-
Canon lawyers are not responsible for the content of canon law. The Supreme Legislator is. Only Pope Francis can change the Code of Canon Law, so if you're not happy with what the law says, please take it up with him.
- Now available in paperback!
Category Archives: Sacraments
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
Posted in Baptism, Rights of the Faithful, Sacraments
Tagged baptism, baptize, canon law, Catholic, licit, valid
Comments Off on What Happens When the Clergy Refuse to Baptize, Because of the Virus?
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
Posted in Clergy Issues, Holy Mass, Parish Life, Rights of the Faithful, Sacraments, The Eucharist
Tagged 1918, bishops, canon law, Catholic, churches, Mass, Spanish Flu, virus
Comments Off on Did the Spanish Flu of 1918 Create a Precedent for Closing Churches and Cancelling Masses Today?
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
Posted in Rights of the Faithful, Sacraments, The Eucharist
Tagged bishop, canon 223, canon law, Catholic, Communion in the hand, Communion on the tongue, eucharist
Comments Off on The Virus and the Bishops: Twisting Canon 223 to Further an Agenda
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
Posted in Holy Mass, Parish Life, Rights of the Faithful, Sacraments, The Eucharist
Tagged bishop, canon law, Catholic, dispensation, Mass, parish, parishioners, sacraments
Comments Off on Stressed-Out Shepherds and Ungrateful Parishioners
Our Priest Cancelled Our Wedding, So Who Else Can Validly Marry Us?
Q: My fiancé and I have been engaged for about a year, and long ago we had planned to marry on April 25. As you can probably imagine, our parish priest cancelled the wedding entirely, citing a directive from the … Continue reading
Posted in Marriage, Rights of the Faithful, Sacraments
Tagged canon law, Catholic, liceity, licit, marriage, parish, parish priest, valid, validity, wedding
Comments Off on Our Priest Cancelled Our Wedding, So Who Else Can Validly Marry Us?