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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.-
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?). - Now available in paperback!
Category Archives: Sacraments
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
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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
Comments Off on How Can You Tell a Real Priest From a Fake?
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?
Could Canon Law be Changed to Permit Gay Marriage?
Q: Many countries today have legalized gay marriage. Could such a marriage ever be possible in the Catholic Church? Is it automatically invalid because they can never consummate the marriage or have children? I worry that governments might try to force … Continue reading
Posted in Marriage
Tagged canon law, Catholic, homosexual, marriage
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When Can Catholic Soldiers Receive Sacraments from Non-Catholic Chaplains?
Q: I am [in the U.S. armed forces] and we were discussing the fact that military chaplains come in all denominations. Can a Jewish, Muslim, or Sikh chaplain baptize someone a Catholic? Can a Jewish, Muslim, or Sikh chaplain give … Continue reading
Posted in Canonical Issues Involving Non-Catholics, Sacraments
Tagged baptism, canon law, Catholic, chaplain, confession, eucharist, military, sacrament
Comments Off on When Can Catholic Soldiers Receive Sacraments from Non-Catholic Chaplains?