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About the author
Cathy Caridi, J.C.L., is an American canon lawyer who practices law and teaches in Rome. She founded this website to provide clear answers to canonical questions asked by ordinary Catholics, without employing all the mysterious legalese that canon lawyers know and love. In the past Cathy has published articles both in scholarly journals and on various popular Catholic websites, including Real Presence Communications and Catholic Exchange.- 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.
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canonlawmadeeasy@yahoo.com
Please check the Archives first–it’s likely your question was already addressed.
Unsigned/anonymous questions are not read, much less answered (why is it necessary even to mention this?).
Category Archives: Rights of the Faithful
Refusing a Funeral Mass to a Non-Parishioner
Q: At our parish the priest is very strict. If you aren’t registered as a parishioner, he won’t say a funeral Mass for you. However, he will let you have a funeral service with the deacon if you pay hundreds … Continue reading
Posted in Parish Life, Rights of the Faithful
Tagged canon law, Catholic, funeral, funeral Mass, parish, parishioner, registered
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Eastern Catholic Children Receiving Latin Catholic Sacraments
Q: The Syro-Malabar Eastern Catholic Church confers all sacraments of initiation [Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist] to infants. But many Syro-Malabar couples in the United States have their children baptized at their local Latin parishes—which would just be limited to baptism … Continue reading
Posted in Baptism, Confirmation, Parish Life, Rights of the Faithful, Sacraments, The Eucharist
Tagged baptism, canon law, Catholic, Church sui iuris, eastern Catholic, First Communion, Latin Catholic
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Confession, and General Absolution (Repost)
This piece has been reposted repeatedly over the years during the Christmas season–because incredibly, the illegal abuse of General Absolution by some parish clergy is still happening! Thus it makes sense to repost it yet again. A very happy and … Continue reading
Posted in Confession, Rights of the Faithful, Sacraments
Tagged absolution, canon law, Catholic, confession, general absolution, validity
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Can Laypeople Hold Top Vatican Positions?
Q: My husband and I are hoping that you can clear up our confusion about the significance of this article … about Pope Francis reorganizing the different offices in the Vatican. It sounds to us like the Pope says that … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Other Canonical Questions, Rights of the Faithful, The Pope
Tagged canon law, Catholic, clergy, laypeople, Lumen Gentium, power of governance, Praedicate Evangelium
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Leaving a Novice in Limbo
Q: Hello, I am a novice in [a religious institute in Rome]…. I have been a novice for ten years, and keep waiting for the novice master to decide that I can take my vows, but the time always gets … Continue reading
Posted in Other Canonical Questions, Rights of the Faithful
Tagged canon law, Catholic, novice, novitiate, religious institute
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