What power does a local Bishop have?

[Sir_Knight]

1. *] Let’s assume that a priest in a parish is doing something that is against church teachings – changing the words around during mass, refusing to give communion on the tongue to people that want it that way, etc. Let’s further assume that the pastor is made aware of it and tells the priest to correct those items and the priest refuses. What power/authority does the pastor have over a priest in his parish?
   
   *] Let’s assume that a priest is doing something that is against church teachings – changing the words around during mass, refusing to give communion on the tongue to people that want it that way, etc. Let’s further assume that the bishop is made aware of it and tells the priest to correct those items and the priest refuses. What power/authority does the bishop have over a priest in his diocese?

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Sir Knight:

1. 
   *]Let’s assume that a priest in a parish is doing something that is against church teachings – changing the words around during mass, refusing to give communion on the tongue to people that want it that way, etc. Let’s further assume that the pastor is made aware of it and tells the priest to correct those items and the priest refuses. What power/authority does the pastor have over a priest in his parish?
   *]Let’s assume that a priest is doing something that is against church teachings – changing the words around during mass, refusing to give communion on the tongue to people that want it that way, etc. Let’s further assume that the bishop is made aware of it and tells the priest to correct those items and the priest refuses. What power/authority does the bishop have over a priest in his diocese?

1. 
   This correction process is all well defined in Canon Law. The Pastor has full responsibility for overseeing the celebration of the Sacraments in his parish. He could go as far as prohibiting the associate from celebrating Mass in his parish.
   
   The Bishop has full responsibility of overseeing the Liturgy in his diocese and granting priests offices and faculties in his diocese. He can remove them from a parish (through a long canonical process) and can remove their faculties.