Folia Canonica 12. (2009)
STUDIES - Péter Artner: The remuneration of diocesan clerics
18 PÉTER ARTNER 7. The duty of the bishop The c. 384 prescribes, that the diocesan bishop has to take care that provision is made for the decent support and social assistance of the clerics’: "With special solicitude, a diocesan bishop is to attend to presbyters and listen to them as assistants and counselors. He is to protect their rights and take care that they correctly fulfill the obligations proper to their state and that the means and institutions which they need to foster spiritual and intellectual life are available to them. He also is to take care that provision is made for their decent support and social assistance, according to the norm of law." According to this canon, it is a strict obligation of justice on the part of the competent authority to take care of the remuneration of the priests.58 Furthermore, the bishops have to pay attention to that the faithful should have the grave obligation of the sustentation of the priests. IV. Permanent Deacons The CIC distinguishes between married deacons, who devote themselves completely to ecclesiastical ministry, and those, who receive remuneration from their (former) civil profession. Although, the Code does not mention the celibate permanent deacons, their status has to be the same, as that of married deacons, namely, the remuneration of the celibate permanent deacons who dedicate themselves full-time to church ministry, have to receive a support that is similar to that of priests’. Other deacons, who have secular employment have to support themselves and their families from that income. The Code does not speak about the situation if this remuneration from the secular employment is not sufficient for himself and his family. If a deacon who devotes himself completely to ecclesiastical ministry has a family, the provision of the social safety of his family is the duty of the diocesan bishop.59 If a deacon does not serve the Church in full time, he does not have the right for remuneration, but he may receive the remuneration for the work he had done, e.g. to get the stole fee for the funerals, weddings, or the fee for religious lessons. s" Exegetical Commentary, II/1, 363. 59 Münsterischer Kommentar, 281/7.
