Roman Catholic Church

(2) The Dataria, which deals with benefices the appointment of which is reserved to the Holy See.

(3) The Apostolic Camera, which formerly was of great im portance as having control of the affairs of the Papal States, now has the care of the property of the Holy See.

(4) The Office of Briefs sent to princes, and of Latin letters.

v. The Tribunals which control the judicial functions of the primacy. These are: (I) The Sacred Penitentiary, handling matters of conscience.

(2) The Sacred Rota, which was formerly the chief court for the Papal States. It is now the court which hears all appeals which are made from the courts of the bishops to the Holy See, and consists of ten judges who generally sit in threes, or more if the case is very important.

(3) The Apostolic Segnatura. This is the Supreme Court of Appeal and consists of six cardinals with assistants. An appeal lies from the Sacred Rota to the Segnatura.

2. Archbishops, Metropolitans and Patriarchs.—Besides their own episcopal jurisdiction over their own diocese, these greater prelates, whatever their title, have a provincial jurisdiction over their "suffragan" bishops. This jurisdiction is one strictly limited by law, the presumption being always in favour of the bishop and against the archbishop. It is attached to the office and therefore is "ordinary" jurisdiction, and affects the suffragan bishops immediately and the faithful of their dioceses through them. The extent of this jurisdiction varies very much in dif ferent localities, and is now everywhere less extensive than in former years. It is the archbishop's duty to summon his com provincials to the Provincial Synod, which need now only be done once every twenty years, and in that Synod he presides of right, though his vote counts for no more than that of any other bishop. If the suffragan bishop has neglected to carry out the canonical visitation of his diocese, the archbishop may visit, after obtaining permission from Rome, and has full power of redressing abuses. When any one of the suffragan Sees becomes vacant it is generally the duty of the archbishop to see that the Cathedral Chapter elects a vicar capitular to carry on the administration of the diocese during the vacancy. An appeal lies from the Court of any one of the suffragan bishops to that of the archbishop, and where the rights of the bishop are involved he may hear cases from that bishop's diocese as a Court of first instance. Appeals from his own diocesan court, which formerly had to be taken to the Holy See, are now heard by some one bishop selected by the archbishop for that purpose once for all, and approved by the Holy See. The archbishop has always the right of pontificating

in any church in his province, and may bless the people, grant 100 days indulgence, and have the cross carried before him in the church. He may not, however, except when he holds a visitation, perform any other acts which imply jurisdiction.

3. Bishops.

The bishop and the diocese form the most es sential part of the Church's organisation, being of Divine institu tion under the primacy of the pope. A Bishop is nominated under different conditions in different parts of the world, but even after he has been thus canonically nominated he has no power until that nomination has been confirmed by the Holy See. Once this confirmation has been given and has been communicated to his Cathedral Chapter he has full possession of all episcopal juris diction, though he can do no acts involving the power of order, such as ordaining clergy or confirming children, until he has been consecrated. His jurisdiction is "ordinary," limited by restric tions imposed by the Holy See, but independent of his people and even of his clergy. In certain important matters he is bound to seek the advice of his Cathedral Chapter, though he is not usually bound to follow it. He is bound to make a visit ad liming to the Holy See at stated intervals to report on the state of his diocese. His authority over his diocese is fourfold: (I) Teach ing, with authority over all schools, and the right of superin tending all the publications of the faithful and especially of the clergy within his diocese. (2) Legislative, in which his power is strictly limited by the jus commune and by all existing laws which have wider scope than the bounds of his own diocese. He can dis pense from all diocesan laws. (3) Judicial. He is judge of first instance in all cases which belong to the ecclesiastical tribunal. In foro intern he can reserve to himself the absolution from certain sins. He can enforce his sentences of ecclesiastics by suspending them from their functions. (4) Administrative. The Bishop can nominate, subject to any local rights of patronage, to all benefices in his diocese. He can oblige ecclesiastics to under take special work, though he cannot force the cure of souls upon them if they are unwilling. He has authority over all ecclesiasti cal property, and none can be alienated or sold without his con sent. But in nothing is his power unlimited, he is always subject to the precepts of Canon Law.