Folia Canonica 12. (2009)
STUDIES - Péter Artner: The remuneration of diocesan clerics
THE REMUNERATION OF DIOCESAN CLERICS 13 5. The Fitting Support What can be called a “Fitting Support”? It is necessary to determine the constitutive elements of adequate remuneration or support which can be generally applied to clerics living anywhere. First of all a distinction has to be made between a fitting support and a minimum support.33 A cleric should not be obliged to beg or to be in want.34 Such a situation, a subhuman living, would insult human dignity. Minimum support means whatever is necessary to sustain human life. Fitting support (congrua sustentatio) means the type of livelihood, which the cleric needs in consideration of his clerical dignity, his merits, and the circumstances of the region in which he ministers.35 So, the fitting support should include all that is necessary for a comfortable, secure living. It has to be enough for them, to pursue evangelical poverty more keenly, and to give themselves fully to the salvation of souls, without worrying about their future.36 37 6. The amount of the income The background of the support is that the person in an ecclesiastical office has to receive an adequate remuneration. The priests are fulfilling their duty, so, as for everybody, the support is a “ius nativum”17, a natural right of the person.38 Priests receive remuneration not for their own sake, but for their dedication of themselves to ecclesiastical ministry. The basis of the remuneration is the work, so the incardinated secular cleric has to receive financial support because of his dedication to the ministry.39 It is very important that the priest should receive enough remuneration for his upkeep, not to worry about his subsistence, but be able to dedicate himself to the service of God and the Church, and allow him to be independent from his family.40 The support has to be fundamentally the same; but it depends on the special circumstances. The amount of a cleric’s decent support depends on several factors. It has to fit to the: 331. E. Okoh, The Equitable Sustenance of Diocesan Priests, Roma 1991, 86. 34 P. HANNAH, The Canonical Concept of congrua sustentatio for the Secular Clergy, Washington 1950, 84. 35 Hannah, Alms, 294. 36 Woestman 192. 37 Chiapetta 394. 38 Exegetical Commentary, II/1. 363. 39 Woestman 190. " E. Cappellini (et al.), Norme per il sostentamento de! Clero, Studi e documenti, Brescial985, 16.
