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Author Archives: canonlawmadeeasy
Marriage and Annulment
Q: One of my best friends was raised Catholic like me, but she stopped going to church when her parents got their marriage annulled. She says that it’s ridiculous for the Catholic Church to say her parents weren’t married, since … Continue reading
Can a Non-Catholic Receive Holy Communion in a Catholic Church?
Q: My coworker is a Baptist who is married to a Catholic, and attends Sunday Mass regularly with her. He asked the priest whether he could receive Holy Communion even though he is not a Catholic, and the priest replied, … Continue reading
Posted in Canonical Issues Involving Non-Catholics, The Eucharist
Tagged canon law, Catholic, holy communion, non-catholic
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Can the Pastor Refuse to Baptize Our Child?
Q: My wife and I are both Catholics and are expecting our first child in three months. Our parish requires all parents who want their baby baptized to attend an evening class, which conflicts with my work-schedule. Otherwise they told … Continue reading
When Can a Priest Refuse to Absolve a Penitent in the Confessional?
Q. A visiting priest was hearing confessions one weekend at my parish, while the pastor was away. He refused to grant me absolution, because he said that I hadn’t sinned! I confessed some venial sins, but he told me that … Continue reading
Posted in Confession, Rights of the Faithful
Tagged absolution, canon law, Catholic, confession
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Can a Non-Catholic be Given a Catholic Funeral?
Q: I am a Catholic, and my husband of nearly 50 years is a member of the Assembly of God, a protestant church that’s popular down South, where he’s originally from. We were married in the Catholic Church and we … Continue reading
Posted in Canonical Issues Involving Non-Catholics, Other Canonical Questions
Tagged canon law, Catholic, funeral
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