Puneet Varma (Editor)

Ecclesiastical privileges

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit

In the canon law of the Catholic Church, ecclesiastical privileges are the privileges enjoyed by the clergy. Their scope varied over time.

The main privileges are:

  • Privilegium canonis, regarding personal inviolability against malicious injury
  • Privilegium fori, regarding a special tribunal in civil and criminal causes before an ecclesiastical judge. Eventually abolished.
  • Privilegium immunitatis, exemption from taxation and some other burdens
  • Privilegium competentiae, right to proper sustenance

    • In addition to personal privileges, ecclesiastical privileges may cover consecrated and sacred places and things.

    References

    Ecclesiastical privileges Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA