TITLE V:
ASSOCIATIONS OF CHRIST'S FAITHFUL (Cann. 298 - 329)
CHAPTER I :
COMMON NORMS
Can.
298 §1 In the Church there are associations which are distinct from institutes
of consecrated life and societies of apostolic life. In these associations,
Christ's faithful, whether clerics or laity, or clerics and laity together,
strive with a common effort to foster a more perfect life, or to promote public
worship or christian teaching. They may also devote themselves to other works
of the apostolate, such as initiatives for evangelisation, works of piety or
charity, and those which animate the temporal order with the christian spirit.
§2 Christ's
faithful are to join especially those associations which have been established,
praised or recommended by the competent ecclesiastical authority.
Can.
299 §1 By private agreement among themselves, Christ's faithful have the right
to constitute associations for the purposes mentioned in can. 298 §1, without
prejudice to the provisions of can. 301 §1.
§2
Associations of this kind, even though they may be praised or commended by
ecclesiastical authority, are called private associations.
§3 No
private association of Christ's faithful is recognised in the Church unless its
statutes have been reviewed by the competent authority.
Can.
300 No association may call itself 'catholic' except with the consent of the
competent ecclesiastical authority, in accordance with can. 312.
Can.
301 §1 It is for the competent ecclesiastical authority alone to establish
associations of Christ's faithful which intend to impart Christian teaching in
the name of the Church, or to promote public worship, or which are directed to
other ends whose pursuit is of its nature reserved to the same ecclesiastical
authority.
§2 The
competent ecclesiastical authority, if it judges it expedient, can also
establish associations of Christ's faithful to pursue, directly or indirectly,
other spiritual ends whose attainment is not adequately provided for by private
initiatives.
§3
Associations of Christ's faithful which are established by the competent
ecclesiastical authority are called public associations.
Can.
302 Associations of Christ's faithful are called clerical when they are under
the direction of clerics, presuppose the exercise of sacred orders, and are
acknowledged as such by the competent authority.
Can.
303 Associations whose members live in the world but share in the spirit of
some religious institute, under the overall direction of the same institute,
and who lead an apostolic life and strive for Christian perfection, are known
as third orders, or are called by some other suitable title.
Can.
304 §1 All associations of Christ's faithful, whether public or private, by
whatever title or name they are called, are to have their own statutes. These
are to define the purpose or social objective of the association, its centre,
its governance and the conditions of membership. They are also to specify the
manner of action of the association, paying due regard to what is necessary or
useful in the circumstances of the time and place.
§2
Associations are to select for themselves a title or name which is in keeping
with the practices of the time and place, especially one derived from the
purpose they intend.
Can.
305 §1 All associations of Christ's faithful are subject to the supervision of
the competent ecclesiastical authority. This authority is to ensure that
integrity of faith and morals is maintained in them and that abuses in
ecclesiastical discipline do not creep in. The competent authority has
therefore the duty and the right to visit these associations, in accordance
with the law and the statutes. Associations are also subject to the governance
of the same authority in accordance with the provisions of the canons which
follow.
§2
Associations of every kind are subject to the supervision of the Holy See.
Diocesan associations are subject to the supervision of the local Ordinary, as
are other associations to the extent that they work in the diocese.
Can.
306 To enjoy the rights and privileges, indulgences and other spiritual favours
granted to an association, it is necessary and sufficient that a person be
validly received into the association in accordance with the provisions of the
law and with the association's own statutes, and be not lawfully dismissed from
it.
Can.
307 §1 The admission of members is to take place in accordance with the law and
with the statutes of each association.
§2 The same
person can be enrolled in several associations.
§3 In
accordance with their own law, members of religious institutes may, with the
consent of their Superior, join associations.
Can.
308 No one who was lawfully admitted is to be dismissed from an association
except for a just reason, in accordance with the law and the statutes.
Can.
309 Associations that are lawfully established have the right, in accordance
with the law and the statutes, to make particular norms concerning the
association, for the holding of meetings, and for the appointment of
moderators, officials, ministers and administrators of goods.
Can.
310 A private association which has not been constituted a juridical person
cannot, as such, be the subject of duties and rights. However the faithful who
are joined together in it can jointly contract obligations. As joint owners and
joint possessors they can acquire and possess rights and goods. They can
exercise these rights and obligations through a delegate or a proxy.
Can.
311 Members of institutes of consecrated life who preside over or assist
associations which are joined in some way to their institute, are to ensure
that these associations help the apostolic works existing in the diocese. They
are especially to cooperate, under the direction of the local Ordinary, with
associations which are directed to the exercise of the apostolate in the
diocese.
|