Services / Penal advocacy
Clergy, religious & lay faithful
Penal advocacy
If you have been accused of an ecclesiastical offence, told that a preliminary investigation has begun, or had restrictions placed on your ministry, you have the right to a defence and to the help of a qualified advocate.
Your rights are real
The Church’s penal law was substantially revised in 2021 (Pascite gregem Dei). It now states expressly that every person is presumed innocent until the contrary is proven c. 1321 §1. Among other protections, you are entitled to:
- Know the accusation and the evidence against you before any decision is made c. 1720
- Present a full defence, with the assistance of an advocate, which is mandatory in a judicial penal trial c. 1723
- Not be required to confess or to testify under oath against yourself c. 1728 §2
- Have your good name protected during the investigation c. 1717 §2
- Seek recourse or appeal against a penal decree or sentence
Where I can help
Preliminary investigation
When an allegation is received, the ordinary usually orders an investigation into the facts c. 1717. This is often where the most important early decisions are made. Get advice before you give a statement.
Precautionary measures
Once a process has begun, the ordinary may restrict ministry or residence while the case proceeds c. 1722. These measures are not penalties, and they can be questioned. I help you understand them and, where appropriate, seek their modification.
Administrative and judicial penal processes
Many cases are handled by extra-judicial decree c. 1720; others go to trial before a tribunal cc. 1721–1728. I prepare your written defence, examine the evidence, propose witnesses, and argue for your acquittal or for a just and proportionate outcome.
Cases reserved to the Holy See
Certain grave offences are reserved to the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith under Sacramentorum sanctitatis tutela. These follow special norms and time frames, and early advice matters even more.
Other matters for clergy and religious
I also advise on removal or transfer from office, dismissal from a religious institute, loss of the clerical state, remuneration and support, and the return to ministry after restrictions end.
I have been very grateful to have Richard Verver as my advocate. Very knowledgeable of the law, thorough in research and application, comprehensive and skilled in explanation. He makes himself available to my needs, listens carefully, incorporates my thoughts and suggestions appropriately. To these skills he adds a personable, friendly and informal approach, which has set me at ease and encouraged me along the way. The work on the case has felt like a genuine partnership, where I have been treated with respect. He loves the Church, but he also values its individual members in their difficulty and their need. I very highly recommend him.
Facing an accusation?
You don’t have to navigate this alone. Everything you share is kept in strict confidence.