Canons 843 §, 213: The Right to the Sacraments during a Pandemic
Can a dying person be denied Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Viaticum or the Apostolic pardon, commonly known as the “last rites” of the Catholic Church? During the COVID-19 pandemic numerous reports surfaced of the Catholic faithful being denied the sacraments by hospitals due to the contagious nat...
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| Format: | Print Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
2020
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| In: |
Roman Replies and CLSA Advisory Opinions 2020
Year: 2020, Pages: 131-142 |
| Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains: | B
Catholic church, Verfasserschaft1, Codex iuris canonici (1983). 843
/ Catholic church, Verfasserschaft1, Codex iuris canonici (1983). 213
/ Pandemic
/ COVID-19 (Disease)
/ Sacrament
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| Summary: | Can a dying person be denied Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Viaticum or the Apostolic pardon, commonly known as the “last rites” of the Catholic Church? During the COVID-19 pandemic numerous reports surfaced of the Catholic faithful being denied the sacraments by hospitals due to the contagious nature of the virus. Creative methods to respect the rights of person, including the dying, to the sacraments emerged raising questions of validity. At least one archdiocese developed a cadre of infection-control-trained priests willing to engage in such a ministry, while establishing a separate residence for such teams of priests to minimize COVID spread. Some diocesan bishops, reportedly during the COVID-19 pandemic, restricted access to sacraments such as Penance and Anointing of the Sick. However, Canon 213 states: “The Christian faithful have the right to receive assistance from the sacred pastors out of the spiritual goods of the Church, especially the word of God and the sacraments.” Furthermore Canon 843 §1 states “Sacred ministers cannot deny the sacraments to those who seek them at appropriate times, are properly disposed, and are not prohibited by law from receiving them.” |
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| ISBN: | 1932208569 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Roman Replies and CLSA Advisory Opinions 2020
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