Need an Organizational Chart of the Catholic Church

[Gabriela]

I'm looking for an organizational chart of the Catholic Church, from the Pope all the way on down to the laity, including Vatican dicasteries, the colleges (bishops, cardinals), deaneries, etc. I don't need a map of every single parish and deanery and whatnot in the world (what document would that ever fit in?), just one showing how the general hierarchical structure works.

Anyone know where I can find one of these? @Nihil Obstat, maybe? (I'm really sorry about your grandfather, btw.  Happy it wasn't by starvation, though...)

[Maximilianus]

Not a chart, but has the info needed for such a thing

http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/

[Gabriela]

17 minutes ago, Maximilianus said:

Not a chart, but has the info needed for such a thing

http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/

I'm not sure it does. It doesn't show the relationships between the different levels. So, for example, how does a deanery relate to various parishes within a diocese? Or where is the College of Cardinals in relationship to the Vatican?

Or does it have that and I'm missing it?

I need something like one of those organizational trees that you see in corporations.

Edited February 20, 2016 by Gabriela

[Nihil Obstat]

Oh goodness. That sounds like a huge amount of work. Not sure such a chart exists.

[NadaTeTurbe]

Pretty sure my parish priest have one, but it's from the 30's, not sure it's up to date  

[Gabriela]

13 hours ago, Nihil Obstat said:

Oh goodness. That sounds like a huge amount of work. Not sure such a chart exists.

It doesn't actually have to cover every single parish and deanery and diocese in the world. It just needs to be something like this:

Pope
|
Bishops' conferences
|
Diocesan bishops
|
Priests and deacons
|
Laity

etc.

But under the Pope, you'd need the dicasteries and who they have authority over, etc. Under the diocesan bishops, you'd need the deaneries and whatnot. And so on.

Edited February 20, 2016 by Gabriela

[Nihil Obstat]

I will let you know if I come across one. (And thank you for your condolences - forgot to say that yesterday. )

[Sponsa-Christi]

Honestly, I think it would be impossible to make an accurate infographic about the structure of the entire Church. There are just way to many weird details, gray areas, and "sort of like XYZ, but not exactly" situations.

While the Church is hierarchical, not every entity fits neatly into a chain of command. For example, while a bishops' conference is in some ways "above" an individual bishop, a single diocesan bishop has much more real authority over his own diocese than the local bishops' conference would have over its territory. 

Even the sort of sample chart you (Gabriela) put in your above post is a bit too "flat." For example, deacons are clergy, but they don't have any sort of governing authority over lay people by virtue of being deacons. On the other hand, you could have a situation where a simple priest had some de facto authority over a bishop--for instance, if a retired auxiliary bishop was resident in a parish, he would have to follow the policies set by the priest who was the pastor (e.g., the retired bishop couldn't "pull rank" and decide to change the Mass times just because he was a bishop). 

Not saying that a chart like this wouldn't be an interesting project, but you would have to be selective in exactly which aspects of the Church you were choosing to represent at the expense of others. 

16 hours ago, Gabriela said:

I'm looking for an organizational chart of the Catholic Church, from the Pope all the way on down to the laity, including Vatican dicasteries, the colleges (bishops, cardinals), deaneries, etc. I don't need a map of every single parish and deanery and whatnot in the world (what document would that ever fit in?), just one showing how the general hierarchical structure works.

Anyone know where I can find one of these? @Nihil Obstat, maybe? (I'm really sorry about your grandfather, btw.  Happy it wasn't by starvation, though...)

Actually, looking at your original post again, I'm thinking the most accurate chart might be the most simple one. It would be something like this:

- The Pope (keeping in mind that some entities work on behalf of the Pope, like nunciatures and Vatican dicasteries)

|

- Diocesan bishops (and people like diocesan bishops, such as the heads of Ordinariates and prelatures)

|

- Those whom the diocesan bishop puts in charge of stuff, like pastors of parishes

|

- People under the authority of those whom the diocesan bishop places as their leaders--e.g., lay members of parishes

*****

But even here, you still have a lot of confusing gray areas, like when you try to figure in things like religious communities. Also, there are some very technical differences between "vicarious" authority and "delegated" authority, which would also make a chart confusing.

[Gabriela]

1 hour ago, Sponsa-Christi said:

Honestly, I think it would be impossible to make an accurate infographic about the structure of the entire Church. There are just way to many weird details, gray areas, and "sort of like XYZ, but not exactly" situations.

While the Church is hierarchical, not every entity fits neatly into a chain of command. For example, while a bishops' conference is in some ways "above" an individual bishop, a single diocesan bishop has much more real authority over his own diocese than the local bishops' conference would have over its territory. 

Even the sort of sample chart you (Gabriela) put in your above post is a bit too "flat." For example, deacons are clergy, but they don't have any sort of governing authority over lay people by virtue of being deacons. On the other hand, you could have a situation where a simple priest had some de facto authority over a bishop--for instance, if a retired auxiliary bishop was resident in a parish, he would have to follow the policies set by the priest who was the pastor (e.g., the retired bishop couldn't "pull rank" and decide to change the Mass times just because he was a bishop). 

Not saying that a chart like this wouldn't be an interesting project, but you would have to be selective in exactly which aspects of the Church you were choosing to represent at the expense of others. 

Actually, looking at your original post again, I'm thinking the most accurate chart might be the most simple one. It would be something like this:

- The Pope (keeping in mind that some entities work on behalf of the Pope, like nunciatures and Vatican dicasteries)

|

- Diocesan bishops (and people like diocesan bishops, such as the heads of Ordinariates and prelatures)

|

- Those whom the diocesan bishop puts in charge of stuff, like pastors of parishes

|

- People under the authority of those whom the diocesan bishop places as their leaders--e.g., lay members of parishes

*****

But even here, you still have a lot of confusing gray areas, like when you try to figure in things like religious communities. Also, there are some very technical differences between "vicarious" authority and "delegated" authority, which would also make a chart confusing.

Good points. Thanks for that.

It has to be possible. It may be insanely complex to be 100% accurate, but as you say, it may also just have to be exceedingly simple. Let me talk to my theologian committee member about this. There will be a chart!

6 hours ago, NadaTeTurbe said:

Pretty sure my parish priest have one, but it's from the 30's, not sure it's up to date  

Nada, would you mind to ask your parish priest about this? Even an old one would be a good start.

[Peace]

5 hours ago, Gabriela said:

Jesus

|

Pope
|
Bishops' conferences
|
Diocesan bishops
|
Priests and deacons
|
Laity

etc.

Slight correction!

[Nihil Obstat]

I do not believe that bishops' conferences have independent authority as such. Much like how parish councils do not have authority of their own, only what the priest allows them to exercise.

[Gabriela]

3 hours ago, Nihil Obstat said:

I do not believe that bishops' conferences have independent authority as such. Much like how parish councils do not have authority of their own, only what the priest allows them to exercise.

See, this is why I need a chart!

[NadaTeTurbe]

So, father think he have given it to a seminary in the north of France, he's sorry. He say that if you want to do it, you should use the Annuario Pontificio : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annuario_Pontificio 

[Gabriela]

5 hours ago, NadaTeTurbe said:

So, father think he have given it to a seminary in the north of France, he's sorry. He say that if you want to do it, you should use the Annuario Pontificio : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annuario_Pontificio 

You're such a good friend, Nada. Thank you! 

[Papist]

https://www.google.com/search?q=catholic+church+org+chart&espv=2&biw=1600&bih=775&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj-hs2z7ZDLAhXLbz4KHbetAIEQ_AUIBigB#imgrc=_