Privileges of Clergy
The word “privilege” basically means a “private law”, that is, a law not enacted for the good of the general public, but for the benefit of some interested group.
Case in point: the clergy. Historically, the Church has claimed many privileges for its clergy. Here’s what the old Catholic Encyclopedia lists:
“The privileges in favour of the clergy are: personal inviolability, a special court, immunity from certain burdens and the right to a proper maintenance (privilegium canonis, fori, immunitatis, competentiœ). In addition, the clergy have precedence of the laity in religious assemblies and processions, a special place in the church, viz., the presbytery, and titles of honour.”
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