Ask Father Rudy: Natural Disaster, God's Gender & Word, and Catholic Female Clergy

It is great to know that people are starting to feel safer asking questions about their faith or faith in general. I will not be in the following week, but I will gather questions and post the answers for the following week. This is the time, to gather some thoughtful questions for the follow-up "Ask Fr. Rudy" to olgnsgbronx@gmail.com. Thank you for you readership, faith, and support. 

God Bless You!

 

Question 1:

Even as a believer, it is difficult for me to read the Bible and accept it as God’s word. I believe in God, but I don’t believe in the Bible as man tampers with so many things that force one to have false hope. What makes one believe wholeheartedly that the Bible is God’s word?     

Well, we know that Jesus Himself accepted the Old Testament as God’s Word and believed in and lived it.  Then He as the Son of God, gave us new commandments and refocused us to a deeper love.  His own life, death and resurrection is what gives us the Hope we need…and all that is in the Bible, NT.  If Jesus said so, we can believe it.

Question 2:

Is God a man or a woman? Why do we refer to God as “He”?     

God is neither, God is both.  God IS.   Jesus however, for the sake of our human thinking always addressed God as Abba, father, heavenly father.  And it is that notion which has kept the male image alive.  God has both male and female qualities but is addressed usually as He.

Question 3:

On the news, it was asked if a woman will become a Cardinal. Is there talk of women becoming clergy in the Catholic faith? 

Actually throughout history, there have been cardinals who were not clergy.  The title Cardinal, has been an honorary title which, technically does not require holy orders, but in recent history has always been given to a bishop.  But there is the possibility that a woman could become receive the title without being ordained.  It is just an honorary tittle.

Question 4:

How do I come recognize God for myself seeing after seeing hardship like typhoon “Haiyan”?   

Because nature acts on its own, unfortunate events happen such as hurricanes, tornadoes, etc…God does not control the natural from happening, just like He doesn’t control us because of our free will.  What He does offer us is Hope that all victims of these can receive a new life, free of any earthly constraint in the resurrection.