What is a juridic person?

• A. A natural person with rights and obligations
• B. A group or institution recognized by the Church as having legal rights and duties
• C. A diocese is a natural person
• D. A baptized Catholic is a juridic person

Answer: (B)

A juridic person is a group or institution that the Church grants legal personality, meaning it has rights and duties in its own name and can act as a unit in legal and canonical matters. This lets entities like dioceses, parishes, religious institutes, or associations of the faithful own property, enter into agreements, and participate in canonical processes as distinct actors, apart from the individual members.

This concept sits in contrast to natural persons, who are human beings with inherent rights and obligations. Baptism does not create a juridic personality, so a baptized Catholic remains a natural person. A diocese is not a natural person; it is a juridic person created and recognized by church law.