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Tag Archives: Catholic
Repost: What Are the Church’s Current Rules on Indulgences?
(On Easter Sunday, Pope Francis will give the traditional Urbi et Orbi blessing in St. Peter’s Square, and under the proper conditions Catholics can gain a plenary indulgence. So it seems appropriate to repost the Church’s rules on indulgences at … Continue reading
Posted in Other Canonical Questions, The Pope
Tagged canon law, Catholic, indulgence, papal blessing
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Excommunication and Bad-Mouthing the Pope
Q: During this Jubilee Year, “Missionaries of Mercy” have been sent around the world with special powers to lift excommunications. The Vatican Archbishop who made this announcement mentioned the excommunicable crime of physical violence against the Pope, and said that … Continue reading
Posted in Crimes and Sanctions, The Pope
Tagged canon law, Catholic, excommunication, Fisichella, Pope
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How Can You Tell a Real Priest From a Fake?
Q: Did you hear about the man caught masquerading as a priest in Los Angeles? I never thought about it before, but now I’m wondering why this doesn’t happen more often…. What is a pastor expected to do when a … Continue reading
Posted in Clergy Issues, Parish Life, Sacraments
Tagged canon law, Catholic, celebret, Erwin Mena, priest
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Besides the Priest, Who Else is Bound by the Seal of Confession?
Q: There’s a priest from [a third-world country] in residence in my parish…. In the confessional he didn’t want to give me absolution. He said he didn’t know if I had sinned, since maybe I had done these things by … Continue reading
Posted in Confession, Crimes and Sanctions, Parish Life
Tagged canon law, Catholic, confession, sacramental seal
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Could Canon Law be Changed to Permit Gay Marriage?
Q: Many countries today have legalized gay marriage. Could such a marriage ever be possible in the Catholic Church? Is it automatically invalid because they can never consummate the marriage or have children? I worry that governments might try to force … Continue reading
Posted in Marriage
Tagged canon law, Catholic, homosexual, marriage
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