ARTICLE 1:
VICARS GENERAL AND EPISCOPAL VICARS
Can.
475 §1 In each diocese the diocesan Bishop is to appoint a Vicar general to
assist him in the governance of the whole diocese. The Vicar - general has
ordinary power, in accordance with the following canons.
§2 As a
general rule, one Vicar general is to be appointed, unless the size of the
diocese, the number of inhabitants, or other pastoral reasons suggest
otherwise.
Can.
476 As often as the good governance of the diocese requires it, the diocesan
Bishop can also appoint one or more episcopal Vicars. These have the same
ordinary power as the universal law gives to a Vicar general, in accordance
with the following canons. The competence of an episcopal Vicar, however, is
limited to a determined part of the diocese, or to a specific type of activity,
or to the faithful of a particular rite, or to certain groups of people.
Can.
477 §1 The Vicar general and the episcopal Vicar are freely appointed by the
diocesan Bishop, and can be freely removed by him, without prejudice to can.
406. An episcopal Vicar who is not an auxiliary Bishop, is to be appointed for
a period of time, which is to be specified in the act of appointment.
§2 If the
Vicar general is absent or lawfully impeded, the diocesan Bishop can appoint
another to take his place. The same norm applies in the case of an episcopal
Vicar.
Can.
478 §1 The Vicar general and the episcopal Vicar are to be priests of not less
than thirty years of age, with a doctorate or licentiate in canon law or
theology, or at least well versed in these disciplines. They are to be known
for their sound doctrine, integrity, prudence and practical experience.
§2 The
office of Vicar general or episcopal Vicar may not be united with the office of
canon penitentiary, nor may the office be given to blood relations of the
Bishop up to the fourth degree.
Can.
479 §1 In virtue of his office, the Vicar general has the same executive power
throughout the whole diocese as that which belongs by law to the diocesan
Bishop: that is, he can perform all administrative acts, with the exception
however of those which the Bishop has reserved to himself, or which by law
require a special mandate of the Bishop.
§2 By
virtue of the law itself, the episcopal Vicar has the same power as that
mentioned in §1, but only for the determined part of the territory or type of
activity, or for the faithful of the determined rite or group, for which he was
appointed; matters which the Bishop reserves to himself or to the Vicar
general, or which by law require a special mandate of the Bishop, are excepted.
§3 Within
the limits of their competence, the Vicar general and the episcopal Vicar have
also those habitual faculties which the Apostolic See has granted to the
Bishop. They may also execute rescripts, unless it is expressly provided
otherwise, or unless the execution was entrusted to the Bishop on a personal
basis.
Can.
480 The Vicar general and episcopal Vicar must give a report to the diocesan
Bishop concerning more important matters, both those yet to be attended to and
those already dealt with. They are never to act against the will and mind of
the diocesan Bishop.
Can.
481 §1 The power of the Vicar general or episcopal Vicar ceases when the period
of their mandate expires, or by resignation. In addition, but without prejudice
to cann. 406 and 409, it ceases when they are notified of their removal by the
diocesan Bishop, or when the episcopal see falls vacant.
§2 When the
office of the diocesan Bishop is suspended, the power of the Vicar general and
of the episcopal Vicar is suspended, unless they are themselves Bishops.
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