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Author Archives: Cathy Caridi
Who Decides Whether a Catholic Has Been Excommunicated?
Q: My (big mouthed!) spiritual director directly broke the seal of confession (names and sins) privately to me not once but twice (same conversation)…. When it happened, I called him out on it and told him he had just excommunicated … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Confession, Crimes and Sanctions, Sacraments
Tagged canon law, Catholic, confession, excommunicated, latae sententiae, sacramental seal
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Excommunication and the Seal of Confession (Sanctions, Part VI)
Q: My question relates to the seal of the confessional because I am wondering if I broke it. I know I acted imprudently, but whether or not I broke it is somewhat unclear to me…. I was hearing confessions and … Continue reading
Posted in Confession, Crimes and Sanctions, Sacraments
Tagged canon law, Catholic, sacramental seal, seal of confession
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Limiting Diocesan Bishops’ Authority: Recent Decrees From Pope Francis
Q: I would like to ask a question about diocesan bishops and episcopal authority, but I don’t know how to formulate it. I hope you’ll bear patiently with me, there’s a confused jumble of ideas in my head! These ideas … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, The Pope
Tagged bishop, canon law, Catholic, diocesan bishop, Episcopal, Fiducia Supplicans
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Fiducia Supplicans and the Magisterium
Q: When reading news about Fiducia Supplicans, and then reading the declaration itself, I was struck by this statement it contains about the Church’s Magisterium: Such theological reflection, based on the pastoral vision of Pope Francis, implies a real development … Continue reading
Posted in Catholic Education, Other Canonical Questions, The Pope
Tagged blessing, canon law, Catholic, Fiducia Supplicans, magisterial teaching, magisterium
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When Christmas Falls on a Monday: Holydays of Obligation, Part III
Q: If a solemnity is a precept [i.e., a holyday of obligation] in my country and it falls on a Saturday or a Monday, is going to just one Mass enough to fulfill the precept? For example, if a festivity … Continue reading
Posted in Holy Mass, Other Canonical Questions, Parish Life
Tagged canon law, Catholic, Christmas, holyday of obligation, holydays, Mass
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