Judicial Vicar

Archdiocese of Chicago•Chicago, IL

6d•$41,700 - $54,700

About The Position

The Judicial Vicar concurrently holds two distinct ecclesiastical offices: Judicial Vicar and Vicar for Canonical Services. As Judicial Vicar, the officeholder exercises ordinary judicial authority in the Archbishop’s name, presiding over the Metropolitan Tribunal and carrying out judicial duties under canon law and the particular law of the Archdiocese. As Vicar for Canonical Services, the officeholder exercises executive authority in canonical matters only as provided by the office’s constitutive decree or specific delegation. The judicial and executive forums remain distinct, and the officeholder must abstain when a Tribunal matter arises from or turns on the validity of an executive act he has taken. The position is the Archbishop’s principal collaborator in the administration of justice and canonical administration of the local Church. Responsibilities include managing tribunal proceedings and staff, handling executive canonical matters, supporting archdiocesan governance, maintaining relations with Roman tribunals and dicasteries, and advancing canonical formation and literacy across the Archdiocese. The Judicial Vicar is appointed for a determinate term and may be removed only for legitimate and grave cause; the Vicar for Canonical Services is governed separately by its constitutive decree. The officeholder oversees Tribunal leadership, staff development, succession planning for canonists, records and case management, and the department budget in collaboration with Finance and the Office of the Vicar General. The officeholder is evaluated annually by the Vicar General, with the evaluation not extending to the substance of judicial decisions. The position may also include other administrative duties assigned by the Archbishop or, within the Vicar General’s administrative competence, the Vicar General. The Archdiocese of Chicago serves more than 2.2 million Catholics in 216 parishes and has more than 13,000 employees across its systems and ministries. The salary range is $41,700 to $54,700. Compensation for religious order priests is subject to the terms of each institute’s agreement with the Archdiocese. A comprehensive total rewards package, including competitive compensation and benefit programs, is offered; details are available through the linked benefits information.

Requirements

Must be a priest of unimpaired reputation and at least 30 years of age; the office is reserved to a priest, and a deacon is not eligible.
Licentiate in canon law (JCL) required.
Completion of the theological formation required for priestly ordination.
At least 10 years of pastoral and canonical experience following ordination.
Prior service in a diocesan tribunal in a judicial or officer capacity.
Working knowledge of Latin sufficient for the Code, Rotal jurisprudence, and correspondence with Roman tribunals.
Working knowledge of Italian sufficient for correspondence with the Roman Curia.
Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Teams, and CaseMaster.
Demonstrated administrative, organizational, and conflict-management skills.
Effective written and oral communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Doctorate in canon law (JCD).
Facility in Spanish (strongly preferred).
Facility in Polish (preferred).

Responsibilities

Preside over the Metropolitan Tribunal and serve as presiding judge on collegial tribunals.
Constitute collegiate tribunals and single-judge assignments; propose appointments of diocesan judges, the promoter of justice, defenders of the bond, auditors, assessors, and notaries to the Archbishop; and supervise their work.
Administer ordinary and briefer marriage nullity processes, including identifying cases suitable for the briefer process and appointing the instructor and assessor.
Manage the work of the Archbishop’s delegates who ordinarily judge documentary and presumed-death cases.
Conduct or oversee judicial penal processes in coordination with the promoter of justice and in accordance with applicable universal norms.
Exercise second-instance competence with the Adjunct Judicial Vicar for appeals from tribunals of the suffragan dioceses in the Province of Chicago.
Keep abreast of procedural developments in canon law and inform Tribunal staff of relevant legislation, instructions, and rescripts.
Respond to inquiries from Roman dicasteries, Roman tribunals, other Roman Curia offices, and other diocesan sees.
Prepare the annual report to the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura and make other reports when requested; include Tribunal personnel’s continuing education and in-service formation in the annual report.
Prepare cases for the Roman Rota, stay current with Rotal jurisprudence, and inform staff of developments.
Maintain the Archdiocese’s standing before the Apostolic Signatura, Roman Rota, Apostolic Penitentiary, and relevant dicasteries.
Instruct or oversee instruction of marriage dissolution cases, including Pauline Privilege, non-consummation, and dissolution in favor of the faith cases.
Remove prohibitions attached to future marriages when expressly delegated, and issue or prepare for the Archbishop’s signature matrimonial dispensations, permissions, and sanctions within the scope of delegation.
Conduct or oversee preliminary investigations and, when determined by the Archbishop, extrajudicial penal processes, coordinating with the promoter of justice.
Serve as, or coordinate with, the Archbishop’s Delegate to the Independent Review Board, without prejudice to the role of the Office for Child Abuse Investigations and Review.
Advise the Archbishop, Vicar General, and archdiocesan offices on canonical questions in the executive forum.
Maintain working relationships with Legal Services on ecclesiastical structures and juridic persons, and with Financial Services on property, contracts, and related matters governed by Book Five.
Participate in archdiocesan bodies where canonical judgment is needed in ordinary governance.
Meet with the Archbishop and designated archdiocesan officials on canonical, personnel, financial, and related matters.
Provide or arrange canonical instruction for diocesan personnel, including deacons and candidates, pastoral associates, parish coordinators, seminarians, newly ordained priests, and parish and agency staff.
Serve as a canonical resource to pastors and parish leadership on ordinary pastoral administration questions.
Oversee the Director of the Tribunal, consult regularly with staff, and chair executive staff meetings.
Evaluate executive staff under Human Resources policies and ensure administrative staff are evaluated by their supervisors.
Participate in national and regional canon law conventions and support staff participation in conferences.
Organize educational and in-service opportunities and promote staff education and enrichment planning.
Identify, recruit, and oversee formation of future canonists, maintaining a forward-looking succession plan.
Foster Tribunal morale and collegiality; facilitate workplace conflict resolution, involving Human Resources as appropriate.
Inform Tribunal personnel of relevant communications from the Ordinary and archdiocesan agencies.
Act as spokesperson for the Tribunal, communicate its work to the local Church, and invite communication from parishes and pastoral ministries.
Integrate Tribunal work into the Archdiocese’s overall marriage ministry.
Collaborate with Finance and the Office of the Vicar General to establish and manage the department budget and steward resources.
Maintain Tribunal case-management and records systems, ensuring CaseMaster and TRIM records are complete and current; coordinate records retention, transfer, security, and confidentiality with the Office of Archives and Records.
Maintain organized and timely files and keep records of the two offices distinct where required by law.
Work with the Director of the Tribunal to ensure prompt and courteous handling of calls and correspondence, reception of visitors, appropriate case access, and completion of special mailings.
Perform other administrative duties assigned by the Archbishop or, within the Vicar General’s administrative competence, the Vicar General.