Sentence examples for ecclesiastical trials from inspiring English sources

But ecclesiastical trials like Schaefer's and the one awaiting Ogletree in March reveal less about the politics of the Methodist Church than about the nature of its polity.

The overall document codified existing procedures that allow the Vatican to try priests accused of child sexual abuse using faster juridical procedures rather than full ecclesiastical trials.

Just as the battle over gay marriage in the secular world has moved to the courts, so too has the Methodist Church resorted to ecclesiastical trials to enforce church law over homosexuality.

Instead, Catholics have been asked to accept the ghastly alternative of secret ecclesiastical trials and confessions; terrified, silenced parents; traumatized children now in their middle-age; and a Pope who, in yesterday's Sunday sermon, calls on his faith in God to lead him "towards the courage of not allowing oneself to be intimidated by the petty gossip of dominant opinion".

Waller was a counsel in ecclesiastical trials.

The ecclesiastical trial of the minister, the Rev. Karen T. Dammann, captivated United Methodist ministers and congregants around the country.

Although there was no response, Weakland started an ecclesiastical trial but then worried about the church's statute of limitations.

Supporters of Father Edwards have filed a complaint with church authorities, seeking an ecclesiastical trial, contending that the bishop acted against him later than church law allows.

From 1993 to 1999, the congregation was led by Barry Stopfel, an openly gay priest, whose ordination led to a high-profile ecclesiastical trial in which the ordaining bishop was cleared of heresy charges.

Earlier this month, the Reverend Dr. Thomas Ogletree, a retired minister and professor emeritus at Yale Divinity School, was charged for officiating his son's wedding, and will face an ecclesiastical trial, on March 10th, in Stamford, Connecticut.

The changes will codify into canon law exceptions that already allow the Vatican's doctrinal office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, to defrock priests using faster administrative procedures rather than a full ecclesiastical trial.