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Recently, when I was in the hospital, a lady came to give me the Anointing of the Sick. She said she was sanctioned by the "Healing Ministry" of my parish to do this. When a priest came to anoint me, I told him that I had been anointed by a lady from my parish. He said that lay people cannot anoint, so I did not receive the Sacrament. If my first anointing was not a sacrament, why does my parish have "healing ministers," and why can?t they anoint? ? A reader in Falls Church.
Recently, I visited some relatives in New Jersey. At their parish, they do not have regular private confessions, but a service where everyone prays and then the priests gives absolution. I thought this was strange, but they said "general absolution" was allowed. I am not really sure what general absolution is. Is this right? ? A reader in Arlington.


