In ecclesiastical terminology, an auditor (from a Latin word meaning "hearer") is a person given authority to hear cases in an

ecclesiastical court In organized Christianity, an ecclesiastical court, also called court Christian or court spiritual, is any of certain non-adversarial courts conducted by church-approved officials having jurisdiction mainly in spiritual or religious matters. Histo ...

Roman Catholic Church

In the

Roman Catholic Church The Catholic Church (), also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.27 to 1.41 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwid ...

, an auditor is the person (male or female) delegated to gather the evidence (drawing up the case) for presentation to the judge, and so could be called an instructing judge. Unless the judge determines otherwise, the auditor decides what evidence is to be collected and the manner of its collection. The auditor has been described as "the impartial court official that collects all necessary documents for the case, and may supplement the acts of the case with further questioning of parties and witnesses". The auditor may be chosen from the tribunal judges, or from persons, clergy or lay people, approved by the bishop for this office. The persons chosen by the bishop should be conspicuous for their good conduct, prudence and learning. The manner in which the auditor is to conduct the questioning of witnesses is indicated i
canons 1558-1571 of the Code of Canon Law.
Whenever the ordinary receives information with at least a semblance of truth about a punishable offence, he is to investigate the circumstances either personally or through some other suitable person, who then has the same powers as an auditor. If later a judicial process is initiated, that person may not be a judge in the case. The judges of the

Roman Rota The Roman Rota, formally the Apostolic Tribunal of the Roman Rota (), and anciently the Apostolic Court of Audience, is the highest appellate tribunal of the Catholic Church, with respect to both Latin Church members and the Eastern Catholic m ...

are given the title of Auditor or Prelate Auditor. Until the late 20th century, the title of Auditor was in use in the diplomatic service of the Holy See to designate a rank higher than that of First Secretary, but below that of Counsellor.

Church of England

In the

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the State religion#State churches, established List of Christian denominations, Christian church in England and the Crown Dependencies. It is the mother church of the Anglicanism, Anglican Christian tradition, ...

, the auditor is a judge who is a member of both the

Arches Court The Arches Court or Court of Arches, presided over by the Dean of Arches, is an ecclesiastical court of the Church of England covering the Province of Canterbury. Its equivalent in the Province of York is the Chancery Court. It takes its name fr ...

of Canterbury and the

Chancery Court of York The Chancery Court of York is an ecclesiastical court for the Province of York of the Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the State religion#State churches, established List of Christian denominations, Christian church in ...

.The Ecclesiastical Courts
/ref>

Church of Scientology

In the

Church of Scientology The Church of Scientology is a group of interconnected corporate entities and other organizations devoted to the practice, administration and dissemination of Scientology, which is variously defined as a cult, a business, or a new religiou ...

, an auditor is a spiritual counselor who is authorised to use Scientology tech while giving religious counsel (auditing).

References

{{reflist, 30em Catholic ecclesiastical titles Tribunals of the Catholic Church Ecclesiastical courts