Organization of parish ministry “in solidum” in accordance with canon 517 § 1 of the Code of Canon Law
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15633/acan.22102Keywords:
parish, moderator, joint pastoral care, in solidumAbstract
In this article, the author analyses the organization of pastoral work carried out by a team of priests in a single parish or across several parishes, based on the principle of acting “in solidum”, as codified in canon 517 § 1 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law. The following issues are presented: the historical and legal antecedents of pastoral ministry in solidarity within the Church; the normative conditions for the joint exercise of pastoral ministry; the legal requirements for a group of priests forming a pastoral team “in solidum”; and the moderator and his duties in relation to the other members of the group. In conclusion, the author observes that the practical application of this method of parish organization gives rise to problems concerning the determination of the specific competences and the degree of responsibility of the moderator and the other priests. The general regulations codified in canons 542–544 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law are insufficient in this regard. Solutions need to be developed at the level of particular legislation, which will allow for a more precise and unambiguous application of this form of pastoral care organization.
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