The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1957-05-03
Father Healey's
Enquiry { or"er


teal Catholics can Serve as
qodparentS at Catholic bdp-
tisnas. | see by the pGper that
Frank Sinntrd - tUhon | I'M
derstdnd is not such
"t0dS asked TO SerUe as god.
father for the babes OF Cath
olic couple aud a Jewish
couple on the same day" Hon.
is that possible?
A. In the first place the ar
ticle does not say that it was
done, but that he was invited
to act as godfather. II may be
that the parents had not
checked with the priest and
that ii was not done. Tradi-
tionally there have been ex-
ceptions made for honorary
godparents who we're not
Catholics in good standing
especially in royal families
etc. but such godparents
are not really godparents.
They simply stand by and are
given the name as an honor,
but the real godfather and
godmother must be good prac-
tlcal Catholics. 1t is difficult
to find out the true picture
in such cases from the secular
newspapers for they do not
often understand Catholic
teaching and practice in re-
gard to the sacraments.
q. Is not the K of C q
secret organization? Wing do
members take an oath to keep
everything secret and act so
mysterious about the initid-
ton etc?
A. The Knights of Columbus
is fraternal organization of
Catholic men. Its purposes,
as listed in the National Cath
olic Almanac are: to render
financial aid to its members
to render assistance to
sick and disabled members
to promote social and intel
lectual intercoure among mem.
bers and TO promote and
conduct educational, charit-
able, religious, social and re-
lief work. Its works are many
and varied and there is moth
ing secret about the organiza-
ton in the sense forbidden by
the Church tas with forbidden
secret societies). There is a
ritual of initiation, fully I'M
derstood by the Church as ac-
ceptable to Catholics, but
there is no oath of secrecy.
Members promise as members
OF any fraternal organization
do to keep the details of the
mysterious" initiation secret
but that is simply to drama
tie and protect the instruc-
tive value of the ceremony.
Wives and non-members who
find the references of men,
bers to such matters disturb
ing should study the construc-
tive projects undertaken by
the Knights and charitably
overlook the CI hope excus-
able) indulgence in fraternal
secrecy
q. haze been troubled
lately t0tth q case OF Scruples
and my confeSSor has giUen
me special rules TO tolloD IN
confession. When read of
priests giUing different opin-
ions on 10hether or not some
thing IS sinful t0onder If my
conteSsor has the right to qiUe
me these special rules. When
the priest tells us something
IN confession can we accept
thtS as final and definite?
A. Although the individual
priest is not infailible even
in matters of faith and morals
he does speak for God and
when he gives direction in the
sacrament of Penance he must
be obeyed. Only if there is
some solid reason for ques-
tioning his advice or direction
should another confessor be
sought. In all ordinary situa-
tons a Catholic is quite safe
in following the advice or di-
rection of the confessor. If
he makes a mistake it is upon
his head. For a person
troubled with scruples it is es-
sential that he obey the con-
fessor BY definition a scru.
pulous person is one who cam
not Judge rightly in moral
matters. He must rely on his
confessor and obey the con-
fessor Gas all Catholics
should) as the voice OF Christ.
Any disagreement anon Z
priests on moral matters gener-
ally has to do with complica-
ted questions. In confession
in particular cases the priest
has the common moral teach.
ing of the Church to guide
him and the power of the sac.
rament of Holy Orders. The
penitent can and should follow
his advice and direction.
Send questions to Father Ed
ward F. Healey. Inquiry Cor
ner, The Catholic Times. Box