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A:
The Catholic Church's Code of Canon Law states (Canon 1401): By proper and exclusive right the Church adjudicates: 1) cases which regard spiritual matters or those connected to spiritual matters; 2) the violation of ecclesiastical laws and all those matters in which there is a question of sin, in what pertains to the determination of culpability and the imposition of ecclesiastical penalties. Canon 1405 further states: It is solely the right of the Roman Pontiff himself to judge in the cases mentioned in ⇒ can. 1401:
- those who hold the highest civil office of a state;
- cardinals;
- legates of the Apostolic See and, in penal cases, bishops;
- other cases which he has called to his own judgment.
The effect of these ordinances would appear to be that the secular authorities are to be excluded from judging clergy (or heads of state) who have committed sins even when (also) covered by a nation's criminal code. In mediaeval times, the right of clergy to be judged by the Church alone was indeed enforced whenever possible. In modern times, we now find that bishops have been protecting priests accused of sexual abuse and, if guilt is proven, imposing minor ecclesiastical penalties.
Times have changed, and we see all over the world that courts insist that national laws apply to all clergy, whether Catholic or otherwise. Regular news items tell us that clergy are now prosecuted for theft, fraud and money laundering. Priests and bishops have been brought before the courts for sexual abuse of children and for attempting to hide the truth of these crimes from the secular authorities. In many jurisdictions, the Church hierarchy is obliged under law to advise police or other relevant authorities when the have grounds for suspicion of paedophilia committed by members of the Church.
The Code of Canon Law notwithstanding, the authority of popes and bishops to be the sole judges of the clergy has disappeared, other than within the Vatican City.
What else can I help you with?
What are the key differences between the roles and authority of a bishop versus a pope within the hierarchy of the Catholic Church?
The key differences between the roles and authority of a bishop and a pope in the Catholic Church are that bishops oversee specific regions or dioceses, while the pope is the leader of the entire Catholic Church worldwide. Bishops have authority within their dioceses, while the pope has ultimate authority over all bishops and the Church as a whole.
What are the immediate lower-level authorities of the Church after the pope called?
The chain of authority goes thusly: Jesus Christ Pope Bishops Priests Deacons Bishops that are head of an Archdiocese are known as Archbishops, Bishops that have been chosen as electors of the new Pope are Cardinals, but they all remain bishops.
What aurthority does the pope have on the church?
As the successor of Saint Peter, supreme authority is vested in the Pope. He has universal jurisdiction and all Catholic bishops may only use their authority when they are in communion with the Pope.
Is a deacon appointed by the pope?
The pope has the authority as a bishop to ordain deacons but deacons are usually ordained by their local bishops in the dioceses in which they will serve and not by the pope.
In authority what comes after bishops?
pope (bishop of rome) ^^^^^ bishop ^^^^^ priest ^^^^^ deacon
The bishops and priests who the pope in Rome had authority over were called the?
.Catholic AnswerThe Holy Father in Rome has authority over all bishops and priests in the world, but particularly, he is the Bishop of Rome.
According to medieval Catholicism, who had the authority to interpret the scripture?
According to medieval Catholicism, the authority to interpret scripture was held by the Pope and the bishops of the Church.
What is church authority?
Church authority is the authority of God as expressed through the Magisterium of the Church, which resides ultimately in Christ, as expressed through His Vicar, the Pope, and the teaching authority of the Bishops in union with him.
What do you call the bishops that elect the pope?
Bishops that elect the pope are called cardinals.
What was Great Schism of East and West?
The question related to the authority of the pope. The pope and the bishops of the western parts of Europe claimed that the pope was the head of the Church, who had authority over the whole Church. The bishops of the eastern parts of the Church said that the pope was merely the most important bishop, whose position was one of dignity rather than actual authority. The difference went on for centuries before a series of incidents resulted in the eastern bishops setting up a separate Church. The result was that the Roman Catholic Church was in the West and the Eastern Orthodox Church in the East.
What is the structure of the Catholic Church and how does it influence its governance and decision-making processes?
The Catholic Church is structured hierarchically, with the Pope at the top, followed by bishops, priests, and deacons. This structure influences governance and decision-making by giving the Pope and bishops authority to make decisions on doctrine, teachings, and policies. The Pope has final authority, but decisions are often made through consultation and consensus among the hierarchy.
What is above a monsignor?
Above a monsignor in the Catholic Church hierarchy is a bishop. Bishops oversee dioceses and have the authority to ordain priests, including monsignors, who are typically honored priests with special titles but do not have the same level of authority as bishops. Above bishops are archbishops, cardinals, and ultimately the Pope, who is the supreme leader of the Catholic Church.
