-
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!
Tag Archives: bishop
Investigating Alleged Supernatural Phenomena
Q: I read your “Obedience and Canon 1752,” about the people in Texas who claim God is telling them the Pope is a usurper. It led me to wonder: did the bishop of that diocese ever investigate their alleged claims … Continue reading
Posted in Other Canonical Questions
Tagged apparitions, bishop, canon law, Catholic, investigation, San Antonio, supernatural phenomena
Comments Off on Investigating Alleged Supernatural Phenomena
Limiting Diocesan Bishops’ Authority: Recent Decrees From Pope Francis
Q: I would like to ask a question about diocesan bishops and episcopal authority, but I don’t know how to formulate it. I hope you’ll bear patiently with me, there’s a confused jumble of ideas in my head! These ideas … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, The Pope
Tagged bishop, canon law, Catholic, diocesan bishop, Episcopal, Fiducia Supplicans
Comments Off on Limiting Diocesan Bishops’ Authority: Recent Decrees From Pope Francis
Who Controls Ecclesiastical Property?
Q: I am hoping that you can resolve a debate we are having about the term “ecclesiastical property.” Some Catholic friends and I were talking about how the US bishops tried to seize [the Catholic television station] EWTN from Mother … Continue reading
Posted in Other Canonical Questions
Tagged bishop, canon law, Catholic, ecclesiastical property, EWTN, juridic person, Mother Angelica
Comments Off on Who Controls Ecclesiastical Property?
How Much Financial Support Are We Required to Give Retired Bishops?
Q: I heard our bishop say that he was entitled to “a car, a house, and a secretary” upon retirement. He claimed that canon law provides for this. Canon 402.2 states that a Conference of Bishops can specify the “suitable … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues
Tagged bishop, bishops' conference, canon law, Catholic, conference of bishops, emeritus, episcopal conference, retirement
Comments Off on How Much Financial Support Are We Required to Give Retired Bishops?
Why Can’t You Change the Name of a Church?
Q: If a church was consecrated by the diocesan bishop in the name of a particular saint, can a different bishop later change its name? I ask because my parish church was consecrated 150 years ago to the Mother of … Continue reading
Posted in Other Canonical Questions, Parish Life
Tagged bishop, canon law, Catholic, church, dedicate, dedication, parish
Comments Off on Why Can’t You Change the Name of a Church?