Parish Priests.

[Spem in alium]

I'm a member of my Parish's Pastoral Council, and at our meeting yesterday a couple of members got into a discussion about Parish Priests. My Parish has been without a set Priest for several months - instead, we have a Priest Moderator, an Assistant Priest and a Co-Ordinator of Parish Life (who is a layperson).

Someone stated that Parish Priests hold their position for a period determined by the Bishop, and after this period they are then moved to another Parish in the Diocese. This comment was quickly rebutted by an argument that Canon Law says nothing to this extent and Parish Priests continue in their terms indefinitely.

The issue wasn't resolved, and I am wondering where the truth lies. Is it the choice of the Bishop to decide how long a Parish Priest serves? Is it dictated more specifically in Canon Law?

Edited July 11, 2012 by Spem in alium

[cappie]

Can. 517 §1 Where circumstances so require, the pastoral care of a parish, or of a number of parishes together, can be entrusted to several priests jointly, but with the stipulation that one of the priests is to be the moderator of the pastoral care to be exercised. This moderator is to direct the joint action and to be responsible for it to the Bishop.

§2 If, because of a shortage of priests, the diocesan Bishop has judged that a deacon, or some other person who is not a priest, or a community of persons, should be entrusted with a share in the exercise of the pastoral care of a parish, he is to appoint some priest who, with the powers and faculties of a parish priest, will direct the pastoral care.

Can. 521 §1 To be validly appointed a parish priest, one must be in the sacred order of priesthood.

§2 He is also to be outstanding in sound doctrine and uprightness of character, endowed with zeal for souls and other virtues, and possessed of those qualities which by universal or particular law are required for the care of the parish in question.

§3 In order that one be appointed to the office of parish priest, his suitability must be clearly established, in a manner determined by the diocesan Bishop, even by examination.

Can. 522 It is necessary that a parish priest have the benefit of stability, and therefore he is to be appointed for an indeterminate period of time. The diocesan Bishop may appoint him for a specified period of time only if the Episcopal Conference has by decree allowed this.


The Diocesan Bishop is the person who appoints Parish Priests, doing so freely but ideally after prior consultation with the Consultors, the Dean and, if appropriate, other priests and members of the Christian faithful. When the see has been vacant or impeded for a year, the Diocesan Administrator may appoint Parish Priests, subject to the ratification of the new bishop.

A Parish Priest is to have parochial care of only one parish. This is the general principle, though due to a shortage of priests or some other circumstance, the care of several neighbouring parishes may be entrusted to the care of the same Parish Priest. A Parish Priest who has the care of several parishes is obliged to apply only one mass for all the people entrusted to him on a Sunday or Holy Day.
The Parish Priest ought to posses stability in office - for his own sake and the sake of the faithful of the parish entrusted to him. Unless the Conference of Bishops has decreed otherwise, he may only be named for an indefinite period of time. Appointment for an indefinite period does not mean that he is appointed ad nutum episcopi,literally translated as, 'on the nod of the Bishop'. and that he can be removed whenever the Bishop decides. A Parish Priest with an appointment for an indefinite period can be transferred or removed only for a canonical reason and the procedures for the removal and transfer of Parish Priests is contained in Book VII, part V, section II of the Code of Canon Law.

A Parish Priest ceases from office by means of removal or transfer by the Diocesan Bishop, carried out in accord with the norm of law, by resignation of the Parish Priest submitted for a just case and accepted by the Diocesan Bishop and by lapse of time if the Parish priest has been appointed for a specific period of time.

[CatherineM]

I'd like to add that moving priests regularly is very healthy for the Church. Each priest has their strengths. Some are best at preaching, and some are great at fundraising, or church building. A good financial priest can come in and set up systems that will help the parish for many priests to come. Good fundraisers can set up building funds that support the parishes for decades. Priests that are outgoing and ecumenical can establish relationships with neighboring churches that strengthen the Christianity of entire communities.

More importantly, priests that stay in one parish for decades can cause chaos when they do leave or die. Sometimes it goes so far as becoming a "cult of personality" parish. That's not good for the priest, the parish or the Church Militant.