Diocesan chancery

A diocesan chancery is the branch of administration that handles all written documents used in the official government of a Catholic, Anglican, or Orthodox diocese.

[1][2] It is in the diocesan chancery that, under the direction of the bishop or his representative (the local ordinary), all documents which concern the diocese are drawn up, copied, forwarded, and a record kept of all official writings expedited or received.

Jus novum (c. 1140-1563) Jus novissimum (c. 1563-1918) Jus codicis (1918-present) Other Sacraments Sacramentals Sacred places Sacred times Supra-diocesan/eparchal structures Particular churches Juridic persons Philosophy, theology, and fundamental theory of Catholic canon law Clerics Office Juridic and physical persons Associations of the faithful Pars dynamica (trial procedure) Canonization Election of the Roman Pontiff Academic degrees Journals and Professional Societies Faculties of canon law Canonists Institute of consecrated life Society of apostolic life In many dioceses, the chancellor exercises some of the faculties, which in other dioceses are exclusively reserved for the vicar-general.

Unless the official correspondence were properly cared for, there would be no tradition in diocesan management, important documents would be lost, and the written evidence necessary in lawsuits and trials would be lacking.

The diocesan system was generally introduced in many countries whose churches had hitherto been under a more or less provisional government (e.g., United States, England, Scotland, and India).

In the United States, the First Plenary Council of Baltimore (1852) expressed the wish that in every diocese, there should be a chancery, to facilitate ecclesiastical administration and establish for its conduct a more or less identical system.

In the Diocese of Breslau, there existed an institution known as the "Secret Chancery" (Geheimkanzlei), which expedited only matters decided by the prince-bishop personally or with the advice of this body.

For the office of diocesan chancellor in the United States, see "Acta et Decreta" of the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore, in index, p. 303, and of the Synod of Maynooth (1900), s. v. "Archiva".

It takes no account of local means of administration, which it abandons to the proper authority in each diocese, the concrete circumstances always offering great variety and calling for all possible freedom of action.