-
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
Are SSPX Sacraments Valid? Part I
Q: What’s the canonical status of priests ordained by SSPX bishops, and what’s the canonical status of the sacraments they administer? –John A: It would have been marvelous to be able to respond to John that the priests of the … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Crimes and Sanctions, Sacraments
Tagged canon law, Catholic, sacraments, SSPX, validity
Comments Off on Are SSPX Sacraments Valid? Part I
Women’s Ordination and the Case of Roy Bourgeois
Q: I’m trying to figure out what is really going on in the case of Fr. Bourgeois, who was kicked out of the Maryknolls last year. The stories I read suggested that he was excommunicated and is no longer a … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Crimes and Sanctions
Tagged canon law, Catholic, excommunication, laicization, Maryknoll, Roy Bourgeois
Comments Off on Women’s Ordination and the Case of Roy Bourgeois
Is Nepotism Still an Issue in the Church?
Q: In the medieval and renaissance periods, the Church had many problems with nepotism. We hear nothing about this issue any more, but I’m wondering whether this is still a potential problem, at least in theory. Are there canons which … Continue reading
Canon Law and False Abuse Allegations, Part II
(Part I of this article was posted on May 2, 2013, and can be read here.) In the first part of our discussion of false sexual-abuse accusations leveled against Catholic priests, we saw that canon law provides—and has always provided—a … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Crimes and Sanctions
Tagged canon law, Catholic, clergy, sexual abuse
Comments Off on Canon Law and False Abuse Allegations, Part II
Canon Law and False Abuse Allegations, Part I
Q: There are so many stories of priest-abusers shielded in past years by their superiors, who allowed it to continue. But not all the accusations are true, right? Do you know of any cases of priests accused of sexual abuse, … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Crimes and Sanctions
Tagged canon law, Catholic, clergy, sexual abuse
Comments Off on Canon Law and False Abuse Allegations, Part I