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Category Archives: Holy Orders
Can a Latin Catholic Man Enter an Eastern Catholic Seminary?
Q: My 17-year-old son wishes to pursue his vocation to the priesthood in the Byzantine Rite (having been mostly raised in this rite) even though both of us parents are Roman Rite. Our Byzantine pastor informs us that we parents … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Holy Orders, Sacraments
Tagged canon law, Catholic, Church sui iuris, eastern Catholic, seminarian, seminary
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Why Would a Bishop Refuse to Ordain a Seminarian?
Q: I was a seminarian for nearly five years, and in fifth year I was suddenly and unexpectedly dismissed as a seminarian by the bishop. He gave me three reasons for the dismissal, each of which I protested. For example, … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Holy Orders, Sacraments
Tagged canon law, Catholic, ordain, ordination, priest, priesthood, seminarian, seminary
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How Can A Priest’s Ministry Be Illicit?
Q: I am a seminarian, and recently heard a priest tell a story of when he was a catechist, prior to seminary, and had to do a communion service. He had expected a priest to show up and start Mass … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Holy Orders, Sacraments
Tagged canon law, Catholic, illiceity, illicit, irregularity, ordination, priest
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Can the Bishop Refuse to Ordain Me Because I’m Too Old?
Q: I’m interested in becoming a permanent deacon, but the director of the program in my diocese says the upper age limit, which I have passed, is set by canon law. He wrote to me, “The upper age limit for … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Holy Orders
Tagged canon law, Catholic, deacon, diaconate, ordain, ordination
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Why Can’t These Priests Ever Celebrate a Valid Catholic Wedding?
Q1: Can a laicized Catholic priest ever validly marry a Catholic couple? —Courtney Q2: My best friend is going to marry a divorced Catholic man, and she asked me to be a bridesmaid… her pastor said that her fiancé would … Continue reading
Posted in Holy Orders, Marriage, Sacraments
Tagged canon law, Catholic, marriage, priest, validity
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