While the move is sure to provoke a response from canon lawyers — because the title of vicar is reserved to priests — the bishop claims he has created a new, extra-canonical title specifically for women.
From The Pillar:
An Austrian diocese announced Wednesday the appointment of the country’s first “episcopal vicaress.”
While the move is sure to provoke a response from canon lawyers — because the title of vicar is reserved to priests — Austrian Bishop Josef Marketz claims he has created a new, extra-canonical title specifically for women.
The Diocese of Gurk-Klagenfurt said Feb. 26 that Bishop Marketz had named pastoral theologian Barbara Velik-Frank to the new diocesan office of “episcopal vicaress for synodality and Church development,” beginning March 1.
The term “episcopal vicar” is derived from the Latin vicarius, meaning “substitute” or “deputy” of the bishop. According to canon law, an episcopal vicar must be a priest, because he exercises certain delegated powers linked to sacramental orders on behalf of a bishop.
In German-speaking countries, an episcopal vicar is known as a Bischofsvikar. The female equivalent would be Bischofsvikarin. But Velik-Frank will have the distinctive German title of Bischöfliche Vikarin, or “episcopal vicaress.”
Other European dioceses have made comparable appointments. At least two countries have female episcopal delegates, who serve as territorial coordinators responsible for a region of a diocese…
…Outlining Velik-Frank’s new role, the Gurk-Klagenfurt diocese said: “As a layperson commissioned by the bishop, Velik-Frank is under the authority of the bishop as her technical superior and the vicar general as her official superior.”
Bishop Marketz said the creation of the new office and Velik-Frank’s appointment were “not only important steps on the synodal path, but above all also concrete realizations of the strengthening of the laity, and women in particular, called for by Pope Francis.”
He added: “She has my full confidence that she will continue to put the synodal Church development on the right path and continue in the spirit of Pope Francis and the Synod of Bishops to restructure the Church in Carinthia and position it well for the future.”
