An ecclesiastic with power to sit in judgment and to pronounce sentence. The bishop is the ordinary judge in his diocese for all cases not withdrawn from his authority by common law. While the bishop may act as judge in matters subject to him, he is recommended to allow the officialis or chief justice to try cases together with the associate justices. All judges appointed by the bishop take an oath on assuming their office and should be above suspicion and be well versed in canon law. Some cases require five judges, others three, and some only one. Sentence is pronounced by majority vote. The judge of appeal from a diocesan court is the archbishop's court, or the Rota, in Rome.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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