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Author Archives: Cathy Caridi
Why is This Method of Baptizing Illicit?
Q: I have recently discovered that my Presbyterian baptism was invalid (improper matter—baptizing with no flowing water). No investigation was done at the time of my conversion [to Catholicism], only a request for a baptismal certificate and so it was … Continue reading
Posted in Baptism, Canonical Issues Involving Non-Catholics, Sacraments
Tagged baptism, canon law, Catholic, illicit, sprinkling, valid
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Who’s Supposed to Pay a Priest’s Salary?
Q: My wife and some of her Catholic girlfriends have befriended a travelling priest who stopped in our diocese for a while. He’s from [another diocese hundreds of miles away]. This priest promotes life-issues and traditional family values, etc. and … Continue reading
Can a Lapsed Catholic Be a Godparent?
Q1: Is it written anywhere, or in any authoritative text from the Holy See (or Bishops Conference), that being in an irregular marriage bars one from being a godparent? The canon seems vague. One could argue that living in a … Continue reading
Posted in Baptism, Parish Life, Sacraments
Tagged baptism, canon law, Catholic, godparent
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(Repost) Confession and General Absolution
(The post below was written many years ago, but it addresses an issue which unfortunately is still with us, particularly before Christmas. That’s why it seems feasible to post it again. Have a happy and holy Christmas!) Q: Last year, … Continue reading
Posted in Confession, Parish Life
Tagged absolution, canon law, Catholic, confession
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Adopting Children of Another Faith (Eastern Churches, Part II)
Q: Although my husband and I are Roman Catholics, we have attended a Byzantine parish for many years. We adopted four children as infants from Eastern Europe. The orphanage director gave us their baptismal certificates written in Russian, and told … Continue reading
Posted in Baptism, Canonical Issues Involving Non-Catholics, Confirmation, Sacraments
Tagged adopt, baptize, canon law, Catholic, chrismate, eastern
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