Episcopal succession

[mardukm]

I thought CAF had a Canon Forum, but it doesn’t, so I’ll ask this here.

In any eparchy, the distinction between a co-adjutor bishop and an auxiliary bishop is that the co-adjutor has “the right of succession.”

Does “the right of succession” mean that if the proper ordinary dies, the co-adjutor bishop AUTOMATICALLY becomes the new proper ordinary of the eparchy? There is no process of election?

Blessings,
Marduk

 

[Aramis]

I thought CAF had a Canon Forum, but it doesn’t, so I’ll ask this here.

In any eparchy, the distinction between a co-adjutor bishop and an auxiliary bishop is that the co-adjutor has “the right of succession.”

Does “the right of succession” mean that if the proper ordinary dies, the co-adjutor bishop AUTOMATICALLY becomes the new proper ordinary of the eparchy? There is no process of election?

Blessings,
Marduk

Pretty much. The Co-adjutor has already been elected, but for whatever reasons, the old bishop isn’t retired, dead, disobedient, nor otherwise facing immediate removal, and a continuity is strongly desired. Usually, such appointments in the Roman Church are for fairly orthodox and orthopraxic bishops about to retire, so that the new bishop has a year or two to learn the ins and outs of a particular diocese.

Note that a coadjutor is, in Roman praxis, commemorated with the outgoing bishop, while an auxiliary is only commemorated if present or the local exarch.

 

[angelic06]

For the Eastern Catholic Churches, according to CCEO Canon 212, a coadjutor bishop may be appointed*** with the right of succession***.

intratext.com/IXT/ENG1199/_P5W.HTM