Legal Definitions - libertas ecclesiastica

Definition: Libertas ecclesiastica (pronounced li-buhr-tas e-klee-zee-as-ti-kuh) is a Latin term that means "church liberty." It refers to the immunity from secular law that the church and its clergy enjoyed, being subject only to ecclesiastical law. This immunity was established in Magna Carta in 1215.

Example: In medieval Europe, the church and its clergy were exempt from paying taxes to the king or any secular authority. They were also immune from prosecution in secular courts, and could only be tried in church courts. This meant that they had a lot of power and influence, and could sometimes abuse their privileges.

Explanation: The example illustrates how the church and its clergy were granted special privileges and exemptions from secular law, which gave them a lot of power and influence. This could sometimes lead to abuses of power, as they were not held accountable to the same laws as everyone else.