Tag Archives: bishop

Limiting Diocesan Bishops’ Authority: Recent Decrees From Pope Francis

Q:  I would like to ask a question about diocesan bishops and episcopal authority, but I don’t know how to formulate it.  I hope you’ll bear patiently with me, there’s a confused jumble of ideas in my head! These ideas … Continue reading

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Who Controls Ecclesiastical Property?

Q: I am hoping that you can resolve a debate we are having about the term “ecclesiastical property.” Some Catholic friends and I were talking about how the US bishops tried to seize [the Catholic television station] EWTN from Mother … Continue reading

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How Much Financial Support Are We Required to Give Retired Bishops?

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 … Continue reading

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Why Can’t You Change the Name of a Church?

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 … Continue reading

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Bishops Interfering in Parish Ministry, Part II

Q:  The bishop of [a diocese in the US] is giving an annual retreat which nearly every priest in the diocese must attend, leaving parishes without priests, daily Mass, and access to the sacraments for four days.  He stated that … Continue reading

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