Marriage between a Catholic and a Non-Catholic

Posted on August 9, 2007 by canonlawmadeeasy

Q: My husband and I have been married almost 21 years now. He was raised as a Mormon, though he is a non-believer in any faith. We were married in the Church during a time when they had not fully decided on the validity of Mormon baptism. Since then, the Church has decided Mormon baptism is not valid. What ramifications does this have on my marriage? I am a committed, traditional Catholic and am raising our sons in the Faith. My husband is very understanding of my devotion, something I insisted on long before we were engaged. –Jodie Continue reading →

Posted in Canonical Issues Involving Non-Catholics, Marriage | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Marriage between a Catholic and a Non-Catholic

Marriage and Annulment

Posted on July 26, 2007 by canonlawmadeeasy

Q: One of my best friends was raised Catholic like me, but she stopped going to church when her parents got their marriage annulled. She says that it’s ridiculous for the Catholic Church to say her parents weren’t married, since they had three children and lived together for nearly 20 years. She is also angry because if her parents aren’t married, that means she’s illegitimate. I don’t know what to say to her. Wasn’t it wrong for the Church to say, after so many years, that her mother and father were never married? And how can the Church declare that she is actually an illegitimate child?  –Patricia Continue reading →

Posted in Marriage | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Marriage and Annulment

Can a Non-Catholic Receive Holy Communion in a Catholic Church?

Posted on July 5, 2007 by canonlawmadeeasy

Q: My coworker is a Baptist who is married to a Catholic, and attends Sunday Mass regularly with her. He asked the priest whether he could receive Holy Communion even though he is not a Catholic, and the priest replied, “Do whatever is in your own heart.” Is that correct? Can a non-Catholic receive Communion in a Catholic church?  –Charlie Continue reading →

Posted in Canonical Issues Involving Non-Catholics, The Eucharist | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Can a Non-Catholic Receive Holy Communion in a Catholic Church?

Can the Pastor Refuse to Baptize Our Child?

Posted on June 21, 2007 by canonlawmadeeasy

Q:  My wife and I are both Catholics and are expecting our first child in three months.  Our parish requires all parents who want their baby baptized to attend an evening class, which conflicts with my work-schedule. Otherwise they told us we cannot have our baby baptized. But both my parents and my in-laws have told us that they never had to attend any such class before we were baptized! Why do we have to do this? The pastor knows us, and can see that we regularly attend Mass on Sundays. Does he have the right to refuse to baptize our baby if we don’t attend this class?  –Tony Continue reading →

Posted in Baptism, Rights of the Faithful | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Can the Pastor Refuse to Baptize Our Child?

When Can a Priest Refuse to Absolve a Penitent in the Confessional?

Posted on May 24, 2007 by canonlawmadeeasy

Q. A visiting priest was hearing confessions one weekend at my parish, while the pastor was away.  He refused to grant me absolution, because he said that I hadn’t sinned!  I confessed some venial sins, but he told me that you shouldn’t go to confession unless you’ve committed a serious sin.  I didn’t know what to say.  Was he correct?  If not, what should I have said or done?  –Kris Continue reading →

Posted in Confession, Rights of the Faithful | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on When Can a Priest Refuse to Absolve a Penitent in the Confessional?