Apostolic Administrator and Switching Churches

[smad0142]

Does a Latin Rite Apostolic Administrator of a Diocese have the authority to approve a switch to an Eastern Church, or is it necessary to wait until a new Bishop has been appointed to the Diocese? Thanks!!

 

[Jesus_123]

+The original post is somewhat unclear as to what is meant by. . . “switching churches” . . . but the below information deals in part about portions of the scope of Apostolic Administrator’s authority . . . *at least according to Wikipedia . . . *

. . . :coffeeread: . . .

Apostolic Administrator

An apostolic administrator in the Roman Catholic Church is a prelate appointed by the Pope to serve as the ordinary for an apostolic administration. An apostolic administration can either be an area that is not yet a diocese (a stable apostolic administration) or for a diocese that either has no bishop (an apostolic administrator sede vacante) or, in very rare cases, has an incapacitated bishop (apostolic administrator sede plena).

Characteristics

Apostolic administrators of stable administrations are equivalent in canon law with diocesan bishops, meaning they have essentially the same authority as a diocesan bishop. This type of apostolic administrator is usually the bishop of a titular see.

Administrators sede vacante or sede plena only serve in their role until a newly chosen diocesan bishop takes possession of the diocese. They are restricted by canon law in what they can do to the diocese they temporarily administer. For example, such an administrator may not sell real estate owned by the diocese.** This type of administrator is commonly an auxiliary bishop of the diocese, a priest serving as the vicar general of the diocese, or the ordinary of a neighboring diocese**.

Normally when a diocese falls vacant a vicar capitular/diocesan administrator is chosen locally, but the Pope, having full governmental power, can preempt this choice and name an apostolic administrator instead. Sometimes a retiring bishop is designated to be apostolic administrator until his successor takes office.

- Wikipedia​

. . . all for Jesus+​

 

[Diakonia]

Yes, he can. The applicable provisions of the Latin Code are:

Can. 427 §1 The diocesan Administrator is bound by the obligations and enjoys the power of a diocesan Bishop, excluding those matters which are excepted by the nature of things or by the law itself.

§2 The diocesan Administrator obtains his power on his acceptance of the election, without the need of confirmation from anyone, but without prejudice to the provision of can. 833, n. 4.

Can. 428 §1 While the see is vacant, no innovation is to be made.

§2 Those who have the interim governance of the diocese are forbidden to do anything which could in any way prejudice the rights of the diocese or of the Bishop. Both they, and in like manner any other persons, are specifically forbidden to remove, destroy or in any way alter documents of the diocesan curia, either personally or through another.

The limitations on the power of an Administrator sede vacante (who is not, ordinarily termed ‘Apostolic Administrator’) are in the nature of not taking any action that could be perceived as detrimental to the jurisdiction or which would effectively handcuff the successor bishop. As an example, he cannot generally alienate (sell) property, although he could finalize a sale that was initiated by the predecessor bishop if the failure to do so would cause financial harm to the diocese. He cannot ordain, but he can incardinate and excardinate, as required.

Keep in mind, though, that, while he can release faithful to the jurisdiction of another Church, he may elect not to do so and instruct them to wait the appointment of a successor bishop - or he could pass the request on to the Nuncio or to Rome. Those types of decisions are most likely to be made when the administrator is unfamiliar with the considerations involved in making such a decision.