Ecclesiastical crime

An ecclesiastical crime is a crime (delictum) related to the clergy where the crime is against canon law vis-à-vis civil law.

The crime of simony is the ecclesiastical crime of paying for offices or positions in the hierarchy of a church. The crimes of schism^[1] and heresy are also ecclesiastical crimes.

Financial and donation related

The term is also specifically used today for misappropriation of donation monies. In the International Bulletin of Missionary Research,^[2] January 2009, David B. Barrett, Todd M. Johnson, Peter F Crossing, in a study titled, "Christian World Communions: Five Overviews of Global Christianity, AD 1800–2025", show that "ecclesiastical crime" is growing at 5.77% per annum and in mid-2009 is estimated to be US$27 billion on a total "giving to Christian causes" of $410 Billion. Unchecked this crime will be valued at $65 Billion by 2025.^[3]

See also

• Ecclesiastical courts
• Ecclesiastical ordinances
• Ecclesiastical prison
• Canon law
• Sacrament of Penance