Q: As a non-Christian I was civilly married (no kids), that marriage in civil divorce. Later I found faith (I’m Catholic now) and met a wonderful man with whom I’m in love. He’s Catholic too. I found out that we … Continue reading →
The post Why Would Non-Catholics Get an Annulment? appeared first on Canon Law Made Easy.
Q: I was explaining the basic notions about marriage to a group of teens and they created a hypothetical scenario: A couple is on a trip in their boat. One morning the wife awakes and notices that her husband is … Continue reading →
The post Can a Catholic Remarry When a Spouse is Missing/Presumed Dead? appeared first on Canon Law Made Easy.
Q: A friend of mine told me that his pastor routinely admits Episcopalians to Holy Communion. He explained that the local Episcopal church closes for several months, since it’s located in a resort town. The Catholic pastor has an “arrangement” … Continue reading →
The post When Can Episcopalians Receive the Eucharist at a Catholic Mass? appeared first on Canon Law Made Easy.
Q: I would like to know if my children and I (Roman Catholics) meet our Sunday obligation at an Orthodox Divine Liturgy? Canon law seems to reference meeting the obligation “anywhere a Catholic rite is offered.” Therefore, strictly speaking, I … Continue reading →
The post Can a Catholic Ever Attend an Orthodox Liturgy Instead of Sunday Mass? appeared first on Canon Law Made Easy.
Q: Our pastor seems to go on vacation constantly. This year, he already spent one week at a retreat house, left on numerous short trips to see his relatives, and now he’s going away for two weeks to Florida—and it’s … Continue reading →
The post (Repost:) Clergy and Summer Vacation appeared first on Canon Law Made Easy.
Q: In the past year or so there have been quite a few revelations about Catholic bishops living in lavish homes as if they were royalty…. What does canon law have to say about this? –Robin A: Robin is right … Continue reading →
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Q1: I’ve read Vatican-commentators who claim that Pope Francis’ election may have been invalid, because he agreed to an agenda reforming the Church as the other cardinals wanted him to, and they say you can’t validly be elected Pope if … Continue reading →
The post Why Are Some Suggesting That Francis’ Election Was Invalid? appeared first on Canon Law Made Easy.
Q: You mention on your website that nobody but the Pope can change the Code of Canon Law. I’m wondering how often he really does that, if ever? Civil legislatures change laws and enact new laws every week, but I … Continue reading →
The post How Often Does the Pope Change Canon Law? appeared first on Canon Law Made Easy.
Q: Why don’t parishes publish marriage banns like they used to? I remember our priest reading them from the pulpit every Sunday before the homily, years ago. Assuming that there was a good reason for publishing banns in the first … Continue reading →
The post Why Doesn’t the Church Publish Marriage Banns Any More? appeared first on Canon Law Made Easy.
Q: We’ve all been fixated on the Synod, but we never seem to have heard much about Synods in the Church before…. What kind of authority does a Synod actually have? And how is this one any different from Synods … Continue reading →
The post How Much Authority Does a Synod Actually Have? appeared first on Canon Law Made Easy.
Q: My coworker is Episcopalian, but I discovered she was baptized Catholic, and her whole family left the Church when she was small. She said they became Episcopalians because her mother got divorced and then remarried outside the Church, and … Continue reading →
The post Divorce, Remarriage, and Excommunication appeared first on Canon Law Made Easy.
Q: I read an article online, saying the Vatican just arrested five people for leaking and publishing confidential Vatican documents. Lots of anti-Catholic comments were posted under the article, asking why the Pope arrests leakers but not pedophile priests? I … Continue reading →
The post Why Does the Vatican Arrest Leakers, But Not Pedophile Priests? appeared first on Canon Law Made Easy.
Q: Can Catholics receive communion at Episcopal services? One article I read … states that the Canon Law deems reception of communion from a non-Catholic minister is blasphemy and, as such, a mortal sin. –Paula A: When Catholics attend an … Continue reading →
The post When Can Catholics Receive Communion at a Non-Catholic Service? appeared first on Canon Law Made Easy.
Q: I am [in the U.S. armed forces] and we were discussing the fact that military chaplains come in all denominations. Can a Jewish, Muslim, or Sikh chaplain baptize someone a Catholic? Can a Jewish, Muslim, or Sikh chaplain give … Continue reading →
The post When Can Catholic Soldiers Receive Sacraments from Non-Catholic Chaplains? appeared first on Canon Law Made Easy.
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 →
The post Could Canon Law be Changed to Permit Gay Marriage? appeared first on Canon Law Made Easy.
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 →
The post Besides the Priest, Who Else is Bound by the Seal of Confession? appeared first on Canon Law Made Easy.
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 →
The post How Can You Tell a Real Priest From a Fake? appeared first on Canon Law Made Easy.
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 →
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(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 →
The post Repost: What Are the Church’s Current Rules on Indulgences? appeared first on Canon Law Made Easy.
Q: There was a funeral at our parish recently for someone who had committed suicide. My mother was surprised, and told me that suicides didn’t used to get Catholic funerals, because killing oneself is a mortal sin. I assume the … Continue reading →
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