It’s unusual I happen to have some specific factual information, pertaining to a given topic. Usually I pop off with my best guess. What I liked about CAF is that someone often did have some specific factual source.
Just for the heck of it — I’d never thought about this until tonight — would it ever be permissible for a non-Catholic (or even non-Christian) chaplain, as in the military, to be an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion? Of course, it wouldn’t be the norm, but in a case of extreme necessity, what exactly would be the obstacle? Non-Christians can baptize validly, and administering communion doesn’t require any priestly powers, otherwise laypeople couldn’t do it. I suppose in such drastic circumstances, having someone place the ciborium on the altar and allowing the faithful to self-communicate (as eremitic monks did) would also be an exception that could be made in those circumstances.
— but I’m not sure if this was just artistic license, or if military chaplains can actually administer the rites of religions not their own. (Obviously a chaplain without apostolic holy orders couldn’t confect any of the five sacraments for which priestly powers are needed.)I cannot imagine it would be kosher (excuse the pun) for a Catholic priest to take part in any ceremony of another religion.Canvas:
Just for the heck of it — I’d never thought about this until tonight — would it ever be permissible for a non-Catholic (or even non-Christian) chaplain, as in the military, to be an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion? Of course, it wouldn’t be the norm, but in a case of extreme necessity, what exactly would be the obstacle? Non-Christians can baptize validly, and administering communion doesn’t require any priestly powers, otherwise laypeople couldn’t do it. I suppose in such drastic circumstances, having someone place the ciborium on the altar and allowing the faithful to self-communicate (as eremitic monks did) would also be an exception that could be made in those circumstances.
I do recall that Father Mulcahy on MASH once performed a bris — don’t recall if one of the surgeons actually served as the mohel, I’d hate to think of someone not skilled in surgery “giving it the old college try”, considering what is involved
“MAS*H” Life with Father (TV Episode 1974) - IMDb
The military or any kind of institution can designate anyone to be a chaplain. In the future, they may well create a job title of “priest” and designate anyone who has 3 years of religious experience as “the priest” for this prison, hospital, etc.
In the US military, a chaplain is required to have the full faculties of a cleric in whatever religion/denomination they come from. So for a Catholic, only a priest qualifies. A permanent deacon won’t cut it.
I think it just depends on the chaplain and what he/she is willing to do. The last chaplain we had, during a briefing to new personnel where he explained what his role is, specifically said he wouldn’t attempt any rites or rituals from another faith, although he would be happy to try to facilitate access to them if someone needed help.
That’s a good thing and it’s what a chaplain should do as they often serve in institutions that may be secular or even if religious serve people of many faiths and none. Many years ago I worked in a hospital. The Catholic chaplain came on our ward several times and asked the sister (senior nurse-in-charge) of our ward if she had any Catholic patients on the ward. She told him, ‘you either visit all patients on my ward or none’. I agreed with her.
Only if said Chaplain is a priest. Chaplain deacons are great, but they cannot hear Confessions, administer Anointing of the Sick, pray the Mass, etc.
Legally (according to Canon Law) only a Priest or Bishop can be a “Chaplain.” However, in the United States, since secular hospitals and other medical organizations allow non-ordained people to become “chaplains,” and because the USCCB has a vested interest in trying to promote Catholic values at secular hospitals, the USCCB allows the “National Association of Catholic Chaplains” to an “acknowledgement or endorsement for ministry” which is apparently accepted by most hospitals.LilyM:
Are there hospital chaplains who aren’t priests? It was my impression that only a priest can be a (Catholic) chaplain.
Even as a layman, I have found myself in circumstances, in the workplace, where employees or coworkers were in search of spiritual guidance, they knew I was a man of faith, and I was able to help them. One employee of mine thought that her mother had committed suicide (it was ambiguous whether it was suicide, or her partner had killed her), and feared that her mother had gone to hell. (She was Baptist or some such.) I explained to her the Catholic teaching (or at least tolerable pious belief) that the soul does not necessarily depart the body at the moment of apparent death, and that Our Lord may give a soul in extremis one last chance to repent. IIRC I also used St John Vianney’s example of the man who jumped off the bridge. She found this very comforting.