when she does this. While I understand this and do wear a cover, it frustrates me (and my babies). I struggle to understand why breasts, which are clearly designed to nurture infants, are hyper-sexualized and treated like a ”bedroom accessory”.

Resources mentioned this week:

TOB Courses

Theology of the Body for Beginners

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

What does St. Paul mean when he talks about "marital debt" in First Corinthians? I've had a hysterectomy; is this an impediment to marriage? How do I respond to people who believe that large families are harmful to the environment?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Q1: In recent weeks, I’ve heard discussions from other podcasts about the “marital debt” which is taken from Paul’s letter in First Corinthians 7. Could you explain from the perspective of TOB what St. Paul is saying (or not saying) about sex being a “debt” the spouses owe to one another in marriage?

Q2: I’ve had a hysterectomy. It does not seem correct to say that if I cannot conceive, I cannot get married in the church. You’ve said a sterile man cannot get married in the church. Does this apply to me as well?

Q3: How do I respond to people who think that choosing or being open to having a large family is irresponsible due to the environmental impact that humans have, and that this choice is potentially jeopardizing the future sustainability of our planet?

Resources mentioned this week:

The Good News about Sex and Marriage

Laudato Si: Encyclical by Pope Francis

TOB Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

How do I overcome the brokenness I experience as a victim of abuse and toxic relationships? What do you think about the use of Viagra? What is the right age to talk to my kids about sex and the body?

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: I was recently in Adoration, reading the Song of Songs. I found myself very uncomfortable with what I was reading. I know these words demonstrate the life between Christ and His Church, and the ideal life that could be shared between spouses. But as someone who has suffered sexual abuse and toxic relationships, I can’t seem to read this words without shame, especially those parts describing the body. How can I begin to believe in my core that eros and agape love is real, and to begin to receive it from the Lord?

Q2: What do you think of Viagra?

Q3: What is the best age to teach my kids about sex and their body?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality

Beyond the Birds and the Bees by Greg and Lisa Popcak

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.

Animals vs humans! Relics! Catholics going overboard on Mary! We've got it all this week!

Ask Christopher West is a weekly podcast in which Theology of the Body Institute Director Christopher West and his beloved wife Wendy share their humor and wisdom, answering questions about marriage, relationships, life, and the Catholic faith, all in light of John Paul II’s beautiful teachings on the Theology of the Body.

Want to support the Theology of the Body Institute? Become a Patron!

Q1: God saw Adam was alone in the garden and so gave him a mate, Eve. But I don't see how this made Adam any different from all the other animals. Didn't all the other animals have a mate already. Weren't they all made male and female. If so why was Adam the only animal made male only. If God made all the animals male and female at the beginning why didn't He make man Male and Fem,ale at the beginning? How does being male and female make man any different from all the other animals?

Q2: Can you explain the Catholic fascination with Relics?

Q3: As a Catholic, I'm interested in learning more about Mary, but I'm afraid of going "overboard" with it, as many Catholics do. Do you have any advice?

Submit your question at AskChristopherWest.com.

Resources mentioned this week:

TOB Courses - Keep an eye out for our Marian course, coming soon!

Find Christopher West on Facebook and Instagram.

If you enjoy the podcast, help us out by writing a review. Thanks for listening!

Christopher and Wendy hope their advice is helpful to you, but they are not licensed counseling professionals. If you are dealing with serious issues, please consult our list of trusted professionals.

Featuring music by Mike Mangione.

Produced by Sounder and Key.