Q: I heard our bishop say that he was entitled to “a car, a house, and a secretary” upon retirement. He claimed that canon law provides for this.
Canon 402.2 states that a Conference of Bishops can specify the “suitable and decent support” a retired bishop can receive from his diocese. Where can one find the relevant complementary norm or norms from the US Bishop’s Conference touching on canon 402.2? I checked their website, but I found nothing concerning canon 402.2. —Frank Continue reading
Q: I belong to a very large parish… Up until a couple of years ago we had an excellent pastor who was not only well-liked by nearly everyone in the parish, but had many years of experience, and was instrumental in obtaining funding to grow the buildings in the parish.
A couple of years ago our bishop relocated the pastor to another parish. We now have a new pastor, who has only been a priest for a few years. It seems apparent he is in over his head.
My question is I understand that parochial vicars can be moved from parish to parish, but can the bishop require a pastor to do the same? Thank you. –Stuart Continue reading
Q: If a church was consecrated by the diocesan bishop in the name of a particular saint, can a different bishop later change its name?
I ask because my parish church was consecrated 150 years ago to the Mother of God. Now the current bishop of our diocese has been reducing the number of parishes because of a shortage of priests, and he has merged our parish with a smaller one nearby and announced that it’s now dedicated to a totally different saint.
We’re trying to figure out how he could do that, just by decreeing it, without reconsecrating the church to the new saint. Can you enlighten us? –Amber Continue reading
Q: I’m a priest of the diocese of X. Presently, I’m considering becoming a hermit according to canon 603. The process seems far more difficult than incardinating into another diocese or religious order…. Under what circumstances can the bishop refuse my request?
Being incardinated in the diocese, the bishop is responsible for my living; as a hermit, I should be responsible for my own. Is there a canonical process for releasing the diocese from responsibility for me while also remaining in said diocese as a hermit? –Father V. Continue reading
Q: While doing some historical research, I found that my parish church which is 152 years old, when its foundations were laid, had belonged to the Apostolic Vicariate of [X] and the mission of [Y]. I understood these terms as “pre-diocesan” and “pre-parish.” Is my understanding correct?
When I searched more on this, I found that there are other terms such as Apostolic administrations, prefectures and territorial prelates. Can you please explain what these are? –Lahiru Continue reading
Canon lawyers are not responsible for the content of canon law. The Supreme Legislator is. Only Pope Francis can change the Code of Canon Law, so if you're not happy with what the law says, please take it up with him.
