What is a Roman Catholic chaplain?

Answer 1

A Catholic chaplain is properly a priest, deacon or religious who is given charge of servicing a specific institute or group of faithful outside of the regular ceremonies and instruction given at a local parish. Chaplains frequently are assigned by the Church to hospitals, military divisions, social groups, clubs, schools and even government centers not only to assist and guide the members in correct Catholic action, but also to service their spiritual needs, especially if health or duty prevents them from attending church.

In the modern Church since Vatican II, many chaplaincies have been given over to lay members who have been judged sufficiently qualified to act in the stead of a religious. It is, in fact, now quite common. Whether this practice is proper has endured much debate, since even a qualified lay person is usually unfamiliar with Church law, cannot dispense the sacraments and does not have the opportunity to maintain the prayer life that is necessary for a priest and which gives him his success and insight into spiritual matters. Because of this, lay chaplains are often perceived as social workers by the general public.