Parish registration

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Counties do have real boundaries, BTW.
Yes, they do. Just like parishes.

One can’t just go around advising someone to consider himself a resident of some county other than the county where he actually has a residence, any more than advising someone to register with (and thereby consider himself a member of) a parish other than the one where he has an actual residence.
 
When I called the chancery office of our archdiocese, I was told to register wherever I regularly attended. I didn’t draw conclusions from the marriage policies. I called up and asked. That was what I was told to do by a member of the archbishop’s staff.

So while it is special permission that cannot be counted on to be durable and which might be limited (which I have agreed that you are wise to point out), in some dioceses, the permission to register where you like is currently being given. So how is it a violation of canon law to register in a parish that isn’t your territorial parish, when the archbishop is giving blanket permission to do it?
Because you advised the OP to do likewise. That’s the problem. You as much as told the OP to just pick a parish and consider himself a member there–without any regard for what is actually written in canon law (in fact, you implied that canon law says it doesn’t matter), and without any knowledge of the OP’s own situation. You based your answer on your own anecdotal experience of registration, rather than on what the universal canon law of the Church says with regard to parish membership.
PS I cannot believe I’m even in this discussion. I called our chancery office all those years back not to ask for permission to register where we liked, but to find out what territorial parish our new house was in. Having been told to register where we liked, we decided it was best to register in our territorial parish simply because it was our territorial parish, even though we didn’t particularly like it that much at first. We couldn’t be happier.
It’s not a violation of canon law to register at a parish other than the parish where you actually live because there is no such thing as parish registration in canon law–there is parish membership, not parish registration.

Can. 102 §1. Domicile is acquired by that residence within the territory of a certain parish or at least of a diocese*, which either is joined with the intention of remaining there permanently unless called away or has been protracted for five complete years.

The phrase “at least a diocese” refers to people who live within a diocese, but not within the boundaries of a parish, or to matters where it’s an issue of the jurisdiction of the bishop, or to those who change their residence from one parish to another (people who move frequently).

Can. 107 §1. Through both domicile and quasi-domicile, each person acquires his or her pastor and ordinary.

Catholics do not acquire a parish/pastor through registration, they acquire a parish and a pastor by virtue of residence (domicile).

So, it’s no surprise that the staff told you that you can register wherever you want–because registration means nothing in the end anyway–registering does not make one a parishioner of a parish, nor does registration in a different parish mean that a Catholic is no longer a member of the parish of residence.
 
Because you advised the OP to do likewise. That’s the problem. You as much as told the OP to just pick a parish and consider himself a member there–without any regard for what is actually written in canon law (in fact, you implied that canon law says it doesn’t matter), and without any knowledge of the OP’s own situation. You based your answer on your own anecdotal experience of registration, rather than on what the universal canon law of the Church says with regard to parish membership.

It’s not a violation of canon law to register at a parish other than the parish where you actually live because there is no such thing as parish registration in canon law–there is parish membership, not parish registration.

Can. 102 §1. Domicile is acquired by that residence within the territory of a certain parish or at least of a diocese*, which either is joined with the intention of remaining there permanently unless called away or has been protracted for five complete years.

The phrase “at least a diocese” refers to people who live within a diocese, but not within the boundaries of a parish, or to matters where it’s an issue of the jurisdiction of the bishop, or to those who change their residence from one parish to another (people who move frequently).

Can. 107 §1. Through both domicile and quasi-domicile, each person acquires his or her pastor and ordinary.

Catholics do not acquire a parish/pastor through registration, they acquire a parish and a pastor by virtue of residence (domicile).

So, it’s no surprise that the staff told you that you can register wherever you want–because registration means nothing in the end anyway–registering does not make one a parishioner of a parish, nor does registration in a different parish mean that a Catholic is no longer a member of the parish of residence.
Now you have me totally bewildered. The OP never asked what parish he’s a member of. He asked what the advantages were to registering anywhere at all. Now you say registration means nothing in the end, anyway, which in some dioceses isn’t true when it comes to marriage or burial outside your territorial parish, sending your kids to school at a parish outside your territorial parish, and, let’s face it, pretty much anything else you ever actually do at a parish, other than your territorial parish.

You know this, I don’t: With regards to canon law and the day-to-day issues of running a parish and a diocese, what difference does it make what parish the OP registers in and does it matter to anybody if he never gets around to registering anywhere at all? Since he has expressed no interest in darkening the door of his territorial parish unless a canon lawyer forces him to do it with the business end of a lit candlelighter, that seems to be what he wants to know. Is there a single reason a Catholic ought to ever register anywhere, particularly in his territorial parish where canon law grants him rights regardless of whether one gets around to registering?
 
If parish boundaries are strictly enforced, then some services may be limited if you go to another parish. One thing I can think of is a parish helping financially with catholic school education - they may limit it to those who live in the parish boundaries. Otherwise, I don’t see any advantage to registering.

Fr. David may not understand this, but some archdioceses don’t enforce the territorial thing. As Easter Joy tried to state, the Archdiocese of Portland really doesn’t seem to care about this. It doesn’t matter what is officially in canon law. I have 2 parishes within 2 miles of me going opposite directions and when I tried to find out which one’s territory I am officially in, they didn’t even know. I am registered in neither, since I choose to attend and am registered in an ethnic parish.
 
Now you have me totally bewildered. The OP never asked what parish he’s a member of. He asked what the advantages were to registering anywhere at all. Now you say registration means nothing in the end, anyway, which in some dioceses isn’t true when it comes to marriage or burial outside your territorial parish, sending your kids to school at a parish outside your territorial parish, and, let’s face it, pretty much anything else you ever actually do at a parish, other than your territorial parish.

You know this, I don’t: With regards to canon law and the day-to-day issues of running a parish and a diocese, what difference does it make what parish the OP registers in and does it matter to anybody if he never gets around to registering anywhere at all? Since he has expressed no interest in darkening the door of his territorial parish unless a canon lawyer forces him to do it with the business end of a lit candlelighter, that seems to be what he wants to know. Is there a single reason a Catholic ought to ever register anywhere, particularly in his territorial parish where canon law grants him rights regardless of whether one gets around to registering?
OP here. I attended my territorial parish for Sunday service. It seemed nice.

Here is what I have gotten from this thread:
I am a member of the parish in which I am located - registered or not
I am free and welcome to attend mass and confession at any church - registered or not
If I desire other services, such as a wedding or a funeral, the parish of which I am a member will provide - registered or not.
Another parish may provide the services - if registered and/or allowed by the diocese
School is not an issue for me, but in my case there is only one school between the four parishes in town. All of them use the same school.
Canon law does not address registration.
 
OP here. I attended my territorial parish for Sunday service. It seemed nice.

Here is what I have gotten from this thread:
I am a member of the parish in which I am located - registered or not
I am free and welcome to attend mass and confession at any church - registered or not
If I desire other services, such as a wedding or a funeral, the parish of which I am a member will provide - registered or not.
Another parish may provide the services - if registered and/or allowed by the diocese
School is not an issue for me, but in my case there is only one school between the four parishes in town. All of them use the same school.
Canon law does not address registration.
A good summary. I could add that registering in a parish seems to be an American preoccupation. It is not the practice here in the UK, for instance, apart from when wanting to take part in a donations scheme.

If you think about it, people are moving house (and so going to new parishes) all the time. There must be some allowance for that when it comes to providing services; in other words, the registration record can never be fixed and permanent.
 
OP here. I attended my territorial parish for Sunday service. It seemed nice.

Here is what I have gotten from this thread:
I am a member of the parish in which I am located - registered or not
I am free and welcome to attend mass and confession at any church - registered or not
If I desire other services, such as a wedding or a funeral, the parish of which I am a member will provide - registered or not.
Another parish may provide the services - if registered and/or allowed by the diocese
School is not an issue for me, but in my case there is only one school between the four parishes in town. All of them use the same school.
Canon law does not address registration.
Right.
 
If parish boundaries are strictly enforced, then some services may be limited if you go to another parish. One thing I can think of is a parish helping financially with catholic school education - they may limit it to those who live in the parish boundaries. Otherwise, I don’t see any advantage to registering.

Fr. David may not understand this, but some archdioceses don’t enforce the territorial thing. As Easter Joy tried to state, the Archdiocese of Portland really doesn’t seem to care about this. It doesn’t matter what is officially in canon law. I have 2 parishes within 2 miles of me going opposite directions and when I tried to find out which one’s territory I am officially in, they didn’t even know. I am registered in neither, since I choose to attend and am registered in an ethnic parish.
That second paragraph is the problem. All diocese DO enforce parish territories–this isn’t something where bishops just have the option to follow canon law or not follow it (which is what has been implied).

When it comes down to some very particular policies, we have ONE example of ONE bishop who is enforcing parish boundaries (if one reads the policy carefully, you’ll see that), but he is saying that as long as a pastor is doing the ceremony within his own territory, he can witness the marriages of those who live outside his territory.

It’s not at all accurate to say “the archdiocese doesn’t care about this.” That’s concluding entirely too much from this little bit of information, and this rather minor relaxing of the law. I’m sure if one were to ask the bishop himself a direct question “do you not care what canon law says about parish territory” the bishop’s response would be “I do care.”

The other important point is that the response was based on ONE diocese’s policy, and that very likely is not the diocese where the OP lives. On the other hand, all Catholics (of the Latin Church) are governed by universal canon law–and that’s why I bring up the universal law.
 
Almost there.

It isn’t “up to the policy of the individual diocese”
:confused: Yet when OP included in a recent post, “Another parish may provide the services if registered and/or allowed by the diocese”, you responded “right” to OP’s post. 🤷
 
If parish boundaries are strictly enforced, then some services may be limited if you go to another parish. One thing I can think of is a parish helping financially with catholic school education - they may limit it to those who live in the parish boundaries. Otherwise, I don’t see any advantage to registering.

Fr. David may not understand this, but some archdioceses don’t enforce the territorial thing. As Easter Joy tried to state, the Archdiocese of Portland really doesn’t seem to care about this. It doesn’t matter what is officially in canon law. I have 2 parishes within 2 miles of me going opposite directions and when I tried to find out which one’s territory I am officially in, they didn’t even know. I am registered in neither, since I choose to attend and am registered in an ethnic parish.
If I wrote that, I did not mean that, at least not in the way I am reading you to say. I think I’m not expressing myself well at all, here.

It is not that Archbishop Vlazny does not care about parish boundaries or canon law. Far from it! It is that he understands that there are serious pastoral reasons to allow Catholics to receive the sacraments and fulfill their duties toward the Church at parishes outside their territorial boundaries and currently the Archdiocese of Portland has the means to accomodate that. As Fr. David pointed out, when push comes to shove, it is only the exercise of one’s rights and duties within one’s territorial parish that are provided for in canon law. That is the primary obligation the Archbishop is bound to fulfill. Catholics who choose to avail themselves of pastoral care offered to them outside their territorial parishes do well to keep that in mind, and Fr. David does well to point it out. When only one thing can be honored, the rights spelled out in canon law must win out, for the wisdom and justice of the Church gives those precedence over other considerations.

As for registration, it is a huge help to the parish in terms of making plans and reaching out to parishioners and other Catholics who have need of the pastoral care, leadership, and other works of the parish, whether that be in the giving or in the marshalling of those who have something to give in order to realize God’s will in their lives. Catholics do their parishes a favor by registering, and by changing their registration when it does not reflect their true availability to their own territorial parish. It is the perogative of the bishop to decide that a Catholic may only make himself or herself available in that way in his or her own parish, if that is what the bishop discerns is the most pastorally appropriate policy. In other circumstances, though, then it is my understanding that there is room in canon law to provide for a more lenient policy, provided that the primary demands of canon law are still being met.
 
Ok so I contacted the diocese where I live. In it there is no written policy. I was told some pastors adhere to canon regarding territorial parishes when it comes to whether or not they allow registration as a parishoner. And other priests in the diocese do not. But as has been discussed here of course one can attend anywhere. And I was told canon specifies Sacraments are the responsibility of the proper territorial parish, but it does not mean one would be refused from being served by another parish.

So in this diocese it appears it is left to the priests. YMMV.
 
With the discussion about only one’s territorial parish being required to provide certain sacraments such as confirmation and marriage–I’m not worried about a funeral because I’ll be dead, I do have a question. Since registration is not required by canon law why is it required for me to receive these sacraments from my parish? I do believe in supporting my parish, I just believe that my donations should be anonymous. I get all the information I need about parish events from the weekly announcements and bulletin at mass. The fact that I can get my baptismal record and have proof of my residence should be enough to proove that I’m Catholic and live within the parish.
 
With the discussion about only one’s territorial parish being required to provide certain sacraments such as confirmation and marriage–I’m not worried about a funeral because I’ll be dead, I do have a question. Since registration is not required by canon law why is it required for me to receive these sacraments from my parish? I do believe in supporting my parish,** I just believe that my donations should be anonymous**. I get all the information I need about parish events from the weekly announcements and bulletin at mass. The fact that I can get my baptismal record and have proof of my residence should be enough to proove that I’m Catholic and live within the parish.
I know you were referring to anonymous donations to one’s territorial parish. But I recently learned of a case in the territorial parish for Catholics in my neighborhood where the priest refused to baptize the child of parents who attend there because they do not use envelopes. It is not their territorial but they are registered there.

Fortunately another priest 7 mi south in the same diocese agreed to perform the Baptism. It is not their territorial either but neither are they registered at this 2nd parish. And this 2nd parish is too far from their home for them to begin attending there. But at least the priest there baptized their child.
 
Firstly, everyone I ask says I don’t HAVE to register with the parish closest to me geographically. :confused:

Also, how do I “unregister” with a parish. WHat is the correct way to do this?
 
Firstly, everyone I ask says I don’t HAVE to register with the parish closest to me geographically. :confused:

Also, how do I “unregister” with a parish. WHat is the correct way to do this?
I’m not sure how you would go about unregistering. I suppose just inform the parish that you no longer want to be on their registration rolls. Or perhaps following a period of no donations or participation, they will simply remove you on their own. In my original home parish, I eventually no longer appeared on their member roster.

But my undertstanding from this thread, is everyone is telling you correctly. You do not have to register at your territorial parish. You are automatically considered a member there and your territorial parish is responsible for administering the Sacraments to you whether you are registered or not. I suppose though in the case of for instance parents who are not practicing or attending, even the territorial parish priest in that case might still place some stipulations on them prior to baptizing their child. Or a non practicing couple planning a wedding in their territorial parish, might have some additional requirements placed on them. In larger parishes even if you attend Mass in your territorial parish regularly, the priests might not know this. So in that case I’m guessing registration and use of envelopes will aid in them knowing you are a regular participant. Anointing of the Sick and funerals for non practicing Catholics in their territorial parishes I think are more or less simply a given though.

One other thing to note is I believe it was said here when I was following the thread earlier, that the closest parish might not necessarily be your territorial parish though. Chances are it probably is. But to know for certain, your diocese can tell you by your address.

All the best and God bless!
 
I live in the Minneapolis-St. Paul diocese and a deacon there told me Catholics were welcome to choose any parish within the diocese; that they didn’t have to belong to the closest one to their homes. Is he right?
 
I live in the Minneapolis-St. Paul diocese and a deacon there told me Catholics were welcome to choose any parish within the diocese; that they didn’t have to belong to the closest one to their homes. Is he right?
My guess would be you can register anywhere then as one would hope the deacon was aware of the policy. But if you question whether he is, you could make a call or shoot an email to the diocese. Where I live (not in MN) I emailed the diocese and received a response that there was no official diocean policy here. That it’s up to individual priests if they allow folks who live outside of their parish to register in them. I then called a couple of parishes and both do.

That being said, I suppose if there is a change in bishops, diocean policy could someday change. And if you read further back in the thread I think there was discussion about how registering at a parish not in your territory makes you registered there for means of keeping track of your donations. But that there seems to be a difference between being registered and technically being a member of a parish outside your territory. I just went back early in the thread and Fr David96 posted, “You can only be a member of the parish in which territory you reside.” But you might be able to register elsewhere. Where I live parishes seem to use the term, “registered parishoners”.

It does seem if you register elsewhere and you want more of a guarantee of being served all the Sacraments, you might be best to use your envelopes. So the parish knows you attend there if it’s not your territorial parish. That’s what happened to the person I referred to. They were registered at and attended a parish outside their territory but did not use envelopes. And when it came time to baptize their infant child, the priest refused. YMMV though. As I said the same couple had their child baptized at another Catholic Church 7 mi down the road in the same diocese. And are neither registered there nor do they attend there.
 
Thanks for the reply, CMatt25. I met with the deacon so I trust him. That is a good idea about the envelopes.
 
I’m not sure how you would go about unregistering. I suppose just inform the parish that you no longer want to be on their registration rolls. Or perhaps following a period of no donations or participation, they will simply remove you on their own. In my original home parish, I eventually no longer appeared on their member roster.

But my understanding from this thread, is everyone is telling you correctly. You do not have to register at your territorial parish. You are automatically considered a member there and your territorial parish is responsible for administering the Sacraments to you whether you are registered or not. I suppose though in the case of for instance parents who are not practicing or attending, even the territorial parish priest in that case might still place some stipulations on them prior to baptizing their child. Or a non practicing couple planning a wedding in their territorial parish, might have some additional requirements placed on them. In larger parishes even if you attend Mass in your territorial parish regularly, the priests might not know this. So in that case I’m guessing registration and use of envelopes will aid in them knowing you are a regular participant. Anointing of the Sick and funerals for non practicing Catholics in their territorial parishes I think are more or less simply a given though.
So if I understand the aspect of the canon law being discussed,
  1. my territorial parish is responsible for all sacraments for me–even if I am not registered there.
  2. certain sacraments like marriage, baptism, confirmation should not be refused by one’s territorial parish simply because a person doesn’t register. This is not withstanding other requirements and stipulations to receive the sacrament.
Ungern
 
There are certain times when going to your own proper parish is either essential, or very important. In matters of marriage and baptism, it can be essential (it can even mean the difference between a valid marriage and an invalid attempt at one, because witnessing a marriage requires that the priest have jurisdiction.) It can also be important for other things as well. Funerals are an example. A pastor has an obligation to provide a funeral for his own parishioners (those who live in the parish) but it’s only a courtesy for one who did not live in the parish.

The point is what I said at the beginning: a Catholic is only a member of the parish in which he has a residence (personal parishes aside here). Registration does nothing to make someone a parishioner, and absence of registration does not mean that you-are-not a parishioner.
However I just learned further that the proper parish for Catholics in my neighborhood will not even baptize a child of members unless the parents are registered and use envelopes for 6 mos.

This leads me to wonder whether when John the Baptist performed Baptisms, or Paul and Silas for instance when they baptized the jailer and all his family, placed the same restrictions onto them before they would baptize?

So are territorial parishes obligated to provide a funeral for those who lived in the parish boundaries without added restrictions but not Baptisms?
 
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