-
Canon lawyers are not responsible for the content of canon law. The Supreme Legislator is. Only Pope Francis can change the Code of Canon Law, so if you're not happy with what the law says, please take it up with him.
- Now available in paperback!
Category Archives: Clergy Issues
How Can You Obey a Law, If You Don’t Even Know It Exists?
Q: Our Archbishop issued a Decree requiring the St. Michael prayer be prayed after all scheduled Masses. For a variety of reasons, not every parish implemented the Decree and some don’t pray the prayer as directed. Now, after four years, … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Other Canonical Questions, Parish Life
Tagged administrative, bishop, canon law, Catholic, decree, executive
Comments Off on How Can You Obey a Law, If You Don’t Even Know It Exists?
What’s the Difference Between a Pastor, and a Parish Administrator?
Q: I read your piece about the pastor of a parish having to be a priest, not a layperson. That leads me to ask another question, what’s the difference between a pastor, and a “parish administrator”? The pastor of our … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Parish Life
Tagged canon law, Catholic, clergy, parish administrator, parish priest, parochial administrator, pastor
Comments Off on What’s the Difference Between a Pastor, and a Parish Administrator?
When Can a Layperson Be a Pastor of a Parish?
Q: My sister-in-law and I were having an innocent conversation about our parishes, and ended up in a huge fight. I made some comment like, “the pastor of a parish always has to be a priest,” and she went ballistic, … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Parish Life
Tagged canon law, Catholic, layperson, moderator, parish, pastor
Comments Off on When Can a Layperson Be a Pastor of a Parish?
Opus Dei and Personal Prelatures
Q: My mom is a supernumerary [i.e., a lay member] in Opus Dei. She is freaking out because Pope Francis recently forced changes on Opus Dei’s leadership and now they have to change their statutes. She says that the Pope … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Other Canonical Questions
Tagged canon law, Catholic, Opus Dei, personal prelature
Comments Off on Opus Dei and Personal Prelatures
What’s a Benefice? Eliminating Financial Corruption in the Church
Q: Can you please explain what exactly a benefice is, and how it works in the Church today? …I recently endured a tirade from an anti-Catholic evangelical, who among a million other things was bashing the Church for its financial … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues
Tagged benefice, canon law, Catholic, clergy
Comments Off on What’s a Benefice? Eliminating Financial Corruption in the Church