Q: When we were kids, we were told that on Christmas Day, we were allowed to receive Holy Communion twice, if we attended two Masses. The same was true for Easter. Is this still allowed? –Margie Continue reading
Q1: Would you explain what the official duties of a parochial vicar are?
In our parish we have a pastor and a parochial vicar. The pastor is much older than the parochial vicar, but he’s not what we would describe as “elderly” and is in good health…. We parishioners are concerned because it’s becoming obvious that the pastor is delegating a disproportionate amount of work to the parochial vicar. The parochial vicar hears 100% of the confessions; he celebrates 100% of the early morning Masses; he teaches two different catechism classes to the children, on two separate evenings; he prepares 100% of engaged couples for marriage; he oversees the restocking of our parish soup kitchen, which feeds hundreds of homeless people each week; [etc.].
Meanwhile, none of us is really sure what the pastor does all day long. Maybe he’s engaged in lots of necessary activities which we parishioners don’t know anything about … [but] when any of us run into him, he’s never in a hurry. He never seems stressed or tired. In contrast, the parochial vicar always looks exhausted, and apologizes a lot because he forgot to do this or that, since he’s got so much going on….
My wife finally asked [the parochial vicar] point-blank if the pastor has dumped too many responsibilities on him. He just smiled feebly and changed the subject. It seems very unjust. Is this a canonical problem that you could help us with? –Adam
Q2: Is it legal under canon law for a parish priest to prevent his parochial vicar from preaching? Whenever our parochial vicar celebrates a Sunday Mass, the parish priest insists on preaching himself. No explanation has been given…. We’ve never heard the vicar preach even once, and are wondering what’s going on… —Lia Continue reading
Q: I am engaged to a non-baptized person and he is not willing to be baptized to marry me in the Catholic Church, as he thinks it is hypocritical. I would like some advice regarding whether or not there is effectively “any point” from a Catholic perspective in having a non-sacramental marriage vs a blessing following a civil ceremony.
My fiancé says he is an atheist. I still believe in God and the fundamentals of Catholicism. I’ve heeded the warnings, don’t worry, but we share exactly the same moral views … [and] my fiancé is willing to raise our children as Catholic.
Anyway, I have read your website on Canon Law and understand that if I marry a non-baptized person that it is then just a “natural marriage.” If this is the case, then is there any real benefit from the Catholic point of view in marrying in a Church if the marriage is not recognized as a Catholic marriage? I wondered what the difference is really, if at all, from a non-sacramental marriage and a civil ceremony with a blessing afterwards? … Whilst your website is very helpful, I have not as yet come across anything to suggest that there is really any benefit in the eyes of God between a blessing following a civil ceremony and a non-sacramental marriage. –Aisha Continue reading
Q: I’m trying to get my son confirmed, but I have to send him to the baptist non-Catholic youth ministry (sic). Why is it called Catholic youth ministry (CYM)? Why don’t the children have catechism anymore? I am homeschooling my child and we read the Baltimore catechism every day.… I come each Wednesday night with our children because we are worried what non-Catholic material they are going to force on our children. The only time my children’s innocence is compromised is at our Catholic youth ministry.
I tried to explain to our priest that they don’t teach the faith at all at the CYM classes. He disagrees with me. The policy states that a child must start CYM in September and go thru April in order to be confirmed and if the child misses more than 2 days, then they will not be confirmed. So since I love my child and attend the CYM every week, the head of CYM is irate with me for sitting in the class and because I have my other 3 children in the same class since I’m afraid of what the other teachers will teach them and I can’t be in 4 places at one time. My children’s ages are 12, 11 and 9 and are in the class but don’t say a word and are as good as gold. By the way, there isn’t any Catholic learning material in the classroom except a bible. Why can’t catechism be taught in catechism class? I am the one who has suffered day in and day out by homeschooling, taking the children to daily Mass, taking them to first Fridays, to first Saturdays, we are consecrated to Jesus thru Mary, we pray the divine mercy chaplet daily, and the rosary daily.
The head of CYM is now forcing me to take the stupid Virtus training since I sit in the class with my child.… I feel like my rights have been so violated with the CYM making me have criminal background check for sitting with my children at class. There is always an adult teacher in the room so what’s the big deal… I am not a teacher or a volunteer or an employee. Why are they harassing me so? –Cindy Continue reading
Q: During a visit to a city in Europe, we went to attend evening Mass at the city’s cathedral. During the day, it is visited by many tourists and has an entrance fee to support the maintenance of the building.
Upon entering the building we were stopped by an employee who asked why we were there as visiting hours were ending and tickets were not being sold. We said we wanted to attend Mass and were told Mass was in the downstairs chapel. Indeed, there was a Mass in English taking place in a lower chapel, at the same time as Mass in the upper church in the local language. We pointed to the website with the schedule but were told by multiple employees there was no Mass upstairs. While attending the Mass in English, we heard Mass taking place upstairs (bells and organ) and we later saw other people leaving the upstairs Mass.
We were dressed conservatively and my wife even had a mantilla. Looking at internet reviews of the basilica, it seems that tourists are often redirected away from Mass. There were groups of non-English speakers at the Mass we attended, so it does not seem that the employees were simply trying to be helpful by directing us to Mass in English.
Does canon law provide for preventing certain groups from attending Mass? Who would one contact if there is a violation taking place? And, if I may ask another question, although this was not our issue: could a church have a required entrance fee during Mass? –Ryan Continue reading
Canon lawyers are not responsible for the content of canon law. The Supreme Legislator is. Only Pope Francis can change the Code of Canon Law, so if you're not happy with what the law says, please take it up with him.
