Patrick opens the hour threading through Catholic marriage, liturgy, and real-life listener concerns: the meaning of ad orientem, the urgency of public comment on restorative reproductive care, and tough choices families make amid faith and relationships. He fields worries about annulments, mixed-faith couples, and how tradition blends with conscience in both public prayer and private moments, wandering into tattoo removal and the subtleties of sacramental validity with direct, candid answers.

 

• Fr. Jim (email) - It seems to me that using “ad orientem” as reliable reason for supporting the LTM is weak.  (00:59)
• Patricia (email) - My longtime friend is divorced and she and her fiancé are waiting for his divorce to be finalized before they marry. They do not attend church. They live together. Could you send me some links, websites, information or RR podcasts that discuss annulments. I know she will invite me to their wedding and expects that I will attend. I will pray that they return to the sacraments. (09:04)
• Elizabeth (email) - Given that my son and his fiancée currently live together with no plans to change that, my question is this; if they do agree to get married in the church (Catholic or Lutheran) would this marriage be considered “valid”? (14:10)
• Email – There are some Catholic charities that will help with the cost of tattoo removals (22:48)
• Angela (email) - I did not go to Sunday morning (or evening) Mass last Sunday because I was not feeling well, but later that same evening I ended up walking on our treadmill at home (not the gym) because I felt a little better. Do I need to confess missing Mass before receiving Holy Communion this coming Sunday? (26:57)
• Lance - What is the difference between praying out loud and praying silently while alone in a room? (30:18)
• Ann - Spoke a year ago about my daughter dating a Muslim. You gave me the right words, and they dissolved the relationship on their own. Thank you. (36:20)
• Melissa - The validity of priesthood in the church: What are the biblical evidence, or other sources on the validity of sacraments in other denominations? (43:03)