Author Archives: canonlawmadeeasy

Are SSPX Sacraments Valid? Part I

Q: What’s the canonical status of priests ordained by SSPX bishops, and what’s the canonical status of the sacraments they administer? –John A: It would have been marvelous to be able to respond to John that the priests of the … Continue reading

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How Many Miracles are Required to Canonize a Saint?

Q: How many miracles are required before somebody can be canonized a saint?  I thought that you needed three.  But now the Pope has announced that John Paul II will be canonized after only two miracles, and John XXIII with … Continue reading

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Why is the Marriage Tribunal Insisting I First Need a Divorce?

Q: My sister wants an annulment so she can remarry in the Church.  But when she began asking questions about how to go about it, she was immediately told that she can’t get an annulment unless she is divorced first.  … Continue reading

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Women’s Ordination and the Case of Roy Bourgeois

Q: I’m trying to figure out what is really going on in the case of Fr. Bourgeois, who was kicked out of the Maryknolls last year.  The stories I read suggested that he was excommunicated and is no longer a … Continue reading

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Is Nepotism Still an Issue in the Church?

Q: In the medieval and renaissance periods, the Church had many problems with nepotism.  We hear nothing about this issue any more, but I’m wondering whether this is still a potential problem, at least in theory.  Are there canons which … Continue reading

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