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Author Archives: Cathy Caridi
Can I Become a Priest, If I Have an Illegitimate Child?
Q1: I have been discerning a call to the priesthood … [and] I have met with the vocations director and the bishop of this diocese. The bishop said I cannot be ordained a priest because I have a child out … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Holy Orders, Sacraments
Tagged canon law, Catholic, illegitimate, ordain, ordination, priest
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Can a Laicized Priest Return to the Priesthood?
Q: I was ordained a priest for the Diocese of X, and then left the priesthood to get married. Here I am sixteen years later, the marriage ended, no children. I have been reassessing my life … [and concluding that] … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Holy Orders, Sacraments
Tagged canon law, Catholic, holy orders, laicization, laicized, ordination, priest, priesthood
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Is Confession Still an Easter Duty? (Repost)
(Lately, given the season, there have been quite a lot of web-searches for “Easter duty” leading readers to this site–so it seems feasible to repost this piece again for everyone. A blessed Easter to all!) Q: When I was a … Continue reading
Posted in Confession, Parish Life, Sacraments, The Eucharist
Tagged canon law, Catholic, confession, Easter duty, holy communion
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Refusing a Funeral Mass to a Non-Parishioner
Q: At our parish the priest is very strict. If you aren’t registered as a parishioner, he won’t say a funeral Mass for you. However, he will let you have a funeral service with the deacon if you pay hundreds … Continue reading
Posted in Parish Life, Rights of the Faithful
Tagged canon law, Catholic, funeral, funeral Mass, parish, parishioner, registered
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Episcopal Celibacy and the Case of Bishop Antony
Q: Many priests and people of Mysore Diocese [in India] begged the Vatican for years to investigate the scandalous activities of their Bishop William Antony. The Bishop has many different mistresses and illegitimate children, and has [allegedly] stolen money from … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues
Tagged bishop, canon law, Catholic, celibacy, william antony
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