Can Catholics be registered at two parishes?
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Can Catholics be registered at two parishes?

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Question: Is it allowed for someone to be enrolled in two parishes? We are fortunate to have many choices, and one parish appears to better fulfill our formation requirements, while the other provides us with a diverse community that we appreciate.
— Donald R. McCrabb, Greenbelt, Maryland
Answer: It is allowed. Your situation is a frequent one nowadays, and both parishes might want to include you in their files to connect occasionally.
According to Canon Law, there should be no differences or prerequisites based on the issue of “registration” within a parish. The idea of registration is primarily an American notion—beneficial in many respects, yet not an obligatory requirement of Church law. A parish or pastor that denies the administration of sacraments or other services based on a person’s or family’s registration status is infringing upon the rights of those Catholics. There could be other canonical reasons that might lead a pastor or parish to postpone the granting of sacraments until specific criteria are fulfilled, but registration itself is not among these reasons.

Addressing the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe
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Addressing the miraculous image of Our Lady of Guadalupe

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Question: I have come to understand that the tilma of Our Lady of Guadalupe has received painted enhancements. I was under the impression that the image was miraculous, and this revelation appears to diminish the miraculous nature of the image. Additionally, why would anyone contemplate painting on or over any section of the image? This seems quite irreverent. How should I interpret these painted alterations?
— Name withheld
Answer: Indeed, there have been several painted enhancements to it throughout the years. For instance, a crown was incorporated but subsequently taken away. A few angels were also depicted alongside her, yet they too eventually diminished. Other purported additions or “touch-ups” to her visage, among other aspects, are not straightforward to confirm.
This should not undermine your trust in the tilma as genuine. In a sense, it supports the genuine aspects of it. The true and original depiction continues to exist 500 years after its inception on a coarse cactus fabric that should have decayed long ago. Painted enhancements have not withstood the passage of time, although the extraordinary sections have. It remains unclear what constitutes the original depiction. It does not appear to be paint or dye or colored threads. It stays an enigma. Moreover, the incredible details in the eyes of the Blessed Mother alongside Juan Diego and many others, refracted similarly to those in a real human eye, are astonishing. Thus, what seems to be human creativity does not prevail, while what appears to be miraculous endures. This reinforces rather than undermines the authenticity of the true depiction.

A Catholic theologian grades President Trump’s first week
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A Catholic theologian grades President Trump’s first week

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In typical situations, evaluating a president’s effectiveness just one week into their term would be hasty: The amount of data is merely insufficient. However, through a whirlwind of intense actions, President Donald Trump has provided a distinct signal regarding the path his administration intends to follow on multiple pivotal policy matters. Therefore, while numerous initiatives will require time (and in certain instances, judicial review) to assess, he has accomplished enough within the first week to merit an initial report card on his endeavors.

My benchmark for evaluation is the entirety of Catholic moral doctrine, as expressed through the four foundational elements of the Church’s social doctrine: the respect for human dignity, unity of humanity, support of social frameworks, and the collective good. Considered collectively as a cohesive doctrine, these principles offer a thorough guideline for assessing the president’s conduct and communication. This does not constitute an assessment of the president’s character, which I continue to believe is problematic. Instead, my aim is to analyze various significant policy statements and actions. Any favorable assessment is in spite of, not due to, the president’s nature.

Variety, Fairness and Inclusion — Score: A-

As I have mentioned before, the expansion of DEI initiatives in recent years has been an abject failure. Instead of confronting historical injustices in a just and equitable way, they have been utilized as instruments of racism and trans-ideology to advance a radical leftist agenda.

Their impact has eroded efficiency and civic camaraderie in educational institutions, government agencies, and corporations. As a doctrine, DEI is an insult to the tenets of both equal respect and the collective welfare. Therefore, President Trump’s sweeping executive order Abolishing DEI initiatives within the federal government is a beneficial — and indeed, essential — move towards a sensible approach to hiring, retention, and advancement in workplaces, and away from detrimental indoctrination in educational institutions.