Twentish Catholicism

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The Patrimonium Sancti Nicodemi flag

Twentish Catholicism is the predominant religion in Europe. Headed by Patriarch Nicodemus of Nicodemople in the Patrimonium Sancti Nicodemi, previously known under the name Cardinal Middelhuis of the Holy See of Twente, it is one the most feared and respected organizations in Europe.

Most European nations are proud of their Catholic faith. Among the most loyal nations we find Azores, Nosterra, Great Brittania, Malat and Qantrix.


Hierarchy of the Twentish Catholic Church

The Patriarch

The Holy See of Twente flag

The Patriarch is the supreme head of the Catholic Hierarchy, to whom all clerics are responsible. The Sacred College of Cardinals is his counseling body, but is not itself a legislative entity, and the Twentish Dirigente thus has totalitarian rule over the Church. His jurisdictional titles are Bishop of Nicodemople, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Israel-Palestian Church Province, Primate of the Patrimonium Sancti Nicodemi and the Holy See of Twente, Patriarch of Europe, and Supreme Dirigente of the Universal Church. So, every metropolitan of the Twentish Catholic Church is subject to him as Patriarch of Europe. The other ecclesiastical titles of the Patriarch are Vicar of the Virgin Mary, Servant of the Servants of God. In addition, he holds the temporal title of Sovereign of the Patrimonium Sancti Nocodemi and Ceremonial Leader of the Holy See of Twente making him an equal of any other worldly head of state.

The Sacred College of Cardinals

The Sacred College follows the Patriarch in precedence in the Church, and makes up an advising body similar to a senate. Cardinals are appointed by the Patriarch. As a body it advises the Patriarch and, on his death, elects a new Dirigente. The position of cardinal does not add any Episcopal jurisdiction, and so is properly not a hierarchical position. A bishop or archbishop who is named a cardinal keeps his see, be it residential or titular. His authority as cardinal is in addition to his archiepiscopal or Episcopal authority.

Archbishops

An Archbishop administers an ecclesiastical province, which is a group of two or more dioceses, while at the same time administering his own diocese (called the archdiocese, or metropolis). In his archdiocese, his title is archbishop. In his province, his title is metropolitan. The dioceses which make up a province (except the archdiocese) are called suffragans. Every metropolitan is directly responsible to the Patriarch.

Bishops

They are the regular administrators of a diocese, their see, and there is only one (and always one) Bishop per diocese. Every bishop is responsible to his metropolitan.

Pastors and Parishes

The smallest unit of diocesan jurisdiction is the parish, by which is meant not only the church building itself, but also a geographic area around the parish, such that the entire diocese is divided into parishes. The spiritual needs of those living in this geographical area are provided for by the parish. The pastor is the priest named by the bishop of the diocese as head of a parish. If the spiritual needs of the parish are too extensive to be cared for by one priest, the diocese may appoint other priests to serve under the pastor in the administration of the parish. Such priests are called parochial vicars or assosciate pastors. Deacons, also, are assigned to larger parishes to assist in its liturgical, pastoral, and communal operations.