What is the function of a diocesan tribunal?

• A. It oversees all parishes in the diocese, including financial audits.
• B. It handles canonical cases within the diocese, such as marriage nullity petitions and certain disciplinary matters.
• C. It approves new religious institutes in the diocese.
• D. It appoints bishops for neighboring dioceses.

Answer: (B)

The function being tested is the diocesan tribunal’s role as the diocese’s judicial arm for canonical law. A diocesan tribunal serves as the local court for cases that arise within the diocese under canon law, handling matters like petitions for the declaration of nullity of marriage and other canonical issues that require a formal judicial decision. It operates under the bishop’s authority, with a presiding judge and assessors, and its work is to interpret and apply canon law to disputes or penal matters that fall within the diocese.

It isn’t responsible for parish oversight or financial audits, which are handled by other offices in the diocesan curia. It doesn’t approve new religious institutes, a task that involves the Holy See and proper canonical processes at the broader level. And it doesn’t appoint bishops; that is a papal prerogative with Roman involvement.