The majority of churches talk a lot about being open to questions. For the most part, that’s true, but there’s a fine line between what’s allowed in a worship setting & what isn’t. Many people figure out where the line is without being told. Beyond the obvious things, like not interrupting the sermon with questions, there are a few other questions that seem reasonable and polite, yet still aren’t allowed to be asked. Here are seven faith questions you’re not supposed to ask in church.
1. Why doesn’t the church pray for certain political issues?
Some people feel curious about what exactly their church is praying for, and they’ll ask, “Why doesn’t the church pray for certain political issues?” But that’s a bad idea. Public prayer can cross legal lines as well as theological ones, and churches in America have to avoid any political campaigning to maintain their tax-exempt status. Scholars like Lloyd H. Mayer have said that prayer counts as political messaging when it’s connected to parties or candidates, even issues at the ballot. As such, you should avoid asking about it during a service. You’ll risk forcing the clergy into a legal problem that they’ve been trained to avoid.
2. Can you do an exorcism for someone right now?
The church takes exorcism quite seriously, so asking “Can you do an exorcism for someone right now?” breaks a rather important chain of authority. Catholic priests aren’t allowed to simply decide to perform an exorcism. It doesn’t matter that they might think the situation calls for one, as Canon 1172 dictates that they require explicit permission from the local bishop to perform an exorcism. The Vatican also reaffirmed this during a 1985 directive. They warned the clergy not to act independently with exorcism, meaning that asking a priest to perform one pressures them to ignore the rules that they must follow.
3. Can you anoint my relative even if they’re not really sick?
Despite what some people might believe, the Anointing of the Sick is more than a general comfort ritual. Publicly asking a priest, “Can you anoint my relative even if they’re not really sick?” puts the clergy into an awkward position. They’ll have to directly refuse someone in front of other people. According to the Catechism, the Anointing of the Sick is restricted to those with serious illness or at an advanced age. It’s also allowed for those who are suffering from real physical decline. However, only priests may administer the sacrament & misusing it turns it into something it’s not supposed to be.
4. Can you deny someone communion if you disagree with their lifestyle?
Church law intentionally keeps judgment private. As a result, asking “Can you deny someone communion if you disagree with their lifestyle?” is only going to make things uncomfortable. There are only a few conditions under which communion may be withheld under Canon 915. However, the Vatican has stressed that enforcing the communion rules is only allowed pastorally, rather than publicly. Asking during a service is a big mistake. Essentially, you’re putting pressure on the clergy to talk about someone’s moral status in front of other people, and the Church wants to avoid that. They don’t want any scandals or gossip.
5. Why hasn’t the church removed a priest after complaints?
Confidentiality is an important part of church discipline. Under canon law, officials must conduct investigations & complete documentation while also reviewing boards before any public action may be taken. This means you shouldn’t ask something like, “Why hasn’t the church removed a priest after complaints?” In fact, canon lawyer Nicholas Cafardi explained that talking about allegations publicly before the procedures finish can cause many issues. It violates both church law & civil due process. Even when people already know that something’s wrong, the clergy isn’t going to address such issues during worship. So don’t ask them about it.
6. Is this teaching actually required to believe, or is it optional?
You might think that asking, “Is this teaching actually required to believe, or is it optional?” is a fair question. But asking it publicly may create issues. Such a question challenges how the authority works in churches with a defined doctrine, and that’s not something you want to do publicly. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith formally classifies teachings into certain levels. Each of these levels requires a different kind of assent, meaning that bringing the issue up during a service could suggest that people can pick & choose their standards on the spot. It’s something to talk about catechesis instead of during open worship.
7. Does the church officially say people of other religions go to hell?
The Church actively avoids trying to turn complex theology into public soundbites. That’s why asking, “Does the church officially say people of other religions go to hell?” is a bad question. Sure, Lumen Gentium §16 does give a clear explanation of how salvation works for non-Christians. But theologians like Karl Rahner have warned about the risk of oversimplifying such a topic. Doing so risks people making false conclusions, and churches will avoid addressing the issues publicly as a result. They’ll usually only answer similar questions in a teaching setting with full context.
By themselves, none of these questions seems all that strange or inappropriate, and they’re in more of a gray zone. They’re affected by theology & ethics, alongside long-standing church practices. But that doesn’t mean you should try asking them. Sure, some pastors might give you an answer, yet it’s probably better to keep them to yourself so that you don’t rock the boat.
