Church Authorities Research Articles

Legal entity of the Catholic Church as a participant in Land and Mortgage Register proceedings in Polish law – selected issues

This article evaluates the legal norms related to real estate trading by legal entities of the Catholic Church in the context of land and mortgage register proceedings. First, the issue of the legal entity of the relevant church legal entities is presented. Next, the principles of the representation of church legal entities by the competent authorities is analysed. This is important both for the capacity to undertake a substantive legal action, the subject of which is real estate, and for examining the effectiveness of procedural steps taken in the course of land and mortgage register proceedings. The last part is devoted to real estate trading with the participation of church legal entities in the context of the principles resulting from the regulations of land and mortgage register proceedings. The research leads to the conclusion that for land and mortgage register proceedings, it is of fundamental importance to assess the effectiveness of a legal act in the context of the specific requirements of canon law, examples of which are Canons 1281 § 1 of the Code of Canon Law with regard to acts exceeding the limits and manner of ordinary management, and Canons 1292 § 1–2 of this Code making the validity of alienation dependent on the consent or authorisation of the competent entity. The absence of the consent or authorisation required by the provisions of canon law should lead to dismissal of the application for entry, which can possibly be remedied by a subsequent confirmation of the legal act performed by applying the instruments of civil law, as exemplified by Articles 39 and 63 of the Civil Code. In addition, the implementation of the principle of the autonomy of the Catholic Church is expressed in leaving to the church authority regulation of the appointment of the competent bodies of church legal persons; the land and mortgage register court cannot question the effectiveness of the appointment of these bodies, the assessment of which is left to the Catholic Church and its organisational units.

Renaissance humanism and Martin Luther: The birth of nation‐states

AbstractThis article explores the interaction between Renaissance humanism and Martin Luther's Reformation in fostering the emergence of nation‐states in Europe. It argues that the emphasis on individualism, critical thinking, and a return to classical ideals during the Renaissance provided a fertile ground for Luther's challenge to the Catholic Church's authority. Luther's Reformation, with its focus on Scripture and a direct relationship between believer and God, further eroded the Church's control and transnational influence. This convergence of intellectual and religious transformations created a space for the development of distinct national identities and the consolidation of power by European monarchs. The article will examine how these movements challenged the existing political and religious order, ultimately contributing to the rise of nation‐states as the dominant political entity in Europe.

Kemerdekaan Berfikir dan Berteologi Kristen

This research discusses freedom of thought as an important element in the development of Christian theology and how the church responds to modern social challenges. Freedom of thought, although it often faces obstacles from church authority and attachment to tradition, provides opportunities for a more inclusive and progressive theological dialogue. This research uses a qualitative approach with a descriptive method, which involves in-depth interviews with church leaders and document analysis. The results show that freedom of thought contributes to enriching Christian theology and strengthens its relevance in responding to social issues, such as gender equality and social justice. This study concludes that freedom of thought plays an important role in maintaining the relevance of Christian theology in the midst of changing times without ignoring the teachings of the core faith.

Big administration reforms against Catholic reformist traditions: fusion of state and church mid-level school administrations in early nineteenth-century Prussian Silesia

ABSTRACT In what are often described as modern Western school systems, the supervision of elementary schools generally shifted from the hands of clerical administrators to genuine state officials during the nineteenth century. The Prussian state, like other predominantly Protestant states, relied on clerical personnel and church supervision structures to establish its school supervision administration. Yet, this was also true for the more Catholic parts of the Prussian monarchy, where integration of church structures into state administration caused friction between state and church authorities. Hence, this contribution focuses on appointments of school inspectors in early nineteenth-century Prussian Silesia, when friction arose between the state and the prince-bishop concerning appointment rights. These frictions are reflected in the process of newly introduced mid-level state school administrations taking over episcopal appointment rights, which has been described as a nationalisation or secularisation of Silesian school administration. The article proposes a more nuanced approach to the restructuring of Silesian school administration, driven by consecutive administration reforms resulting in a fusion of church and state administration, rather than a traditional secularisation narrative. It traces the subtle ties between the Prussian state, episcopal administration, and clerical inspection personnel that led to the gradual assertion of state over ecclesiastical structures.

Saving Sanctity: The Roman Inquisition and the Initial Prosecution of Girolamo Cardano

The impact of the Protestant Reformation and Catholic Reform movement on the ecclesiastical censorship of science, philosophy and magic has been an enduring theme in the historiography of early modern Italy. In this paper, I consider how the Church’s desire to defend the truth of miracles from Protestant criticisms on the one hand and their efforts to centralise the process of verifying miracles on the other affected the investigation of philosophical works. Taking the case of Girolamo Cardano, whose works were the subject of intensive investigation by the Catholic Church from the 1570s, I examine the issues that censors flagged as points of concern. One recurring theme was the fact that his accounts of the cosmos appeared to offer natural explanations for miracles and the actions of the martyrs. Although the intellectual problems raised by Cardano’s work were far from new, I suggest that the events of the sixteenth century raised their salience with Church authorities.

The Separation of Church and State as an Imperial Project in the Philippines during the Early American Colonial Period

This paper examines the separation of church and state in the Philippines during the early American colonial period, contextualizing it within the process of American overseas expansion and considering it as one of the projects of imperial hegemony construction. After the Spanish–American War, the United States substituted Spain as the new colonial ruler of the Philippines, legitimizing its regime as the spread of ‘civilization’ to the Filipinos. On this basis, the Americans enacted laws guaranteeing religious freedom and introduced an American-style institution dealing with church–state relations. Beyond the legal and administrative initiatives, the new regime also constructed an official narrative of the transformation of political–religious relations in the Philippine that emphasized the absolute ‘difference’ between the American human rights principle, which guaranteed freedom of worship, and the Spanish theocracy, which was dedicated to the consolidation of privileges. By legislating the separation of church and state, buying up church properties, recognizing the equality of denominations, and constructing the official imperial narrative of church–state relations, the Americans hoped to ‘teach’ Filipinos that the ‘true’ belief was rooted in the inner convictions of individual Christians, not in the authority and coercion of the hierarchical church. By disciplining the construction of ‘difference’ under tutelary colonialism, the separation of church and state movement initiated by the American colonial government in the Philippines became an important source of imperial self-endowed legitimacy.

Enabling abilities in disabilities: Developing differently abled Christian leadership in Africa

It is heartening to realise that Christianity is inclusively membered by differently abled people. Paradoxically, although the Church has cared for, and engaged with persons living with disabilities (PWDs) throughout history, African Church leadership has been exclusively made up of predominantly identically abled persons. Researchers report that ecclesial, infrastructural, leadership, and ministerial structures do not accommodate PWDs, mainly because of misunderstandings about disabilities, discriminatory traditions, hermeneutics and theologies. Disabilities are often generalised as repercussions of disobedience, sin, curses or defeat by evil spirits and witchcraft. Consequently, PWDs are misjudged as lacking abilities to be effective ecclesial leaders. While calls for inclusivity are loud globally, little research has been done to reconcile disabilities and abilities in ecclesiology and Christian leadership. If the Church merely proclaims but neglects demonstrating inclusivity, the gospel can be mistaken as paying hypocritical lip service in this regard, and rendering the Church exclusive, insensitive and imprisoning when it should be inclusive, sensitive and liberating for everyone, regardless of their impairments and (dis)abilities. Drawing from the inclusivity of Jesus Christ, missionary demands of the Church to minister to, with all creation as well as eschatological reflections, under grounded theory and reviewing related literature, this article unpacks the significance of inclusivity, identifies (dis)abilities and argues that Church authorities should consider, appreciate, accommodate, empower, develop, and enable PWDs to be part of ecclesial leadership for inclusionary transformation in and beyond Church walls.Contribution: This article advances transformational inclusivity in ecclesiology and Christian leadership.

Religious Attraction and Its Discontents: Tensions Surrounding the Monachization of Baptized Jews in Early Modern Italy

Both female monasticism and Jewish conversion acquired an accentuated significance in Catholic Europe during the age of reformations. Their convergence was ritually expressed in the celebration of the monastic vestition of converts from Judaism. This article centres on the experiences of baptized Jewish girls who entered monastic communities, based on an analysis of cases from central and northern Italy. It argues that Church authorities valued the radical break of formerly Jewish girls with the religious traditions of their ancestors. Yet at the same time, the highly esteemed attraction to female monasticism on the part of baptized Jews could also arouse considerable anxiety, which led to distancing attempts. These, the article suggests, were manifested by restricting converts’ monastic professions to designated institutions; by giving the cold shoulder to baptized Jews who took the veil and socially isolating them within their communities; or by not assisting sickly neophytes to fulfill their religious vocations.

The Tradition of Russian Independent Theological Thought: A Complex Interplay between Believers, the Orthodox Church and the State in the Case of the Conflict in Ukraine

The construction of the Russian state has been closely linked with the development of the autocephalous Russian Orthodox Church. Russian identity is deeply rooted in Orthodoxy: Russian literature, music, architecture and philosophy all bear a strong religious mark. The birth of the Russian state is also tied to the concept of Moscow as the Third Rome. Over time, the head of the Russian state has been invested with this mission to preserve orthodoxy embodied in Russian statehood. The attempts of the state to politicise religious institutions or to use religious teachings for political gains are not a new phenomenon and are certainly apparent to Russian Orthodoxy, including in the context of the conflict in Ukraine. The disturbing absence of distance displayed by the Church authorities towards the use of force has isolated the Patriarch, but has also triggered discontent within the ranks of the clergy. Dissonant voices have spoken regardless of the pressure exerted to silence them. In the complex history of State—Church relations, the symphony between the temporal and spiritual powers has fluctuated from complete subjugation of the Church under the authority of the State to a more autonomous and independent Church. On the margins of this volatile relationship, Orthodox believers and movements have always emerged to challenge both. This article pays tribute to the long tradition of dissonant Russian Orthodox voices and attempts to demonstrate the continuity of this tradition in the context of the conflict in Ukraine.

“With utmost caution and restraint.” The making of Roman Catholic sex education in the German-speaking area, 1900s to 1930s

ABSTRACT While the emergence of sex education in the early 20th century is well studied, religious reactions to it remained under-studied. The paper addresses this gap by analysing the emergence of Roman Catholic sex education in the German-speaking area from the turn of the century to the 1930s. It explores official doctrinal guidelines, inner-Catholic debates, and the growing body of Catholic sex education publications. The paper argues that for the Roman Catholic Church, sex education was not a mere pedagogical problem but a topic that raised overarching questions such as how to deal with modern natural sciences, female emancipation, or the secular school system. The findings suggest that lay people and clergy working in pastoral care were the driving force for the modernisation of the discourse vis-à-vis a more conservative church authority.

Mentoring for Discipleship and Spiritual Growth: An Assessment of Cases in Bentiu District of the SDA Church in South Sudan

This study sought to explore experiences in mentoring for discipleship and spiritual growth in Bentiu District of the SDA Church in South Sudan. The study involved three focus groups to receive data. There were two groups composed of seven participants each. The third group had eight participants, making a sample size of 22 respondents, selected randomly. Before venturing into the field to collect the data, the researcher secured permission from the Adventist church authority. Respondents signed the informed consent forms. Data analysis took place in the form of content analysis in the sense that the researcher assembled common themes to answer the research questions. Based on the findings, the study concludes that the youth in Bentiu District experienced mentoring for discipleship and spiritual growth through spiritual programs such as public evangelistic meetings, personal witnessing, small group meetings and through school programs. Women experienced mentoring through convention programs, association of younger women in various activities and through adult education programs. Special groups of people, also experienced the mentoring in various ways. The study recommends that church leaders need to explore more ways of mentoring the youth and the inexperienced by providing more trainings and involving them in spiritual programs. The church leaders should encourage disadvantaged women to enroll in adult education programs. Moreover, there is a need to integrate spiritual programs in the Adult Education programs so that women will be well equipped for service in the church and in the community.

Metropolitan Sergius and the “Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate” in 1931–1935

After the end of the civil war, the Moscow Patriarchate could only publish annual calendars, which were published until 1925. This was the only and very limited opportunity for the highest church authorities to publish some of their decrees and orders. Therefore, Metropolitan of Nizhny Novgorod Sergius (Stragorodsky), who assumed the duties of Deputy Patriarchal Locum Tenens on December 14, 1925, regarded the publication of the official periodical of the Patriarchate as one of the top priorities in organizing church life. One of Metropolitan Sergei’s main achievements during this time was obtaining permission from the authorities to publish the “Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate”, which was published from 1931 to 1935. It was small in volume — from 8 to 14 pages including calendar materials and was published in a small edition — only three thousand copies. In reality, the journal was published once every 2–4 months. Metropolitan Sergius himself acted as the publisher. A large part of the materials published in the “Journal of the Moscow Patriarchate” in the 1930s are related to the activities of the Deputy Patriarchal Locum Tenens and the Temporary Patriarchal Holy Synod under his guidance. An important place in the journal was rightfully occupied by the sermons, letters, and resolutions of Metropolitan Sergius on various issues of church life. The materials published in the journal allow us to identify and study the main directions of the activitie and mechanisms of functioning of the highest church authority in the late 1920s to the first half of the 1930s. The analysis of these materials convincingly shows that, firstly, Metropolitan Sergei, who presented important issues of church life for consideration by the Supreme Church Administration, led the work of the Temporary Patriarchal Synod. Secondly, despite all the pressures, church life continued. The Patriarchate, represented by the Deputy Patriarchal Locum Tenens Metropolitan Sergius and members of the Temporary Patriarchal Holy Synod, remained the only legalized body of church administration, doing everything possible in those incredibly difficult conditions to maintain some order and discipline in the Church on canonical grounds and prevent it from falling apart.

Stowarzyszenie Stanisławitów (1928-1955)

Diocesan Association of the Worshippers of the Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, Helper of Spirits in Purgatory, under the Protection of this Mother of God and St. Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr or "Stanisławie? was founded in 1928 in the Siedlce diocese. The first members of the association reverted to a monastic order called ‘Marianie’, annulled by Russian annexing authorities. They engaged in pastoral and charitable activity; they had their own farm. They popularised the worship of St. Stanislaus of Szczepanów and other Polish saints. In their lifestyle ‘Stanisławici’ resembled monks; they wore white frocks (cassocks) tied with a blue belt, assembled a few times a day to recite their breviary, meditate and for a service. They lived together and called their house a monastery. About 60 members of the association came to stay at some time oranother in the house at Janów Podlaski within 27 years of their activity. Despite considerable efforts and expenditures, new vocations and internal reforms, the Association did not manage to expand their activity and transplant the idea of a rebirth of the former Marian order. Finally, due to a decision of the Church authorities, the Association was dissolved in 1955.

Благочинные монастырей в системе церковного управления Российской империи в конце XVIII–начале XX века

The paper deals with the study of the role of deans of monasteries in the system of Church administration and their influence on the activities of Orthodox monastic monasteries in the Russian Empire of the late XVIII – early XX centuries. Based on legislative acts and archival records, the author analyzes the scope of activity of deans in the structure of church authorities of the Synodal period. It is concluded that the deans, in accordance with the instructions, as well as the instructions of the bishop and the consistory, exercised direct control over Orthodox monasteries: the composition of the brethren, economic, financial and charitable activities.

The Influence of African Traditional Beliefs and Practices on Neo-Prophetic Christianity: An Analysis

The rapid expansion of the neo-prophetic strand of Pentecostal and Charismatic churches in Africa has resulted in much public and academic scrutiny against the backdrop of perceived appropriation of elements of indigenous African faith. Even though African countries have retained secularism in place of a state religion, many African states, notably Ghana, have remained steadfastly committed to their traditional religions, sometimes even working in tandem with monotheistic Abrahamic religions like Islam and Christianity. Unquestionably, indigenous African religious beliefs have had a significant impact on African mental matrixes, which in turn has affected the practice of Christianity. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate how Ghanaian Christianity was impacted by traditional African beliefs and customs. In particular, a study of neo-prophetic churches at Manso Dome-Beposo within the Ashanti Region of Ghana was employed. The data for the study was gathered using interview guidelines and qualitative approaches. The data collected was thematically analyzed in line with the reviewed literature. The study found that most prophetic explorations involve the use of rituals, artefacts, and stylistic forms, which are similar to Abisa in the Akan spiritual cosmology. The study found out again that, there are several elements suggestive of African traditional religious influence on Christianity. For instance, it was observed that the notion of the existence of evil spirits in Akan cosmology has strongly influenced contemporary prophetism in Ghana. The study concluded that although the idea that Christianity has been affected by African traditional religion may not have empirical validity, there are plenty of visible indicators to back up this assertion. It has been recommended that with the evidence of possible syncretism, a clear distinction should be made between the culture and the religious activities of the people since at times the church wrongfully accuses members even when they are performing culturing duties. This will help the church authorities to inculturate Christian liturgy. Keywords: Inculturation, African Traditional Religion, Syncretism

Stability of the Roman Catholic Church Financing System Based on Germany

To effectively carry out its tasks, the church needs a stable financial system. The aim of this article is to present issues related to ensuring the stability of the Catholic Church financing system in times of significant demographic and socio-cultural changes. This study identifies and characterizes the main sources of income and directions of expenses of the available financial resources. The challenges faced by church authorities in this regard are also described. State authorities finance places of prayer for social, cultural, and psychological reasons. Churches have been places of support in difficult times for centuries as well as places of survival and mental support for society.

Pencatatan Perkawinan Campuran Beda Agama Berdasarkan Hukum Kanonik dan Hukum Positif

The focus of this research examines the registration of mixed religious marriages based on canon law and positive law. The topic of study is related to the legal instruments governing mixed religious marriages, the implementation of mixed religious marriages based on Church law and positive law. The aim of this study is to serve as a guideline for government agencies that have firm authority regarding marriage and everything related to marriage. Researchers used descriptive qualitative methods and critical reading of texts, namely: (1) Canon Law 1124-1129; (2) Law Number 1 of 1974 article 2 paragraph (1) in conjunction with article 66; (3) Law Number 23 of 2006. The results and findings in this research are that interfaith marriages can be obtained and registered with the Civil Registry Officer and obtain a Deed and Excerpt from the Marriage Certificate, requiring first a decision from the court as regulated in article 35 Law no. 23 of 2006. Meanwhile, marriages issued by the Catholic Church do not receive enough Marriage Certificate Excerpts from the Population and Civil Registration Service. The conclusion from this research is that the implementation of a Mixed Mexta Religio marriage must first obtain a license from the Church authorities, because the marriage is a prohibited marriage. It is seen as a prohibition because there are many elements of similarity and togetherness between the Christian and Catholic Churches. Meanwhile, Marriage Disparity Cultus is seen as an obstacle to marriage (impedimentum disparity cultus) and to confirm this marriage a dispensation is needed.

Medieval and Renaissance understanding of “body” and “corporeality”

BACKGROUND: The article analyzes the idea that such a concept as “body” is an interesting and complex phenomenon, an integral part of human life, which philosophers, thinkers and theologians have reflected on throughout human history, describing its significance and role depending on ideological attitudes prevailing at one time or another.
 AIM: Studying the features of the presentation and reflection of the “dualistic” and “holistic” attitude towards the human body in the works of scientists and thinkers of different eras.
 RESULTS: The explanation of the essence of the first approach is based on an analysis of the features of church doctrine, which saw in the body only a “shell” of the soul and considered it worthy of contempt and death, and to understand the essence of the second approach, the author turns to the ideological attitudes of the Late Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the early Modern Times, which “rehabilitated” the body in the context of a return to the Roman and Greek classics of philosophical thought. Consequently, on the one hand, the medieval religious and political ideal of universalism and ways of “healing” (improving) the body as a social unity (“the body of society”) are analyzed, and, on the other hand, the author reflects on ways to free man from the yoke of church authority that regulates every aspect human life, related to the body, and also describes the history of the emergence of a new understanding of the human body — both as a symbol of beauty (in the understanding of kalokagathia by the Greeks), and as a machine working according to certain laws.
 CONCLUSION: Understanding how “body” and “corporality” became the guidelines of medieval corporatism in its secular and ecclesiastical (papal) versions (taking into account the duality of the monarch’s body) requires a comprehensive study — not only from a philosophical, psychological, sociological, but also from a medical point of view. Changing approaches to understanding the body as a physical, cultural, social phenomenon allows us to more deeply understand the characteristics of society and people’s attitude towards life and death, suffering of body and soul, as well as the role of public discourse in shaping the population’s attitude towards these phenomena.

The Reformation.

The most important text at the end of the Middle Ages was the Bible. It had been published in manuscript on parchment bound between wooden covers. The production of such a book was time consuming and expensive. Martin Luther's proclamation of 95 theses directed against the practice and authority of the Roman Catholic church led to a speedy opposition from the church. However, the modern availability of paper and printing together with the printing of images, resulted in a rapid distribution of the bible in German. The church authorities had banned the spreading of literacy outside the clergy, but the publishing of Luther's bible involved the use of techniques which could be applied to other disciplines, improving the quality of the information on which their activities was based. This included the practice of surgery.

IZVEŠTAJ PROTOJEREJA MIHAILA POPOVIĆA O RESTITUCIJI CRKVENE IMOVINE OTUĐENE POD BUGARSKOM OKUPACIJOM U PRVOM SVETSKOM RATU

Under the Bulgarian military, civil and church authorities in the territory of the occupied Kingdom of Serbia in the First World War, in addition to other crimes, the various movable property of the Serbian Orthodox Church was confiscated. In this connection, the paper will analyze in more detail and present t he report of archpriest Mihailo Popović, parish priest of Belgrade, who was entrusted with the mission of returning church property from Bulgaria in 1921. This document is a valuable historical source that testifies not only to the factual consequences of the Bulgarian occupation administration and the attack on Serbian spiritual and cultural heritage, but also to Popović’s personal impressions of the situation in the Bulgarian church and the attitude of its dignitaries towards the past war and Serbian-Bulgarian relations. The document is stored in the fund of the Ministry of Religion Archives of Yugoslavia.