Judicial vicar

The Offizial by universal canon law (CIC 1983)

The judicial vicar (from the Latin vicar iudicialis ) of a particular Church is called in German speaking countries usually prosecuted ex officio. He is the head of a Roman Catholic church court (tribunal ecclesiasticum ). As judicial vicar of the bishop says the Officer in whose name right. Occasionally he is also called diocesan or ( in archdioceses ) Metropolitan judge. A Offizial must be a priest and a working knowledge of canon law, which in Germany by the PhD Licentiate (Lic. jur. Can. ) Or Doctor of Canon Law ( Dr. jur. Can. ) Or by a specialist in canon law acquired theological doctoral degree ( Dr. theol. ) are demonstrated.

Main duties of the officers tential and its authority in the ecclesiastical administration of justice are granting dispensations, conducting ecclesiastical court proceedings, especially marriage annulment processes, and the preparation of beatification and canonization processes ( Beatifikationen or canonizations ).

The Offizial as chief judge of the diocese or ecclesiastical metropolis are a notary, also called churches, court or diocesan notary, and one or more judges and examining magistrates attached to. Prosecuted ex officio notary and are almost always full-time employees.

The Offizial as episcopal administrator

In the diocese of Münster is also referred to the representative appointed by the diocesan bishop for the Oldenburg portion of the diocese ( Vicar ) as ex officio proceedings. The official forecasting, which is since the 1970s at the same time Bishop, head of the Episcopal Münstersche Offizialat based in Vechta.