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Category Archives: Clergy Issues
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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Episcopal Celibacy and the Case of Bishop Antony
Q: Many priests and people of Mysore Diocese [in India] begged the Vatican for years to investigate the scandalous activities of their Bishop William Antony. The Bishop has many different mistresses and illegitimate children, and has [allegedly] stolen money from … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues
Tagged bishop, canon law, Catholic, celibacy, william antony
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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
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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
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