Can priests own fancy cars or expensive things? Do some priests make money? It’s a question people ask often, and the answer reveals something deeper about what it means to follow Jesus. From vows of poverty to promises of prayer and obedience, discover how the priesthood isn’t about possessions… It’s about purpose. In this episode of Ask A Priest, Father Edward Looney explains the difference between diocesan priests and religious order priests and why both are called to live lives of simplicity and service, not wealth.
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What if the Vatican Sold Everything and Gave the Money to the Poor?
If the Vatican has so much art, gold, and beauty, why not sell it all and give the money to the poor?
It’s a fair question, and one people ask all the time. In this episode of Ask A Priest, Father Tim explains what would actually happen if the Church sold off its sacred art, churches, museums, and treasures.
Drawing from his experience seeing a priceless Caravaggio painting in a Roman church, standing next to people from every walk of life, Father Tim shows how the Church has always made beauty available to everyone, not just the wealthy. Catholic churches have long been places where the poor, the rich, the traveler, and the local can all encounter beauty that lifts the soul to God.
But the answer goes even deeper. Selling everything would not simply “solve poverty”. It could privatize sacred beauty, weaken Catholic charitable infrastructure, destabilize education and healthcare in vulnerable parts of the world, and reinforce the idea that only “useful” things matter.
The Catholic Church doesn’t just talk about charity. It has institutionalized charity through hospitals, schools, orphanages, shelters, food pantries, refugee care, and relief work around the world. Beauty matters. Charity matters. And the Church is called to protect both.
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Holy Thursday (Holy Week Retreat)
What are you trying to be known for, and is it actually enough?
On Holy Thursday, Father Tim reflects on the gift of the priesthood and the Eucharist, but also something deeper about identity. The apostles changed the world, yet we don’t know their personalities, talents, or status. What we do know is this: they were friends of Jesus. And that was enough.
In a world where we’re constantly trying to prove ourselves, to be the smartest, funniest, or most successful, this episode invites a different question: what if being known by Jesus matters more than being known by everyone else?
Without the Eucharist, there is no Jesus. And without Jesus, nothing else satisfies. This Holy Week, can you let go of being “known” and choose to simply be His friend?
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Is Genesis Just Another Ancient Creation Story?
Does Genesis contradict science? Fr. Tim explains how Catholics read Genesis, why genre matters, and how Scripture and sound science fit together.
