Category Archives: Rights of the Faithful

Contributing Financially to the Support of the Parish: A Precept of the Church

Q1:  Wondering if you would comment on this article?  The author urged Catholics in America not to give a cent to our parishes so long as they are closed because of coronavirus.  He also says more generally that we shouldn’t … Continue reading

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What Happens When the Clergy Refuse to Baptize, Because of the Virus?

Q1 (March 2020): We had a baby earlier this week, and a few days later the diocese announced that all baptisms are suspended indefinitely except in danger of death, due to coronavirus.  I want her baptized as soon as possible … Continue reading

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Did the Spanish Flu of 1918 Create a Precedent for Closing Churches and Cancelling Masses Today?

Q:  A priest in residence at my parish is defending the bishop’s decision to lock all the churches indefinitely … claiming that there is canonical precedent for doing this.  He says the same thing was done during the Spanish Flu … Continue reading

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The Virus and the Bishops: Twisting Canon 223 to Further an Agenda

Q:  We contacted our bishop in protest, because he is insisting we can only receive Communion in the hand.  A canon lawyer replied on his behalf, claiming that Canon 223.2 gives the bishop power to “regulate the exercise of rights … Continue reading

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Stressed-Out Shepherds and Ungrateful Parishioners

Q1:  Our archbishop issued a decree that we parishioners can satisfy our Sunday Mass obligation on any other day of the week, as a way to lessen the number of people at Mass on Sundays, given that there is still … Continue reading

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