Legal Definitions - regio assensu

Regio assensu refers to the formal, written consent or approval given by a sovereign ruler, such as a monarch, for the election of a bishop within an established or state church. It is a legal instrument that signifies the head of state's agreement to the church's choice, making the appointment official under both ecclesiastical (church) and state law.

• Example 1: Historical English Monarchy

  In 17th-century England, after the Dean and Chapter of a cathedral formally elected a new Bishop of Durham, their choice was not immediately effective. The monarch, as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, had to issue a specific legal document formally assenting to this election. This royal approval, known as the regio assensu, was essential for the elected individual to officially take up the bishopric, receive its temporal revenues, and exercise the full authority of the office. Without it, the church's internal decision lacked state recognition and legal force.

• Example 2: Modern Constitutional Monarchy

  Imagine a contemporary constitutional monarchy where the head of state, while largely ceremonial, still retains certain legal responsibilities concerning the established church. If a church synod votes to elect a new diocesan bishop, the monarch might still be legally required to sign and issue a formal document confirming their assent to this election. Even if this act is now a formality, it still constitutes the regio assensu, serving as the official state acknowledgment and approval of the church's appointment, ensuring its validity under national law.

• Example 3: State Recognition of Ecclesiastical Office

  Consider a country where the state provides significant financial support to the established church, and bishops hold certain civil responsibilities or even seats in a legislative body. When a church body elects a new bishop, the sovereign's formal consent, the regio assensu, becomes a critical step. This writ not only validates the bishop's spiritual authority within the church but also grants them the legal standing to receive state funding, occupy any state-recognized positions, or exercise civil functions associated with their office. It bridges the gap between the church's internal governance and the state's legal framework.