La responsabilidad civil y penal de los titulares de oficios eclesiásticos según el derecho estatal

Abstract

Not only does the holding of ecclesiastical office entail certain responsibilities in light of canon law, but also in relation to civil law. Historically, in the Spanish legal system, the clergy enjoyed special status in that regard, until equality of status was introduced with the transition to democracy. The criminal responsibility of holders of ecclesiastical offices has become a legal issue of primary interest, especially because of the investigation into abuses committed by clerics in many dioceses around the world. This study explores the situation in Spain, and its reflection in the relevant jurisprudence. Moreover, it describes the efforts that the Catholic Church has made in recent years to strengthen cooperation with the State, so that clerics guilty of crimes are also made answerable to civil authorities. The question of the subsidiary civil liability of the ecclesiastical entity in which the offending office holder is incardinated is likewise addressed.