I am Sr Perpetua, a major superior of an indigenous congregation. I would like to know what exactly is the authority of diocesan Bishops over institutes of consecrated life and their members.
This is a relevant question as many major superiors seek guidance on this topic. Since you have not specified whether your institute is of pontifical or diocesan right, we shall discuss areas common to both.
While CIC Canons 586 §§1-2 highlight the obligation of the diocesan bishop to protect and safeguard the autonomy of each religious institute, especially with regard to governance, life, discipline of members, missionary assignments, formation and administration of temporal goods, Canon 678§1 says, “In matters concerning the care of souls, the public exercise of divine worship and other works of the apostolate, religious are subject to the authority of the Bishops, whom they are bound to treat with sincere obedience and reverence.” This is further clarified in CCEO Canon 415, “All religious are subject to the power of the local hierarch in matters that pertain to the public celebration of divine worship, to the preaching of the word of God to the people, to the religious and moral education of the Christian faithful, especially of children, catechetical and liturgical instruction, to the decorum of the clerical state, as well as to various works that regard the apostolate.”
Sr Licia SMI
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