Pastoral Policies Handbook Home

The Archdiocesan Pastoral Policies Handbook was updated and promulgated December 23, 2008 by Archbishop Elden Francis Curtiss. The new norms took effect January 1, 2009.

The Handbook was significantly expanded, norms and policies made clearer, and the pagination reformatted, reorganized and streamlined with the user in mind.

The Pastoral Policies Handbook should not be looked upon as a finished body of work. It will always be in need of updating due to the complexities of ecclesiastical law and frequency in which particular and universal law can change.

Priests, deacon, religious, and laity are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the new Pastoral Policies Handbook. Canons 1-203 of the Code of Canon Law are valuable tools for the interpretation of ecclesiastical laws, of which this Handbook is an example. In applying the policies in this Handbook, one should keep in mind basic principles of interpretation such as canon 17:

Ecclesiastical laws are to be understood in accord with the proper meaning of the words
considered in their text and context. If the meaning remains doubtful and obscure,
recourse must be made to parallel passages, if there are such, to the purposes and
circumstances of the law, and to the mind of the legislator.

When revised, the Pastoral Policies Handbook will be updated at this website address. Those engaged in pastoral ministry should always check this Web address for the most current legislation. Any questions regarding the Handbook should be directed to chancery officials.