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HABEMUS PAPAM!
Pope Leo XIV is an American … AND a canon lawyer. -
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?). 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.- Now available in paperback!
Category Archives: Sacraments
Do Catholics Have to be Confirmed Before Getting Married?
Q: In our parish RCIA program, I have a couple that were married civilly, but plan to marry next year in the Catholic Church back in her hometown. Both are baptized Catholic and have received Holy Communion, but neither has … Continue reading
Posted in Canonical Issues Involving Non-Catholics, Confirmation, Marriage
Tagged canon law, Catholic, confirmation, marriage, RCIA
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Canon Law and Getting What You Want
Q1: My fiancé and I wish to be married in a chapel [instead of the parish church]. This chapel… has been the most pivotal part of our faith life and relationship with one another. However, we were informed that we … Continue reading
Posted in Marriage, Other Canonical Questions, Parish Life, Sacraments
Tagged bishop, canon law, Catholic, marriage, Mass
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How Does the Presence of a Priest at My Non-Catholic Wedding Make it Okay?
Q: I am Catholic and my fiancée is unbaptized. I want to have the wedding ceremony in the Catholic Church, but [there are problems]… I know that as a Catholic I should not marry in a ceremony in my fiancée’s religion. … Continue reading
Posted in Canonical Issues Involving Non-Catholics, Marriage, Sacraments
Tagged canon law, Catholic, marriage, valid
Comments Off on How Does the Presence of a Priest at My Non-Catholic Wedding Make it Okay?
How Can You Tell a Real Priest From a Fake?
Q: Did you hear about the man caught masquerading as a priest in Los Angeles? I never thought about it before, but now I’m wondering why this doesn’t happen more often…. What is a pastor expected to do when a … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Parish Life, Sacraments
Tagged canon law, Catholic, celebret, Erwin Mena, priest
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Besides the Priest, Who Else is Bound by the Seal of Confession?
Q: There’s a priest from [a third-world country] in residence in my parish…. In the confessional he didn’t want to give me absolution. He said he didn’t know if I had sinned, since maybe I had done these things by … Continue reading
Posted in Confession, Crimes and Sanctions, Parish Life
Tagged canon law, Catholic, confession, sacramental seal
Comments Off on Besides the Priest, Who Else is Bound by the Seal of Confession?