About Fr. John Bartunek, LC

Fr. John Bartunek, LC

Fr John Bartunek, LC, STL, received his BA in History from Stanford University in 1990, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. He comes from an evangelical Christian background and became a member of the Catholic Church in 1991. After college he worked as a high school history teacher, drama director, and baseball coach. He then spent a year as a professional actor in Chicago before entering the religious Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ in 1993. He has since received ecclesiastical degrees in philosophy and theology and worked in youth and college ministries. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 2003.

Fr. John provided spiritual support on the set of Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ while researching the 2005 Catholic best seller, Inside the Passion, the only authorized, behind-the-scene explanation of the film. Fr John has contributed news commentary regarding religious issues on CNN, Fox, and the BBC. He has appeared on Larry King Live, Hannity and Colmes, and the Laura Ingraham radio show. He also served as the English-language press liaison for the Vatican’s 2005 Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist.

Fr. John's most recent book, published by Circle Press in 2007, is called: The Better Part: A Christ-Centered Resource for Personal Prayer. Fr John currently resides in New York, where he is engaged in doctoral research, teaching Ecclesiastical History, serving as the President of Circle Media (publisher of The National Catholic Register and Faith and Family magazine) and continuing his writing apostolate.


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An Update From Fr. John Bartunek

I want to thank the Faith and Family Live community for the generous comments made regarding my post on wedding receptions. Reflecting on those comments has made me reconsider my own reasoning; it is not so easy as I thought to navigate between kindness and scandal. Please know that I will keep praying, reflecting, and conversing about this issue, seeking to reach the same level of certainty that many of you have already attained.

I sincerely apologize for any confusion I may have caused, and I am doing penance for it. I hope the Faith and Family Live community will continue allowing me to strive to serve them, in spite of my obvious limitations.


A New Mother Flounders

Ask a Priest vol. 25

Q: I am a new mom and, as much as I looked forward to motherhood, I must admit that I am floundering. I feel tired all the time, I hate my new body, and even though I love my new son, I find him very hard to appreciate most of the time—especially when he keeps me up all hours of the night.

I find myself resenting my husband (who honestly is very helpful and supportive) because he works a job outside... READ MORE


'My Parents Think We Have Too Many Kids'

Ask a Priest vol. 24

Q: My parents don’t share our faith. In fact, they think we’re crazy to be expecting our 5th child right now. They are not shy about voicing their opinions in our presence, and it is beginning to upset me that they do so in front of our children. I love my parents and want to respect them, but how can I respectfully get them to back off?

A: This is a challenging situation, but it is also an opportunity.... READ MORE


Can a Busy Life Be Prayerful?

Ask a Priest vol. 23

Q: Between caring for my four young kids and husband, running my household, and working a part time job, I sometimes find that prayer time gets pushed aside again and again until it’s almost non-existent (or only on Sunday mornings). I need some help prioritizing my prayer time and making my faith a larger part of my everyday life. Any suggestions?

A: I am sure our readers will have plenty of suggestions... READ MORE


How to Love a Homosexual

Ask a Priest vol. 22

(Editor’s note: Fr. John is re-considering the advice he offers here. I am leaving this post intact as a point of reference, but please read the update from Fr. John here.)

(Editor’s note: We received the following letter from a Faith & Family magazine reader in response to Melinda’s Selmys’s article about homosexuality in our Summer issue.)

Q: I would like to respond with much disappointment to the... READ MORE


More on Faith Parenting Alone

Ask a Priest vol. 21

Last time we reflected on the reality that our culture is no longer a Christian culture, and so faith-divided families are more and more prevalent.

But at the same time, from God’s perspective, those situations are the very ones that he will use to reclaim this culture for Christ – they are not outside his purview; he is at work in the midst of them and will make use of your daily efforts to be his... READ MORE


Nurturing Faith When You're On Your Own

Ask a Priest vol. 20

Q: What do you think about faith-parenting alone?

A: The resonance that this question has had with our readers (Lisa received a slew of heartfelt responses) reflects the reality that we are in a post-Christian culture.

In the early centuries of the Church, while the culture of the Roman Empire was still pagan, people became Christians individually, instead of being brought up in a Christian family.... READ MORE


Salvation Is Not a Math Problem

Further Clarifications on Indulgences

Ask a Priest vol.19

I was somewhat surprised at the conversation sparked by the Q&A regarding indulgences.

At the risk of aggravating current misunderstandings, I thought I should share a couple more thoughts.

The Days of Our Indulgences

I want to start with two clarifications. First of all, one reader referred to the older practice of linking indulgences with particular numbers of “days” in purgatory.... READ MORE


Those Complicated Catholics

Ask a Priest vol. 18

Q: Please explain Plenary Indulgences. If one confession fulfills the requirement of plenary indulgences 8 days before and 8 days after, it seems to me that if someone went to Communion everyday, prayed for the intentions of the Holy Father everyday and prayed the rosary before the Blessed Sacrament everyday, that she could release 17 souls from purgatory in 17 days. Is that right?

A: Last time we explored, briefly, the reality of purgatory,... READ MORE


Making Sense of Purgatory and Indulgences

Ask a Priest vol. 17

Q: Please explain Plenary Indulgences. If one confession fulfills the requirement of plenary indulgences 8 days before and 8 days after, it seems to me that if someone went to Communion everyday, prayed for the intentions of the Holy Father everyday and prayed the rosary before the Blessed Sacrament everyday, that she could release 17 souls from purgatory in 17 days. Is that right?

A: You are basically... READ MORE


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