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Office of Canonical Services and Tribunal

The Office of Canonical Services is the forum in which the bishop, assisted by his judicial vicar and canonical staff, conducts the legal governance of the Diocese, in accordance with Church teaching, legislation, and the 1983 Code of Canon Law. This office promotes and protects the obligations, rights and privileges of constituents throughout the Diocese, advises the bishop on matters associated with the various aspects of Church law, provides assistance, research and consultation on all areas of Church law for clergy and laity, processes and regulates permissions and dispensations relative to marriage, supervises the alienation and suppression of temporal goods of the Diocese, and represents the Diocese in matters of hierarchical recourse to the Holy See.

The Office of Canonical Services is the forum in which the bishop, assisted by his judicial vicar and canonical staff, conducts the legal governance of the Diocese, in accordance with Church teaching, legislation, and the 1983 Code of Canon Law. This office promotes and protects the obligations, rights and privileges of constituents throughout the Diocese, advises the bishop on matters associated with the various aspects of Church law, provides assistance, research and consultation on all areas of Church law for clergy and laity, processes and regulates permissions and dispensations relative to marriage, supervises the alienation and suppression of temporal goods of the Diocese, and represents the Diocese in matters of hierarchical recourse to the Holy See.

The Tribunal, as an ecclesiastical court, adjudicates ordinary contentious trials, including marriage invalidity cases and documentary cases associated with marriage law, in conjunction with the promoter of justice and the defender of the bond. The judicial vicar reports directly to the bishop on matters concerning canonical trials, supervises the canonical staff, and works with the secretary for administration on personnel, budget and administrative matters.

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• What is a Tribunal?
• Annulments
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