Legal Definitions - concordatory

The term concordatory is an adjective used to describe something that relates to or is characteristic of a concordat.

A concordat is a formal treaty or agreement, typically between the Holy See (the Vatican, representing the Roman Catholic Church) and a sovereign state. These agreements usually concern the rights, privileges, and status of the Catholic Church within that particular country, addressing matters such as religious education, property, the appointment of bishops, and marriage laws.

Here are some examples to illustrate the use of "concordatory":

• Example 1: Legislation

  After lengthy negotiations, a European nation signed a concordat with the Vatican. Subsequently, the national parliament passed a series of laws that formally recognized Catholic holidays as public holidays and provided state funding for Catholic schools, as agreed in the treaty. These new laws would be described as concordatory legislation, as they directly implement the provisions of the agreement between the state and the Holy See.

• Example 2: Diplomatic Discussions

  Representatives from a South American country and the Vatican held several rounds of talks to resolve long-standing issues regarding the legal status of church property and the process for appointing bishops. The discussions themselves, focused on forging a formal agreement between the state and the Church, could be characterized as concordatory negotiations.

• Example 3: Educational Policy

  A country's Ministry of Education issued new guidelines permitting religious instruction in public schools, in line with a recent agreement signed with the Holy See. This policy change, which directly reflects the terms established in the formal treaty, is a concordatory measure designed to uphold the commitments made in the concordat.