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Category Archives: Sacraments
(Repost) Confession and General Absolution
(The post below was written many years ago, but it addresses an issue which unfortunately is still with us, particularly before Christmas. That’s why it seems feasible to post it again. Have a happy and holy Christmas!) Q: Last year, … Continue reading
Posted in Confession, Parish Life
Tagged absolution, canon law, Catholic, confession
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Adopting Children of Another Faith (Eastern Churches, Part II)
Q: Although my husband and I are Roman Catholics, we have attended a Byzantine parish for many years. We adopted four children as infants from Eastern Europe. The orphanage director gave us their baptismal certificates written in Russian, and told … Continue reading
Posted in Baptism, Canonical Issues Involving Non-Catholics, Confirmation, Sacraments
Tagged adopt, baptize, canon law, Catholic, chrismate, eastern
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Why Don’t We Marry Validly Before a Ukrainian Catholic Priest? (Eastern Churches, Part I)
Q: I was raised attending the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church’s Divine Liturgies because my parents preferred that Liturgy to the Novus Ordo Mass in the Roman Rite. Although my father is from the Roman Rite (and so I’ve been told … Continue reading
Posted in Marriage, Parish Life, Sacraments
Tagged canon law, Catholic, marriage, sui iuris, Ukrainian
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Can a Priest Have His Ordination Annulled?
Q: Some years ago my diocese had to settle a number of sex-abuse lawsuits, all involving the same priest. More recently I learned that in the chancery, the diocesan staff had considered making the claim that the priest’s ordination was … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Holy Orders, Sacraments
Tagged canon law, Catholic, ordination, priest, validity
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Can I Get an Annulment Without My Spouse Knowing About It?
Q: I am divorced. The marriage had some serious issues…we spent more time living separately than living together. It has been suggested that I just fill out the traditional annulment application and follow through on that. After discussing this with a … Continue reading