September 16, 2004

What is an episcopal vicar?

By Father Robert Marshall, Pastor, Church of the Ascension

QUESTION: What does the term "episcopal vicar" mean? Is this a Catholic term or does it refer to someone in the Episcopal Church?

ANSWER: The term "episcopal vicar" is, indeed, a Catholic term. It refers to an office that was established fairly recently after the Second Vatican Council. The authority, duties and qualifications of an "episcopal vicar" are set forth in the Code of Canon Law adopted in 1983. The office can be most easily understood by examining the meanings of the two words that comprise the title.

The word "episcopal" refers to the order of bishops. The order itself is sometimes referred to as the "episcopacy" and the ordination of a bishop is properly called an "episcopal ordination." Because the Anglican Communion is represented in the United States principally by the "Episcopal Church," American Catholics use the word "episcopal" less frequently than do Catholics in other countries so as to avoid the confusion evident in your question. For example, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is this nation's "episcopal conference," though the phrase, "of Catholic Bishops" conveys the same meaning as the word "episcopal" without the accompanying confusion.

The word "vicar" refers to one who has, by office, the authority to act in the place of another. There are many kinds of vicars in the Catholic Church. As the head of the Church, the pope is frequently called the "Vicar of Christ" on earth though he could also appropriately be called the "Vicar of Peter" as it is the "shoes of the fisherman" that he now wears. An associate pastor a priest who assists and sometimes has the authority to act in the place of a pastor is referred to in canon law by the title "parochial vicar." The priest who has the authority to act in the place of the bishop in the exercise of his judicial power is called the "judicial vicar."

The priest who has the authority to act in the place of the bishop in certain situations within a region of the diocese (a "deanery") is frequently called a "dean" though canon law refers to him as a "vicar forane." And the priest who has the general power to act in the place of the bishop throughout the diocese (though only with respect to those areas which canon law does not reserve to the bishop alone) is called the "vicar general." Each diocese is required to have one vicar general. Two or more vicars general are permitted if required by the size of the diocese, the number of inhabitants or other pastoral reasons though one vicar general per diocese is most common.

As you may have guessed from the way the words were defined above, an "episcopal vicar" is one who has the authority to act in the place of the bishop. The authority of an episcopal vicar is similar to that of a vicar general except that the authority of a vicar general runs throughout the diocese as set forth in the Code of Canon Law.

By contrast, an episcopal vicar's authority is defined by the bishop at the time of his appointment and can be limited to a geographic area of the diocese, a type of business, a group of the faithful, or otherwise as the bishop determines. While there is generally only one vicar general in a diocese, canon law contemplates that there can be one or several episcopal vicars though there need not be any.

As you might imagine, a bishop is called upon to make many decisions and exercise great authority within his diocese. The presence of a vicar general and of one or more episcopal vicars helps him to ease that burden by sharing at least some responsibilities.

Both a vicar general and an episcopal vicar have the same qualifications in canon law. Both must be priests who are not less than thirty years old and who hold a doctorate or a licentiate (an advanced academic degree) in canon law or theology (or at least be an "expert" in these disciplines).

They must also be "recommended by reason of their sound doctrine, integrity, prudence, and experience in handling matters." (Canon 478, §1). Furthermore, neither office can be held by a close relative of the bishop so as to avoid even the appearance of impropriety.

Vicars of all kinds and a vicar general and an episcopal vicar, in particular should not act contrary to the wishes of the person whose authority they exercise. In other words, an associate pastor (a parochial vicar) is expected to act in conformity with the wishes of his pastor. Similarly, a vicar general, a judicial vicar, a vicar forane, and an episcopal vicar are expected to act in conformity with the wishes of the bishop. Though we may not be familiar with the terms, these various officers assist a bishop in serving the needs of his diocese.

If you are a teenager or young adult and have a question you would like Father Robert Marshall to address, send it to the Diocese of Memphis Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, 5825 Shelby Oaks Drive, Memphis, TN 38134 or fax (901) 373-1269 or e-mail catherine.mensi@cc.cdom.org.