Apostolic & Diocesan Administrators of a Vacant See: A Canonical Resource

When a bishop dies or otherwise leaves a diocese permanently, if there is not an immediate replacement to assume the role of bishop, the seat is said to be "vacant." During that interim, before a new bishops is appointed, someone must act as an overseer of the diocese until the new bishop takes office.This book is written for diocesan administrators and the canonists who guide them. Each chapter answers questions a diocesan administrator might have; chapter 18 is for apostolic administrators specifically. Each chapter gives suggestions for further reading in case something in the chapter seems interesting or surprising. While this book has been written for diocesan administrators in the Latin Church sui iuris, the law for Eastern Catholic Churches is similar.CONTENTSCHAPTER 1: What happens when a diocese becomes vacant?CHAPTER 2: How does the college of consultors elect a diocesan administrator?CHAPTER 3: What are the diocesan administrator's first tasks?CHAPTER 4: How much authority does a diocesan administrator have?CHAPTER 5: What are other interpretations regarding the diocesan administrator's authority?CHAPTER 6: How long will the diocese be vacant?CHAPTER 7: What officials can the diocesan administrator appoint?CHAPTERS: What officials can the diocesan administrator remove?CHAPTER 9: Can a diocese ordain priests and deacons even in the first year of the vacancy?CHAPTER 10: What can a diocesan administrator change in the diocesan curia?CHAPTER 11: How should a diocesan administrator respond to serious problems which call for disciplinary action?CHAPTER 12: What permissions can a diocesan administrator give when groups under the bishop's authority make requests?CHAPTER 13: What property can a diocesan administrator give authorization to sell while the diocese is vacant?CHAPTER 14: Can a diocesan administrator run the diocese with a deficit budget if the departed bishop did?CHAPTER 15: Can a diocesan administrator act in the place of the bishop in canonical or civil trials?CHAPTER 16: How does a diocesan administrator participate in the episcopal conference?CHAPTER 17: What does a diocesan administrator do when the normal rules do not work for his problem?CHAPTER 18: What can an apostolic administrator do that a diocesan administrator cannot do?CHAPTER 19: Why would a diocesan administrator care about the principles of law for the vacant diocese?CHAPTER 20: What are the four principles of the law for the vacant diocese?CHAPTER 21: What are some of the first tasks of the new bishop?APPENDIX A: Sample documentsAPPENDIX B: Canons for the vacant dioceseSelect bibliography Read more