Do priests get any say in their posting when new dioceses are established?

[Digitnomy]

My understanding of how priests are assigned is that while sometimes the priest’s wishes are taken into account, frequently the bishop issues assignments without apparent regard for such preferences. Occasionally an effort might be made not to post a priest too far from his dying mother, etc.

However at least he is still in his home diocese. On the other hand, if a new diocese is erected, he could be stranded in some far flung part of the state.

Is consideration given to shifting those priests who prefer, to whichever diocese where they have family ties prior to the official erection of a new diocese?

 

[OldCAFMember]

The methods that bishops use in making assignments varies greatly. It is nearly impossible to make broad statements about how assignments are determined.

However, when a new diocese is created, that means that territory from another diocese—sometimes even two dioceses—is taken and used to form the new diocese. (It is the same when a new parish is created.) Generally, priests will be a part of whichever diocese contains their assignment at the time of the creation of the new diocese, whether it’s the old or new diocese. So, a priest is not usually going to end up very far away from where he has been serving.

It is possible that several years after creation of the new diocese, a priest may end up slightly further away from where he was, because the new diocese’s borders may extend more in another direction than the old diocese, but he won’t be endlessly away.

 

[jimXroberts]

At his ordination, a priest vows obedience to his ordinary (which usually means the Diocesan bishop). Although the priest’s views will be taken into account, his posting is a matter for the bishop, usually acting through his Chancery office. When a new diocese is created, priests currently serving in parishes within the new diocese will come under the jurisdiction of the new bishop. Some may not like it, but obedience trumps personal preference.

 

[Glennon_P]

It’s my understanding that the priests assigned within what becomes the new diocese automatically stay with the new diocese.

There’s a story (urban legend, perhaps) that when the Diocese of Kearney (the see was moved to Grand Island a few years later) was about to be split off from the Diocese of Omaha 1912, the Bishop of Omaha reassigned many priests he liked so they would stay in the Diocese of Omaha…and replaced them with other priests that he wasn’t particularly fond of.