The Primate Materine Act of 2025
Royal Decree-Law No. VIII-2025-15
The Primate Materine (Ecclesiastical Governance) Act of 2025
Issued under the Authority of Her Majesty Marie-Adélina the First, Sovereign of the Kingdom of Navassa
Preamble
WHEREAS Article 1 of the Grand Charter vests the Crown in Her Majesty, confirming Her as Defender of the Faith;
AND WHEREAS Article 2 recognises that the Sovereign enjoys all dignities and prerogatives of the Crown, including the conferral of titles and offices;
AND WHEREAS Articles 66 and 67 empower the Sovereign to create, assign, and dissolve secretariats and offices in service of the Realm;
AND WHEREAS Article 83 affirms the Sovereign’s retained prerogative to determine matters of state, policy, and governance;
NOW, THEREFORE, be it decreed the following:
Article I — Short Title
This Royal Decree-Law may be cited as “The Primate Materine Act 2025.”
Article II — Recognition of the Primate Materine
Her Majesty Queen Marie-Adélina I shall henceforth and until further notice hold, exercise, and enjoy the dignity of Primate Materine, being the highest spiritual authority in the Materine Communion.
All prerogatives, honours, and ceremonial precedence attached to the office of Primate Materine are hereby vested in Her Majesty.
Article III — Archcuratrix of Cap-Paradis
By virtue of Article II, the Sovereign shall concurrently assume and maintain the office of Archcuratrix of Cap-Paradis, charged with the general oversight, guardianship, and good governance of the Materine Church of Navassa.
The Archcuratrix may promulgate ecclesiastical directives and issue pastoral letters that shall have binding effect within the Materine Church of Navassa.
Article IV — Curatrix of the Sanctuary of the Divine Mother
Her Majesty shall likewise serve as Curatrix of the Sanctuary of the Divine Mother, the royal court’s congregation, presiding over its liturgies, rites, and spiritual welfare.
The Curatrix may appoint Deputies to act in Her stead when circumstances so require, without prejudice to the Sovereign’s ultimate authority.
Article V — Delegation and Administration
The Sovereign may, by Letters Patent or further Royal Decree-Law, establish subordinate offices, secretariats, or advisory bodies to facilitate the spiritual administration of the Materine Communion.
Such bodies shall report directly to the Crown or to a duly appointed Principal Secretary of State, as Her Majesty shall determine.
Article VI — Tenure and Revocation
The offices and dignities conferred herein shall continue ad nutum Regium (at the Royal pleasure) and may be modified or revoked only by subsequent Royal Decree-Law bearing the Sovereign’s Assent.
Article VII — Entry into Force
This Decree-Law shall enter into force immediately upon its digital publication in accordance with Article 66(5) of the Grand Charter.
