Contact Canon Lawyer Philip Gray at The St. Joseph Foundation for a free confidential consultation:
THERE IS SO MUCH MORE TO LEARN ABOUT YOUR CANON LAW RIGHTS AS A PASTOR.
Obedience and Beacons of Light, by Joe Schmiesing (click on link)
Contact Canon Lawyer Philip Gray through The St. Joseph Foundation for a free confidential consultation by clicking here:
St. Joseph Canon Law Foundation
Pastors need to know that they have Canon Law rights just like the lay faithful. We understand there may not have been a course in seminary explaining those rights to you. We the laity had to learn our Canon Law rights to defend our Parishes and schools, and we want you to know your rights, too. We will stand behind you if you choose to defend your Parish families, as good fathers would do!
The Pastor has broad discretion when it comes to administrative decisions and pastoral needs of his flock which the Bishop cannot control. (Canon 515, 532, et. al.).
"Priests are often placed in compromised positions when their ordinary makes administrative decisions harmful to the pastoral and spiritual care of the Faithful within the priests’ care. This frequently occurs when a bishop decides to downsize any aspect of his diocese, be that with shutting down outreach programs, closing schools or missions, merging parishes, or closing churches. When a bishop’s administrative decision removes elements of pastoral care, the ministering priests often suffer a conflict of conscience. When the decision affects large numbers of people and severely restricts placement options for priests, the conflict intensifies."
St. Joseph Foundation, www.stjosephcanonlaw.com
https://files.ecatholic.com/35004/documents/2023/7/Memorandum%20to%20Interested%20Priests%20October%2018%202022%20Conflict%20of%20Conscience.pdf?t=1689437678000
Also, the Pastor cannot be transferred unless the transfer will be for the good of souls or the advantage of the Church (Canon 1748) The term transfer includes being removed from pastorship, and demoted to a vicar. The Bishop cannot transfer based on things such as: "It's been a few years", or "We like to move priests around." The Bishop actually has to have a positive reason AND understand the good it will do for the Parishes (Canon 190).
For more information on the section of Canon Law that addresses the transfer of Pastors:
https://www.vatican.va/archive/cod-iuris-canonici/eng/documents/cic_lib7-cann1732-1752_en.html#SECTION_I.
Persecuted from Within:
How the Saints Endured Crises in the Church
For priests in all in levels of the hierarchy, religious, and laity.
by Joshua Charles and Alec Torres
We love our priests and pray for you daily. As lay faithful, we view our priests much like fathers who we can trust and who will provide good things for his children. We also recognize a priest by his authority and his love.
Like a good shepherds, you defend your flocks when under attack, and minister to us when we are sick, lonely, tired or dying.
Only through your ministry can we receive the Sacraments of the Church. You baptize our babies. You pardon our sins in Confession. You prepare our children to receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. You guide them to become Soldiers for Christ at Confirmation. You help our children discover their vocations. You marry those called to Marriage. You celebrate with us when our sons are ordained to the Priesthood or when our daughters enter a religious community. You anoint our family members who are sick or dying. You are God's instruments working for salvation of souls.
"The simple step of a courageous individual is not to take part in the lie. One word of truth outweighs the world."
Aleksander Solzhenitsyn