The Verification of Suitability for Ecclesiastical Office and Sacred Orders

Abstract

Nowadays, there is a growing awareness in the Church of the need for candidates for holy orders and ecclesiastical offices to be prepared properly. The question arises as to whether canon law encompasses the means required to verify the eligibility of candidates, as well as how they may be applied in practice. This article outlines the canonical tools that help assess candidate suitability, along with some theoretical and practical problems that may occur. The right to personal privacy is not in con ict with the right of the Church to verify compliance with the conditions of admission to public o ce and the sacrament of Holy Orders.