Ecclesiastical privileges

In the canon law of the Catholic Church, ecclesiastical privileges are the privileges enjoyed by the clergy. Their scope varied over time.

The main privileges are:

• Privilegium canonis, regarding personal inviolability against malicious injury
• Privilegium fori, regarding a special tribunal in civil and criminal causes before an ecclesiastical judge.
• Privilegium immunitatis, exemption from taxation and some other burdens
• Privilegium competentiae, right to proper sustenance

In addition to personal privileges, ecclesiastical privileges may cover consecrated and sacred places and things.