Q1: Is a parish required to register an emergency baptism conferred by a layman? Thanks. –Rimsky
Q2: I have a question that I’m hoping you can help me with. Is it possible to baptize an infant at a parish located in a different Diocese than the one where the family is registered, while still recording the baptism with their home parish? –Khalil Continue reading
Q: I grew up in a non-churchgoing home with a Catholic father and Lutheran mother. I always assumed I had been baptized Lutheran as it’s the only denomination that I ever heard discussed in my home. I married my Methodist wife in a civil ceremony, as I had no attachment to any church.
I’ve recently found my faith and while doing research into becoming Catholic, I learned I was actually baptized Catholic in my father’s church. My question is, since I was baptized into the Catholic Church even though I didn’t know it, if my wife and I decide to join the Church officially and are confirmed, will the Church consider our marriage valid? If not, what will we need to do? –Lee Continue reading
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
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.
