Legal Definitions - dimissory letters

Definition: Dimissory letters are documents that allow a member of the clergy to leave one diocese and move to another. They are also used by one bishop to allow another bishop to ordain a candidate who was already ordained in the first bishop's diocese.

Example 1: Father John wants to move from the Diocese of New York to the Diocese of Los Angeles. He needs dimissory letters from the Bishop of New York to show to the Bishop of Los Angeles, allowing him to work in the new diocese.

Example 2: Sister Mary was ordained as a deacon in the Diocese of Chicago. She wants to become a priest and needs to be ordained by the Bishop of San Francisco. The Bishop of Chicago provides her with dimissory letters, allowing the Bishop of San Francisco to ordain her.

These examples illustrate how dimissory letters are used to allow members of the clergy to move between dioceses and to be ordained by different bishops. They are important documents in the administration of the Church and ensure that the proper procedures are followed when clergy members move or are ordained.