I.   Introductory provisions

A Minister is a Person authorized by a Religion or Cult to represent the particular faith; to perform instruction, guidance and tuition; and perform certain rites and procedures. Hence, in Latin a minister is a helper, an attendant and representative agent.

In accordance with these canons and the Sacred Covenant Pactum De Singularis Caelum, the Society of One Heaven and valid Ucadian Societies have the duty and the proper and exclusive right to form those who are designated for sacred ministries.

The terms Cleric, Priest, Rabbi, Imam, Sheik, Monk are equivalent to the term Minister when a person is properly formed in accordance to these Canons and the rules and by-laws of their particular Religion or Cult.

While it remains an absolute right for any Religion or Cult to determine suitable qualification for different sacred ministries within their hierarchy defined by their by-laws, no Religion or Cult may deny women or men the right to apply, train and be ordained for a pastoral sacred ministry within their local community.

Ministers are bound by a special obligation to show reverence and obedience firstly to these canons and the sacred Covenant Pactum De Singularis Caelum and secondly to the competent authority of their own Religion and Cult and superiors.

Only Ministers can obtain offices of a Religion or Cult for whose exercise the power of orders or the power of ecclesiastical governance is required.

By consent, vow and ordination, Ministers of a particular Religion or Cult are bound to pursue exemplary and virtuous lives, and to demonstrate moral leadership for their community:

(i) Fulfilling faithfully and tirelessly the duties bestowed upon them, especially when concerning pastoral care; and

(ii) Honoring the sacred ceremonies of their faith and adherence to such ritual as regular as is considered proper as devotion; and

(iii) Meditating, Praying and Invoking guidance and assistance for the sick, the weak, the dying and those in need of care and assistance.

(iv) Respect and wear suitable ecclesiastical garb according to the norms issued by competent authority of the faith; and

(v) foster simplicity of life and are to refrain from all things that have a semblance of vanity; and

(vi) Refrain completely from all those things which are unbecoming to their state, according to the prescripts of particular law.

Notwithstanding a pledge to a simple refrain from an abundance of possessions and wealth, Ministers are entitled to remuneration which is consistent with their service and specific nature of their functions, especially places and times, and by which they can provide for the necessities of their life as well as for the equitable payment of those whose services they need.

Throughout their service, Ministers are expected to continue to acquire knowledge of other sciences, especially of those which are connected with the sacred sciences, particularly insofar as such knowledge contributes to the exercise of pastoral ministry.

Clerics are forbidden to assume public offices which entail a participation in the exercise of civil power.

Without the permission of their superiors, Ministers are not to take on the management of goods belonging to lay persons or secular offices which entail an obligation of rendering accounts. They are prohibited from giving surety even with their own goods without consultation with their proper ordinary. They also are to refrain from signing promissory notes, namely, those through which they assume an obligation to make payment on demand.

Clerics are prohibited from conducting business or trade personally or through others, for their own advantage or that of others, except with the permission of legitimate ecclesiastical authority.

Since military service is not in keeping with the clerical state, clerics and candidates for sacred orders are not to volunteer for military service except with the permission of their ordinary.

The demand for permanent celibacy amongst the clergy of a particular Religion or Cult is against all forms of Divine Law, Natural Law and Positive Law, instead opening up the opportunity for deviant, abhorant and secretive sexual behaviour. Therefore, any by-law by any Religion or Cult that demands permanent Celibacy is unlawful, null and void, having no temporal, nor ecclesiastical effect.

Any leader of any Religion or Cult that demands the enforcement of permanent celibacy upon other members of the congregation or clergy is guilty of a grave offence against all Divine Law, Natural Law and Positive Law and therefore is automatically stripped of any claimed apostolic, ecclesiastical ministerial, judicial or other authority.