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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.
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Category Archives: Clergy Issues
What Happens When a Religious Who’s Vowed Poverty Becomes a Bishop?
Q: As for religious order priests or bishops, who normally take the three traditional vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, how does ordination to the episcopate change the requirement that they observe their vows? E.g., a Franciscan who is vowed … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues
Tagged bishop, canon law, Catholic, obedience, priest, religious institute, vow of poverty
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The Virus and the Bishops: Twisting a Vatican Document to Further an Agenda
Q: The priests of our parish have been [illegally refusing us the sacraments], so we wrote respectfully to our Bishop. We quoted some canons which you discussed in your articles. The Bishop replied to our letter and defended the priests. … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Rights of the Faithful, Sacraments
Tagged bishops, canon law, Catholic, episcopal conference, GIRM, Mass, sacraments
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Why Would a Catholic Cleric Desecrate an Altar?
Q: Probably you already know all about the priest in New Orleans who desecrated the altar of his parish together with a couple of prostitutes…. The bishop announced that he had the altar burned and would consecrate a new one. … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Crimes and Sanctions, Parish Life
Tagged altar, Bella Dodd, canon law, Catholic, desecrate, infiltrate, infiltration, priest, suspension
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Invalid Baptisms and Unaccountable Clergy
Q1: We’re from Michigan, and the invalid baptism of Father Matthew Hood in the Detroit Archdiocese is all over the Catholic news … lots of people are now wondering if their children were invalidly baptized too, or even if their … Continue reading
Posted in Baptism, Clergy Issues, Sacraments
Tagged baptism, baptize, deacon, Fr. Hood, invalid, validity
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When Can a Pastor be Removed From Office?
Q: In this article you mentioned in passing that a bishop can’t remove the pastor of a parish just because the pastor does something the bishop doesn’t like. Can you elaborate? I ask because in Wales a pastor was castigated … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Crimes and Sanctions, Parish Life
Tagged canon law, Catholic, ecclesiastical office, parish, parish priest, pastor
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