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Category Archives: Crimes and Sanctions
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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Canon Law and Priests With Illegitimate Children
Q: What are the canonical effects of a priest fathering a child? A few priests in my diocese have left over the decades in this situation…. A priest being involved in adultery is undoubtedly a horrible sin, at least in … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Crimes and Sanctions
Tagged canon law, Catholic, clergy, illegitimate children, priests, sanction
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Is it a Sacrilege to Hit a Priest?
Q: When I was a child, I learned that it would be a sacrilege to strike a Catholic priest. He is a man of God and over the centuries the Church has considered him to be sacrosanct, or so we … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Crimes and Sanctions
Tagged attack, canon law, Catholic, clergy, priest, sacrilege, sanction
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Can a Catholic Sue the Church in Civil Court?
Q: Does a person have the right, both moral and legal, under canon law, to sue a Church Institution and/or the individuals in authority over the institutions in civil court, whether they be bishops or lay persons? In particular, I’m … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Crimes and Sanctions, Rights of the Faithful
Tagged bishop, canon law, Catholic, civil court, seminarian, sue
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