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Category Archives: Clergy Issues
Becoming a Hermit in the 21st Century
Q: I’m a priest of the diocese of X. Presently, I’m considering becoming a hermit according to canon 603. The process seems far more difficult than incardinating into another diocese or religious order…. Under what circumstances can the bishop refuse … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Other Canonical Questions
Tagged canon law, Catholic, clergy, eremitic, hermit
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Bishops Interfering in Parish Ministry, Part II
Q: The bishop of [a diocese in the US] is giving an annual retreat which nearly every priest in the diocese must attend, leaving parishes without priests, daily Mass, and access to the sacraments for four days. He stated that … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Holy Mass, Parish Life, Rights of the Faithful, Sacraments
Tagged bishop, canon law, Catholic, clergy, diocese, retreat
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Bishops Interfering in Parish Ministry, Part I
Q: I am a priest in the Diocese of X…. Our bishop has told us pastors that we must all submit our schedule of Masses to his office for approval. He has mandated a maximum number of Masses we pastors … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Parish Life
Tagged bishop, canon law, Catholic, diocese, parish priest, pastor
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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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