Clarification on canon law and parishes

[laszlo]

In short, I think it’s fair to say that in most cases membership in a parish is strictly based on domicile. But it’s also fair to suggest that one can become a member in another sense by registration. Which sense of the word one chooses to use may be determined by the situation. The CIC doesn’t define the word “member” in relation to parish, it merely defines concepts that we may choose to label “member” or “membership.”

Since the ‘registretion’ is not mentioned in the Canon Law, it has no legal consequences neither for the pastor, nor for the registered family or individual.

The registration is a simple American only custom to get contribution statement for tax reason.

Legally it is interesting that the Canon Law does not define that you should contribute to your territorial parish, neither that you should attend masses there, or receive sacraments there except the marriage.

 

[newbie9]

True. furthermore, the pastor of your residential parish is the one who has formal canon law responsibility for your soul as far as sacraments are concerned, and who should be asked if you seek to celebrate first communion, confirmation, or marriage elsewhere.

I had not actually heard about this. I was married outside of my parish and I’m not completely sure my pastor at the parish I was registered was ever asked. The priest where we were married had to grant us permission to be married there so maybe that’s when my parish was asked.

Are these the only sacraments that a parish pastor would need to be asked about? I assume Confession and reception of the Eucharist can be done anywhere, but what about Baptism or Anointing of the Sick?

 

[Tigg]

Some people even register with more than one parish.

I just spoke with a woman a few weeks ago who told me she and her husband were registered at two parishes. I had never heard of this before and cannot conceivably imagine why anyone would want to do this.

She did hint to me that she wanted to be buried in the parish where she grew up, but now lives on the other side of town where her second registry is. I wonder what these people do? Split their tithe between the two?

 

[Montalo]

If that was ever the law, which I’m not aware of, it is not now. You are in general a member of the parish where you live, but you can attend anywhere. This means that, for instance, the parish where you live ought to be keeping your sacramental records and the like, but for any given Sunday Mass you’re free to go anywhere. The main exception is for personal parishes, which are not territorial: these include ethnic parishes, certain military parishes (I think), and the occasional traditionalist parish.

correct me if i am wrong, but is this not the responsibilty of your Baptismal parish?

I know my records are where I was baptized, which is a different parish as which i am a member now

 

[Digitonomy]

I just spoke with a woman a few weeks ago who told me she and her husband were registered at two parishes. I had never heard of this before and cannot conceivably imagine why anyone would want to do this.

There are many reasons a person may choose to belong to more than one parish, whether he chooses to register or not. He may live part of the year in a different state. He may participate in a lot of events at the parish where his children attend school. He may have moved from one parish territory to another, but still have an attachment to the first parish. He may frequently visit a parish where his parents or children are members. He and his spouse may each want to keep in contact with the parishes whence they came. He may prefer the architecture or style of mass at another parish. He may have a job at another parish, such as organist or secretary. The mass schedule may make attendance at another parish much more practical.

These things don’t generally affect who his proper pastor and parish would be canonically.

 

[Tigg]

Makes sense, Digitonomy - thanks for answering.

 

[Maureen1125]

In an emergent need I believe that the Hospital Chaplain should be contacted. However, I know for a fact that if I were in need, and called my “assigned” church over my current Pastor, that he would be personally offended. Why in the world would I want to choose a complete stranger over a Priest that I have a spiritual connection with and who knows me and my faith?

I honestly believe that this is one of those outdated rules that needs to be abolished. People need to feel comfortable with the Priest assigned to their parish and I know several people who have changed parishes when a new Priest comes in who rubs them the wrong way, and I also know people who will change parishes to follow a certain Priest that they have built a bond with.

As sure fire way to lose more catholics - and we can’t afford to lose any more catholics - is to tell them that if you want to attend mass at ABC that is fine, but if you want to get married or have the nerve to die, then you MUST go to XYZ for your funeral mass with a Priest that has never met you. What kind of homily/eulogy is that Priest going to provide?

 

[TrueLight]

In an emergent need I believe that the Hospital Chaplain should be contacted. However, I know for a fact that if I were in need, and called my “assigned” church over my current Pastor, that he would be personally offended. Why in the world would I want to choose a complete stranger over a Priest that I have a spiritual connection with and who knows me and my faith?

I totally agree with this. For example, if I need to miss mass, am I supposed to call the parish near me, where I have never attended mass, ask who the Pastor is and leave a message for him to call me (assuming he has time to call a stranger) and let me know if I can get a dispensation?

Or does it make sense for me to call the Parish where I usually attend and ask for the Pastor who actually knows me?

 

[MarkThompson]

I totally agree with this. For example, if I need to miss mass, am I supposed to call the parish near me, where I have never attended mass, ask who the Pastor is and leave a message for him to call me (assuming he has time to call a stranger) and let me know if I can get a dispensation?

Or does it make sense for me to call the Parish where I usually attend and ask for the Pastor who actually knows me?

Only your canonical pastor can give such a dispensation. Let’s say your brother grew up to be a priest and is serving in a mission in Zimbabwe – can you just call him, because you know him well and wouldn’t be troubling him? No, he has no canonical authority over you. Likewise, the fact that you frequent some church other than your canonical parish due to personal preference has no bearing whatsoever.

This follows from Canon 519:
Can. 519 The pastor (parochus) is the proper pastor (pastor) of the parish entrusted to him, exercising the pastoral care of the community committed to him under the authority of the diocesan bishop in whose ministry of Christ he has been called to share, so that for that same community he carries out the functions of teaching, sanctifying, and governing, also with the cooperation of other presbyters or deacons and with the assistance of lay members of the Christian faithful, according to the norm of law.

 

[MarkThompson]

In regards to the previous, thanks to malphono’s post here, let me point out a more specific canon on the question of who is permitted to grant dispensations from the Sunday obligation:
Can. 1245 Without prejudice to the right of diocesan bishops mentioned in can. 87, for a just cause and according to the prescripts of the diocesan bishop, a pastor can grant in individual cases a dispensation from the obligation of observing a feast day or a day of penance or can grant a commutation of the obligation into other pious works. A superior of a religious institute or society of apostolic life, if they are clerical and of pontifical right, can also do this in regard to his own subjects and others living in the house day and night.

 

[Love_Divine]

thanks for the replies!

I don’t attend the parish nearest to me because unfortunately it’s very liberal and has liturgical abuse. So instead I go to the Cathedral or the FSSP parish. The FSSP parish is not territorial, people who go there are from all over the city, so maybe it’s an exception

I’m in a similar boat. The city I just moved to, I live in a very ethnic area and all the parishes on my side of the city are ethnic ones. Seriously, I was just looking into this today, the closest one is a Vietnamese parish, the next one is Portuguese, “Brazilian-Portuguese”, Croatian, Korean, and another Vietnamese parish.

I speak English, and I need an English-speaking parish community, so I just drive the 10 kms to attend the TLM with the FSSP. It feels the most like home and tends to my spiritual needs the best. I’m stuck debating whether or not to register. It’s not something I’m overly familiar with because the last parish I was registered at, I was registered under my parents.