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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
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
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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
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Can Laypeople Hold Top Vatican Positions?
Q: My husband and I are hoping that you can clear up our confusion about the significance of this article … about Pope Francis reorganizing the different offices in the Vatican. It sounds to us like the Pope says that … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Other Canonical Questions, Rights of the Faithful, The Pope
Tagged canon law, Catholic, clergy, laypeople, Lumen Gentium, power of governance, Praedicate Evangelium
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Does an Excommunicated Priest Administer Valid Sacraments? (Part II)
(Part I of this article was posted on April 28, 2022, and can be read here.) We have been discussing a scenario described to us by John, who wanted to know if his confirmation was administered invalidly. John was concerned … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Crimes and Sanctions, Sacraments
Tagged baptism, canon law, Catholic, confirmation, excommunicate, invalid, marriage, priest, schism, validity
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Does an Excommunicated Priest Administer Valid Sacraments? (Part I)
Q: I was confirmed as an adult convert by a priest who had faculties to do so. Recently, I have noticed that this priest has voiced his personal opinions about Pope Francis that are arguably schismatic. For example, that the … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Crimes and Sanctions
Tagged canon law, Catholic, excommunicated, Pope Francis, priest, schism
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