Game concept
Church Authority
From the game's encyclopedia
Church Authority represents the power that a Theocratic Ruler wields over their Clergy and Vassals.
There are four levels of Church Authority; Autonomous Clergy, Limited Church Authority, High Church Authority, and Absolute Church Authority. Increasing Church Authority costs an amount of Piety and Prestige depending on the level and the ruler's Learning Skill.
Vassals dislike higher levels of Church Authority, and lowering it is the primary goal of Liberty Factions.
The game's text for patch 1.20.1.2. Words in blue are entries of the encyclopedia: hover one to read it, as in the game.
Church Authority is an entry of Crusader Kings III's in-game encyclopedia. The game explains it: "Church Authority represents the power that a Theocratic Ruler wields over their Clergy and Vassals." It is part of Law. Patch 1.20.1.2, from game/common/game_concepts/00_game_concepts.txt and game/localization/english/game_concepts_l_english.yml.
Source: game/common/game_concepts/00_game_concepts.txt, game/localization/english/game_concepts_l_english.yml and the English localisation, Crusader Kings III 1.20.1.2.