incardinados

Incardinatio is a canonical term within the Catholic Church, referring to the formal enrollment of a cleric, typically a priest or a deacon, into a particular diocese or religious institute. This process establishes a permanent bond between the cleric and the ecclesiastical entity. When a cleric is incardinated, they become part of the clergy of that specific diocese or order, owing obedience and service to its ordinary, such as a bishop, or its superior.

The practice of incardination is rooted in the historical development of church governance, where bishops had jurisdiction over a defined territory and the clergy serving within it. It ensures accountability and order within the Church's hierarchy, clarifying the cleric's pastoral responsibilities and the bishop's or superior's authority over them. A cleric is typically incardinated at the time of their ordination to the diaconate or priesthood.

A cleric can be transferred to another diocese or institute through a process called excardination and re-incardination. Excardination formally releases the cleric from their existing bond, while re-incardination establishes a new bond with the new entity. This process requires the consent of the cleric, the ordinary or superior of the diocese or institute from which they are leaving, and the ordinary or superior of the diocese or institute to which they are moving. Incardination is a fundamental aspect of ecclesial structure, defining the relationship between clergy and the governing bodies of the Church.