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 →

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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 →

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Can a Non-Catholic be Given a Catholic Funeral?

Posted on April 27, 2007 by canonlawmadeeasy

Q:  I am a Catholic, and my husband of nearly 50 years is a member of the Assembly of God, a protestant church that’s popular down South, where he’s originally from.  We were married in the Catholic Church and we raised our children as Catholics.  There is no Assembly of God church in the area where we live now, so my husband cannot attend his church on Sunday.  He doesn’t wish to come to Mass with me, either, so I always go alone.  I’ve started wondering what would happen if my husband passes away, and we have to arrange a funeral for him.  Is there any way he can be buried by a priest from my parish?  Or will we just have to have a funeral without any kind of religious service at all?   –Ann Continue reading →

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