Simple English definitions for legal terms
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An impropriate rector is a person who is in charge of a parish but is not a clergy member. They are usually a layperson. A rector sinecure is a rector who does not have the responsibility of taking care of the spiritual needs of the parish. In Roman law, a rector is a governor or ruler. The word "rectum" means "right" and "rectus" means "straight" or "direct" in Latin.
Definition: An impropriate rector is a lay person who holds the position of rector in a parish, as opposed to a clerical rector who is a member of the clergy. A rector is the spiritual head and presiding officer of a parish.
Example: If a lay person owns the land on which a church is built, they may be granted the position of impropriate rector. This means they have the right to receive the income from the church, but they are not a member of the clergy and do not have the responsibility of providing spiritual guidance to the parishioners.
Explanation: The example illustrates how a lay person can hold the position of rector in a parish through the concept of impropriation. This was a common practice in medieval times when wealthy landowners would often purchase the right to receive the income from a church. The impropriate rector would then appoint a vicar to provide spiritual guidance to the parishioners.