-
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: Catholic
Can a Lapsed Catholic Be a Godparent?
Q1: Is it written anywhere, or in any authoritative text from the Holy See (or Bishops Conference), that being in an irregular marriage bars one from being a godparent? The canon seems vague. One could argue that living in a … Continue reading
Posted in Baptism, Parish Life, Sacraments
Tagged baptism, canon law, Catholic, godparent
Comments Off on Can a Lapsed Catholic Be a Godparent?
(Repost) Confession and General Absolution
(The post below was written many years ago, but it addresses an issue which unfortunately is still with us, particularly before Christmas. That’s why it seems feasible to post it again. Have a happy and holy Christmas!) Q: Last year, … Continue reading
Posted in Confession, Parish Life
Tagged absolution, canon law, Catholic, confession
Comments Off on (Repost) Confession and General Absolution
Adopting Children of Another Faith (Eastern Churches, Part II)
Q: Although my husband and I are Roman Catholics, we have attended a Byzantine parish for many years. We adopted four children as infants from Eastern Europe. The orphanage director gave us their baptismal certificates written in Russian, and told … Continue reading
Posted in Baptism, Canonical Issues Involving Non-Catholics, Confirmation, Sacraments
Tagged adopt, baptize, canon law, Catholic, chrismate, eastern
Comments Off on Adopting Children of Another Faith (Eastern Churches, Part II)
Why Don’t We Marry Validly Before a Ukrainian Catholic Priest? (Eastern Churches, Part I)
Q: I was raised attending the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church’s Divine Liturgies because my parents preferred that Liturgy to the Novus Ordo Mass in the Roman Rite. Although my father is from the Roman Rite (and so I’ve been told … Continue reading
Posted in Marriage, Parish Life, Sacraments
Tagged canon law, Catholic, marriage, sui iuris, Ukrainian
Comments Off on Why Don’t We Marry Validly Before a Ukrainian Catholic Priest? (Eastern Churches, Part I)
Can a Priest Have His Ordination Annulled?
Q: Some years ago my diocese had to settle a number of sex-abuse lawsuits, all involving the same priest. More recently I learned that in the chancery, the diocesan staff had considered making the claim that the priest’s ordination was … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Holy Orders, Sacraments
Tagged canon law, Catholic, ordination, priest, validity
Comments Off on Can a Priest Have His Ordination Annulled?