Incardinado

Incardinado is a term used in Catholic canon law to describe the formal attachment of a cleric to a specific ecclesiastical jurisdiction, such as a diocese or a religious institute. The word denotes that the cleric is under the authority, governance, and pastoral responsibility of that jurisdiction, and that he may exercise ministry there in accordance with its rules and faculties.

In practical terms, incardination establishes the cleric’s official status within a particular Church jurisdiction. For diocesan clergy, it ties the priest or deacon to a diocese and subjects him to the bishop’s authority and to the diocesan discipline. For members of religious institutes, incardination ties the cleric to the institute itself, so that the superior of the order governs his life and ministry, though he may be assigned to serve in a diocese or other territory as authorized.

The process typically involves a formal decree or act by the competent ordinary or superior, and it generally occurs at the time of ordination for diocesan clergy or professional vows for those in religious life. Incardination defines rights and duties, including the exercise of faculties for sacred ministry, jurisdiction over matters of faith and doctrine, and obedience to the relevant superior.

Incardination is distinct from related concepts such as decardination (removal from one jurisdiction or state) or transfer to another jurisdiction. The Spanish-language form of the term is incardinado, with corresponding nouns like incardinación and related phrases describing the cleric’s attachment to a diocese or religious institute.