The Unresolved Doctrinal Debate On The Nature Of Power Enjoyed By All Religious Superiors In Can.  596 § 1 CIC 83

John Okello Ogutu

doi:10.18290/rnp25351.6

Published : 2025-05-28

Vol. 35 No. 1 (2025)

The Unresolved Doctrinal Debate On The Nature Of Power Enjoyed By All Religious Superiors In Can. 596 § 1 CIC 83

John Okello Ogutu

https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7110-9950

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18290/rnp25351.6

Abstract

In the Church there is only one power of governance. However, all religious superiors exercise some kind of authority over their own subjects, a power that seem to be distinct from the ecclesiastical power of governance indicated in can. 596 § 1 CIC 83 but one that is not named. Questions arise of whether or not this power is an extension of the ecclesiastical power of governance. While the 1917 Code called this power “dominative power”, the 1983 Code does not name it. Over a long period of time there have been several doctrinal debates concerning the true nature of power enjoyed by the superiors in the institute. This article is a historical exposition of the doctrinal debates surrounding this great quest of scholars in their effort to understand the true nature of this power until the period of the revision of the 1983 Code and the CCEO.

Keywords:

public ecclesiastical power, potestas regiminis, dominative power, power of jurisdiction

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John Okello Ogutu

jokello184@gmail.com
https://orcid.org/0009-0007-7110-9950

Affiliation:

Tangaza University College Kenya

Bio Statement (e.g., department and rank)

Fr. John Okello, IMC. A Consolata Missionary priest from the Diocese of Bungoma. He holds the Licentiate degree and Doctorate degree in Canon Law from Urbaniana Pontifical University. He holds a higher diploma in ecclesiastical jurisprudence from Urbaniana Pontifical University, and a diploma in administrative praxis from the Congregation for the Clergy, Vatican.

Currently he is a Full-time lecturer at Tangaza University College, school of Theology, the program of canon law, and he is the Program Leader of the canon law Program in the school of theology. He is a part-time lecturer at the Institute of Canon Law of Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) and a Teacher of Latin in the Institute of Philosophy of Tangaza University College, and in Consolata Institute of Philosophy, as a part time lecturer.