Office of Canonical Services

The mission of the Ministry of Canonical Services is to assist in the judicial dimension of the Diocese. The Diocesan Bishops exercise their judicial authority either directly or through others. It is customary that the Bishop exercise that judicial authority through a Tribunal and / or Office of Canonical Services. The duty of that ministry is to provide a forum for the Christian faithful to vindicate or defend their rights. In the United States the primary function of the Tribunal or Office of Canonical Services is to evaluate the claimed invalidity of a marriage in the context of Catholic sacramental teaching. For this reason, the staff of the Office of Canonical Services will always attempt to maintain a demeanor of fairness and equity in the handling of every matter brought to it for adjudication.