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Author Archives: canonlawmadeeasy
Can a Pope be Removed from Office?
Q: In a recent piece you explained that the Pope can resign if he chooses. To me that raises another question: What would happen if a Pope became so mentally debilitated that he didn’t know what he was doing? It … Continue reading
Posted in The Pope
Tagged canon law, Catholic, incapacitated, Pope
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If a Catholic Marries a Non-Christian, How is it a Sacrament?
Q: An unbaptized person can’t receive any of the other sacraments unless he gets baptized first, right? So how is it possible for a Catholic to marry a non-Christian in a Catholic ceremony? I don’t see how the non-Christian spouse … Continue reading
Posted in Canonical Issues Involving Non-Catholics, Marriage
Tagged canon law, Catholic, marriage, non-Christian
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Can a Pope Ever Resign?
Q: I read in a news article that Pope Benedict said he would resign, if he reached the point where he couldn’t physically handle being Pope any longer. Is that even possible? Can a Pope ever resign? —Scott A: It’s … Continue reading
Canon Law and Consecrating the Eucharist
Q: Is it permitted for a priest who notices he did not consecrate enough Hosts to step to the side, with another paten of unconsecrated hosts, and perform a second consecration of just those hosts (not also consecrating wine a … Continue reading
Posted in Holy Mass, The Eucharist
Tagged canon law, Catholic, consecration, eucharist, priest
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Father Pavone’s “Suspension”: Priests for Life, Part II
(Part I of this article was posted on November 21, 2012, and can be read here.) In the first part of our discussion of the unhappy situation involving Priests for Life leader Fr. Frank Pavone and his bishop, Patrick Zurek … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Crimes and Sanctions
Tagged canon law, Catholic, Pavone, suspension, Zurek
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