Ecclesiastical privileges

"Ecclesiastical privilege" redirects here. For other uses, see Ecclesiastical privilege (disambiguation).

In the canon law of the Catholic Church, ecclesiastical privileges are the privileges enjoyed by the clergy. Their scope varied over time.

The main privileges are:

• Privilegium canonis, regarding personal inviolability against malicious injury
• Privilegium fori, regarding a special tribunal in civil and criminal causes before an ecclesiastical judge.
• Privilegium immunitatis, exemption from taxation and some other burdens
• Privilegium competentiae, right to proper sustenance

In addition to personal privileges, ecclesiastical privileges may cover consecrated and sacred places and things.