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Category Archives: Rights of the Faithful
Can a Lapsed Catholic Have a Catholic Funeral?
Q: My girlfriend’s grandfather stopped going to church after Vatican II, because he didn’t like all the changes in the Mass. Now he’s getting old and the family is thinking about the possibility of an upcoming funeral, since he hasn’t … Continue reading
Posted in Other Canonical Questions, Rights of the Faithful
Tagged canon law, Catholic, funeral, sacrament
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Excommunication and the Authority of the Parish Priest
Q: What course do parishioners have to ask the bishop to correct, reprimand or otherwise relocate a priest who refuses to baptize children of parents that he doesn’t “recognize” as parishioners, even though they are on the parish roll? He … Continue reading
Posted in Baptism, Catholic Education, Clergy Issues, Crimes and Sanctions, Holy Mass, Parish Life, Rights of the Faithful
Tagged canon law, Catholic, excommunication, pastor
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Divorced Catholics and the Eucharist
Q: What does canon law really say about divorced people receiving Holy Communion? –Sean A: The issue of who may, and who may not, receive the Eucharist lawfully is a canonical question with deep theological roots. Consequently, the Church has … Continue reading
Posted in Rights of the Faithful, The Eucharist
Tagged canon law, Catholic, divorced, eucharist, holy communion
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Confession by Appointment and Face-to-Face
Q1: We just moved, and our new parish doesn’t have set confession times. The bulletin says “confessions by appointment.” My wife doesn’t think that’s a violation of our right to receive the sacrament, since the priest will hear our confessions … Continue reading
Posted in Confession, Rights of the Faithful
Tagged canon law, Catholic, confession, confessional
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Why Do Marriage Annulments Take So Long?
Q: Why does it take so long for people who request marriage annulments to get them? I know a couple of different people who have been waiting for an answer for over a year! They’re not all from the same … Continue reading