LEARN ABOUT YOUR CANON LAW RIGHTS
Priests may contact Canon Lawyer Philip Gray through The St. Joseph Foundation for a free confidential consultation by clicking here: St. Joseph Canon Law Foundation
PASTORS HAVE RIGHTS
Pastors need to know that they have Canon Law rights just like the lay faithful. We are sure that there was not a course in Seminary explaining those rights to you. We the laity had to learn our Canon Law rights to defend our parishes and schools, and we want you to know your rights, too. We will stand behind you if you choose to defend our Parish families, as good fathers would do!
Did you know that it must be the pastor who originates the sale of a parish after hearing the parishioners? (Canon 532) The pastor also has broad discretion when it comes to administrative decisions and pastoral needs of his flock which the bishop cannot control. (Canon 515, 532, et. al.) Also, the Pastor cannot be transferred unless the transfer will be for the good of souls or the advantage of the Church (Canon 1748) The term transfer includes being removed from pastorship, and demoted to a vicar. The Bishop cannot transfer based on things such as: "It's been a few years", or "We like to move priests around." The Bishop actually has to have a positive reason AND understand the good it will do for the Parishes (Canon 190).
This is the link to the Section of Canon Law that addresses the transfer of pastors.
The position of pastor is a crucial one. (Canon 529) Pastors can't be forced to retire (Canon 538), unless certain circumstances exist. Furthermore, retired priests are encouraged to have opportunities to serve (see the Vatican instructional document). Priests have rights in keeping with their clerical state (Canon 278).
Conflict of conscience often occurs when your ordinary makes administrative decisions harmful to the pastoral and spiritual care of the Faithful within your care as a Priest/Pastor. Learn more about how to consider the questions these situations raise here. (Canon 1749-1754; 1747)
Vatican document for pastoral conversion of the parish community
As the 2020 Vatican instructional document on parish modification states, "The parish is not an outdated institution...While certainly not the only institution which evangelises, if the parish proves capable of self-renewal and constant adaptability, it continues to be 'the Church living in the midst of the homes of her sons and daughters' ”. (Pastoral Conversion of the Parish...paragraph 29). The top-down approach (consultants/bishop/vicar to the pastor/laity) is an apparent violation of the rights of the faithful- laity and clergy alike. It has resulted in a stressful situation for some priests/pastors that they'd be compelled to desire the closure of churches when otherwise they would not. As a result, it pits pastor against lay person in a fight for our very Catholic identity. This tension is what Canon Law on parish modifications is written to avoid.
Obedience and Beacons of Light, by Joe Schmiesing
Persecuted from Within: How the Saints Endured Crises in the Church
For priests in all in levels of the hierarchy, religious, and laity. by Joshua Charles and Alec Torres
We love our priests and pray for you daily. As lay faithful, we view our priests much like fathers who we can trust and who will provide good things for his children. We also recognize a priest by his authority and his love. Like a good shepherds, you defend your flocks when under attack, and minister to us when we are sick, lonely, tired or dying. Only through your ministry can we receive the Sacraments of the Church. You baptize our babies. You pardon our sins in Confession. You prepare our children to receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. You guide them to become Soldiers for Christ at Confirmation. You help our children discover their vocations. You marry those called to Marriage. You celebrate with us when our sons are ordained to the Priesthood or when our daughters enter a religious community. You anoint our family members who are sick or dying. You are God's instruments working for salvation of souls.
"The simple step of a courageous individual is not to take part in the lie. One word of truth outweighs the world." - Aleksander Solzhenitsyn
WE ARE SO THANKFUL FOR OUR PRIESTS
We love our priests and pray for them daily. As lay faithful, we view our Pastors much like a father who we can trust and who will provide good things for his children. We also recognize a Pastor by his authority and his love. Like a good shepherd, he defends his flock when it is under attack, and ministers to us when we are sick or lonely or tired or dying.
CLERGY SURVEY
If you are a deacon or priest in the Diocese of Buffalo and would like to participate in our anonymous survey from SOBC, please click on the link.