Canon Law and Two Popes

Posted on March 21, 2013 by canonlawmadeeasy

Q1: Could you please outline the canonical problems inherent in the fact that now we have two living Popes?  –Rhonda

Q2:  Considering that all priests and bishops must belong to a diocese or religious order, my question would be this: now that Benedict has renounced the Chair of Peter but will be living on the Vatican grounds, as a Bishop, what diocese must he belong to?  –Michael

A: Now that we Catholics are gradually getting used to the notion that we have a Pope from Argentina named Francis, it’s only natural that many are also starting to wonder what it’s going to be like to have two Popes living at the same time.  Continue reading →

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Why is Cardinal Mahony Voting in the Conclave?

Posted on March 11, 2013 by canonlawmadeeasy

Q:  Could you please comment on the assertions by Cardinal Mahony [of Los Angeles, California] that he is required to participate in the upcoming conclave?  Many Catholics are grouping to protest his participation.  –Douglas

A:  Douglas is referring to the highly publicized case of the Archbishop Emeritus of Los Angeles, Roger Cardinal Mahony, who is currently in Rome to participate in the conclave, now scheduled to begin on March 12.   Continue reading →

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When Will the Conclave Start? Pope Benedict’s Final Legislative Act

Posted on March 5, 2013 by canonlawmadeeasy

Q: I read the article “Canon Law and the Upcoming Conclave” and it was really helpful, but I have another question now.  The 15-day rule has now been revised by Pope Benedict, correct?  If so, has he given a specific time/number of days before a conclave can begin, or no? –Samantha

A: Samantha’s right.  Several days before Pope Benedict’s resignation took effect, he issued a moto proprio document that amended a number of elements of the already existing law on conclave procedure.  Normas Nonnullas, as the new document is called, was issued on February 22, 2013, and was the last piece of actual legislation promulgated by the Pope before his resignation.  Continue reading →

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Canon Law and the Upcoming Conclave

Posted on February 21, 2013 by canonlawmadeeasy

Q1:  Can you please explain for us how the papal conclave will work? And are there any major aspects of it that will be different this time, because Pope Benedict is still living?  –Leah

Q2:  Who can, and cannot, be elected Pope?  –Joseph

The Catholic world is still reeling from Pope Benedict’s astounding announcement last week, but the secular media has already been busily declaiming about the possible reasons for the decision, Pope Benedict’s legacy, possible contenders for the job, etc. etc. ad infinitum.  In the process, the amount of misinformation that is being disseminated is staggering!  Continue reading →

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Can a Baby be Baptized Against the Parents’ Wishes?

Posted on February 14, 2013 by canonlawmadeeasy

This column was already written, and set for publication, before Pope Benedict’s resignation announcement on Monday.  The next column–to be published a week from today, hopefully–will address issues pertaining to the upcoming conclave.

Q:   Some Jewish people in my city complained to the local Catholic hospital, saying they were afraid to bring their sick children to the emergency room, because the hospital staff might baptize them.  The hospital staff publicly agreed never to do this.

I had always assumed that you can’t baptize a baby without at least one parent’s consent, so I thought the hospital would simply say, “Don’t worry, we’re not allowed to do that anyway!”  But the wording of the hospital administrators’ response seemed to suggest that they really could baptize a sick baby if they wanted to.  Can a baby be baptized Catholic, even if the parents aren’t Catholic and don’t want the baptism?  –Greg Continue reading →

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