Interesting, and Pertinent

 This is an interesting issue....Father Z explains.

From a reader…
QUAERITUR:

Is there any church law which prevents sacramental records from being made public? I have seen church records used for online family trees that show living family members illegitimacy.

Interesting question.
The law says that parishes must keep sacramental records, for obvious reasons. They must be kept up to date, with accurate information. The law says that they are to be carefully preserved (can. 535§1). I think that in that “carefully preserved” we should include “confidential”. Most dioceses now have policies, particular law even, about allowing outside parties to view sacramental registers, especially Mormons, etc., doing genealogical research. Mormons want to “baptize” your ancestors, etc. Hey! They get planets! But we don’t cooperate with those things.