Crossword Genius

Judgement about catholic ruler accepting old and new (9)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

reckoning

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'judgement' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'catholic ruler accepting old and new' is the wordplay.
'catholic ruler' becomes 'recking' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'accepting' is an insertion indicator (inserted letters are accepted).
'old' becomes 'o' (abbreviation).
'and' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'new' becomes 'n' (common abbreviation eg NT for New Testament).
'o'+'n'='on'
'recking' enclosing 'on' is 'RECKONING'.

'about' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for reckoning that I've seen before include "Counting, calculating" , "estimating?" , "Count" , "Settling of accounts" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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