Questions tagged [canon-law]
Laws and regulations made by Church leadership for the government of a church and its members.
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Are non-Catholics allowed to go to confession?
As an Episcopalian, we technically have the rite of Confession and Reconciliation as one of the things we are supposed to do, but I've never seen it done in actual practice.
In contrast, I know that ...
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According to the Roman Catholic church, who can baptize a new believer?
As far as I remember, there is no rule in the Bible as to who can baptize a new believer. However, I'm almost certain that sometime in the early history of the Roman Catholic church, someone or some ...
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What is the difference between "Catechism" and "Canon Law" in Catholicism?
What is the difference between "Catechism" and "Canon Law" in Catholicism?
I have the Catholic Catechism (CCC). Yet I also see the Canon law code quoted from...what's the difference? are they two ...
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Is a Roman Catholic ever permitted to take the Anglican Eucharist?
According to the Catholic catechisms or canon law, is it ever canonically acceptable or lawful for a Roman Catholic to take of the Anglican communion?
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What are the stipulations for a mixed marriage to be valid in the Catholic Church?
If a devout Catholic woman wants to marry a Baptist man, what what must be made to make the marriage valid to the Catholic Church if they have both gone though the Catholic wedding preparation but ...
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Can Bishops give dispensations from certain marriage vows?
If, for instance, someone tells me that his bishop said he could get a vasectomy because having children with his wife in the future is likely to be injurious to her health. Should he be able to ...
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Does the Roman Catholic church recognize marriages outside of the church?
I'm curious about the status of marriages performed outside the auspices of the church. For example, if a non Catholic converts to the Roman church, but was married beforehand, does it "count". Based ...
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Is there a Catholic bishop with jurisdiction over space?
Background information: An Ordinary, in Catholicism, is a bishop who holds "Ordinary" jurisdiction over a specific territory. He is usually known as the "Bishop of [Place Name]" and holds general ...
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Is a marriage between a transman and transwoman in accordance with Roman Catholic canon law?
Is a marriage between a transman and transwoman in accordance with Roman Catholic canon law?
The transman and transwoman can still engage in intercourse to make babies, but the transman would be the ...
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Do Anglo-Catholics encourage closed Communion?
Closed Communion seems to be commonly required in churches with more physical views of the Real Presence (excluding, of course, Reformed churches that hold to Calvin's "spiritual presence" view). The ...
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The right to read a Catholic Church's sacramental register?
In the era of handwritten parish registers, when a diocesan or missionary priest performed a sacramental rite, he wrote it up in a semi-structured form in a record book. Sometimes that priest was the ...
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What do Protestants think about canon laws given by the Church Fathers?
In the seven ecumenical councils, and throughout early Christian history, various Church Fathers gave certain canon laws, or rules that the clergy and laity had to follow.
What do Protestants think ...
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What happens if one wishes to go through the RCIA process but lacks a sponsor?
I've seen many explanations of the RCIA process, but all of them I've found make reference to a sponsor of sorts.
A local parish's website explains:
A sponsor accompanies any candidate seeking ...
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Does the Catholic Church have a contingency plan for the case that the pope and all cardinals are dead?
Most modern democratic countries have a chain of command which can be triggered in case of disastrous events and is intended to ensure the continuity of the functioning of the country.
This chain of ...
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Is it possible for an Eastern Rite Catholic to change over to the Roman Rite and become ordained as Latin Rite priest?
Is it possible for an Eastern Rite Catholic to change over to the Roman Rite and become ordained as Latin Rite priest?
Is it possible for a layperson of an Eastern Catholic Rite (say the Melkite Rite)...
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What are the requirements for godparents in the Roman Catholic Church?
I talked to quite a few people today about Catholicism. I asked one couple questions about being godparents, because they were godparents for another child. However, this couple is not even Catholic. ...
user900
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Can a church pastor prohibit sacraments to people for any reason, other than mortal sin?
A friend of ours alerted us to an example (maybe there are more) of a Catholic Church (took a little checking to make sure it was really a Catholic Church) that is only allowing people who are ...
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What are the reasons for the Catholic Church's law regarding the Communion fast?
We know from scripture that the institution of the Eucharist was during supper with the taking of the cup being after supper. And it appears from St. Paul's first letter to the Corinthians that there ...
user13992
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In the Catholic Church, is there specific canon law on voluntary excommunication?
Is there such a thing as voluntary excommunication from the Catholic Church? Maybe a latae sententiae or ferendae sententiae? If there is, how could it be done? Is there some kind of formal process?
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What would happen if the Pope were to abuse his power?
I find it difficult to fathom the amount of power the Pope can potentially wield. According to book 2, part 2, section 1, chapter 1, article 1 of the Code of Canon Law the Pope basically has ultimate, ...
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Ascension Mass when traveling between dioceses?
If you live in a diocese that celebrates the Ascension on Thursday, but you're out of town and temporarily in a diocese that celebrates the Ascension on the following Sunday, what are you supposed to ...
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Does the Catholic church allow a previously divorced man to remarry?
Suppose a Catholic guy marries a non-Catholic outside the Catholic church, then years later they divorce. Can that Catholic guy get married again to someone else (a Catholic female) in the Catholic ...
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Why did Pope Francis raise the minimum age for being granted 'Monsignor' from 35 to 65 years?
'Monsignor' is used for priests who have received certain specific honorary awards or who hold certain offices.
The grant is subject to the criteria of the Holy See, including a minimum age, which ...
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What happens to a diocese when a bishop dies unexpectedly?
Our bishop passed away last week unexpectedly, the only thing I've heard is that it may the Vatican 6-9 months to replace him.
What is the process and who is in charge of the diocese during this time?
...
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Did the 1983 Code of Canon Law change the law on celebrating/receiving the Eucharist in a state of serious sin?
Canon 916 is the current canon governing each individual's obligation not to celebrate or seek to receive the Eucharist in a state of (unconfessed) serious sin:
916. Qui conscius est peccati gravis, ...
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According to the Catholic Church, is a marriage consummated if the couple had premarital sex?
A valid Catholic marriage can be dissolved if it has not been consummated (if the couple has not had sex after marriage, with some additional rules). This is generally determined to be the case if the ...
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Which Episcopal Conferences set alternatives for abstinence on Fridays?
The canon law requires Catholics to hold every Friday (except certain solemnities) as a abstinence day (e.g. abstaining from meat), but also grants the episcopal conferences the possibility to require ...
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Can you re-enter the catholic church after leaving?
I was a Catholic. I did my sacraments according to the Catholic lifestyle. When I was born, I was baptized. Around age of 8 years, I got my First Holy Communion, and around 14 years of age, I went to ...
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Can a married person be elected as the Pope?
What is The Roman Catholic law for electing the Pope in regards to a married person? If a married person is elected, what will happen to his wife after becoming the Pope?
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If I win the Powerball jackpot will Catholic Church accept a donation?
LDS has a policy of not taking gambling winnings including lottery money as donations.
Over the years several other churches have refused as well.
Is there an official policy in Catholic Church about ...
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Are priests who committed a sin together able to validly administer the Sacrament of Reconciliation to each other?
The Vatican recently released a report about the Holy See's knowledge and involvement in former cardinal Theodore McCarrick's rise to prominence despite allegations of sexual misconduct. The report ...
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Is impotence developed AFTER the marriage (and consummation) a ground for annulment in Catholic canon law?
I understand that antecedent impotence is ground for annulment in Catholic canon law. But what if the impotence develops AFTER the marriage? Would that also be a ground for annulment?
user14523
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Can a Catholic priest conduct a Catholic baptism upon the request of non-Catholic parents, assuming that they will raise the child Catholic?
Can non-Catholic parents ask the priest to baptize the child (infant) in the Catholic church and promise that they will give the child a Catholic upbringing? I mean, it could be a learning experience ...
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Is there a medical dispensation formally allowed from Lenten fasting in Catholicism?
Today, 10 February 2016, begins the observation of Lent in the Catholic Church, and indeed in much of Western Christianity. Catholic rules for the observation of Lent include the requirement for ...
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May the Pope waive the requirements of Canon Law in the appointment of bishops?
Earlier this year, as part of the effort to normalize relations between the Vatican and China, the New York Times reported that the Vatican asked one of its bishops to step down to make way for a ...
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What are legitimate reasons for a Catholic priest to take a sabbatical?
Some of the priests I know were recently given a sabbatical year (in both cases it wasn't for the sake of study - the priests ended their parish assignments lasting for many years and had time to ...
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How are conflicting views concerning latae sententiae excommunications resolved in the Catholic Church?
One might identify the real-world problem behind this question. I have
tried to put it forth without naming anyone involved in such situation
and instead posed it as an imaginary situation. Please ...
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Is holding hands and forming a circle around the altar during eucharistic prayer allowed?
We have a new priest in our parish who does things differently. Today in Mass he invited all children to form a circle around the altar with him and hold hands. I know that some priests do this while ...
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How many practicing Canon Lawyers are there in the USA, and the world?
To me, it seems Canon Lawyers are hard to come by. In fact, I've never met one and 19 out of 20 times I see the phrase "canon lawyer" it is usually in the form "I am not one".
It seems becoming a ...
user3961
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Catholic restricted from Communion
(Note: This is in Holland)
A Catholic Charismatic woman desired to have her baptism blessed by immersion in water (she had been baptized as a child in the Catholic church).
She presumed that it was ...
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What are the reasons for fasting from midnight before Eucharist?
According to traditional Catholic rules (before Vatican the 2nd Council), as well as in Eastern Orthodox traditions, those who want to receive the Sacraments should fast, i.e. do not consume any food ...
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What are the requirements for establishing an Eastern Orthodox church or mission?
As a former parish council member of a recently founded Catholic mission, I'm somewhat familiar with the process of establishing a Catholic mission/church within the parameters of canon law.
What is ...
user5286
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Why can't the laity preach a homily, and can a lay person ever preach?
From this, Rochester diocese ends illicit practice of allowing lay people to preach homilies, perhaps because this was going on for such a long time, a person would ask what is the authoritative ...
user13992
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Is there a canon law for what to do if a hostage situation breaks out while consecrating the Eucharist?
I was told by a friend that the Roman Catholic Church has canon law for what to do if, while consecrating the Eucharist during mass (say, halfway through reciting the Words of Institution), a hostage ...
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Do Jehovah's Witnesses recognize marriages performed by non-denominational ministers?
I am seeking my Ordained Minister License and was asked to perform the wedding ceremony of my brother and his future bride, who are studying to become Jehovah's Witnesses. Do JWs require a particular ...
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Legal base for "any male baptized Catholic is eligible to be elected Pope"
A lot of sources (e.g. Wikipedia) mention the fact that "any male baptized Catholic is eligible" to become Pope. I'd like to find the canon law (if any) that states this fact.
Canon 332 states that If ...
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What does the Catholic Church require for a parent's name to appear on the child's baptism certificate?
Does the pastor of a parish, or his representative, have the right in canon law to prevent a parent's name from appearing on the baptismal certificate of their child to be baptized for any reason, ...
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What are canonical penalties for criticizing the Pope?
I was listening to Pints With Aquinas this evening where Dr. Richard DeClue, a professional theologian, not a priest, was interviewed, but he didn't want to comment on some motu proprio (probably ...
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Through what procedure is canon law amended?
The Code of Canon Law has undergone at least one other version since the first in 1917, and has received amendments since the 1983 version from what I've read.
What would warrant a new version of ...
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Kinds of "Traffic" Catholic Priests are Forbidden to Engage in
According to Instruction VIII of St. Alphonsus Liguori's Dignity and Duties of the Priest:
In conformity with the words of the Apostle: No man being a soldier to God entangleth himself with secular ...
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