Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:This is an Arlington thing. Archdiocese of Washington allows a parishioner to join and attend any church within the diocese. And I have seen some Catholics try to convert the spouse of a member...but usually it is a little more subtle.
Not just an Arlington thing. My parents' diocese in Ohio is like this, as is my aunt and uncle's in North Carolina.
It does have to do with both financial stability of the parishes and, frankly, the reality that some pastors are better than others. By requiring you to be a member of your assigned parish, it assures stability even during the tenure of priests who otherwise don't meet the spiritual needs of the parishoners.