CHAPTER III
: THE COUNCIL OF PRIESTS AND THE COLLEGE OF CONSULTORS
Can.
495 §1 In each diocese there is to be established a council of priests, that
is, a group of priests who represent the presbyterium and who are to be, as it
were, the Bishop's senate. The council's role is to assist the Bishop, in accordance
with the law, in the governance of the diocese, so that the pastoral welfare of
that portion of the people of God entrusted to the Bishop may be most
effectively promoted.
§2 In
vicariates and prefectures apostolic, the Vicar or Prefect is to appoint a
council composed of at least three missionary priests, whose opinion, even by
letter, he is to hear in the more serious affairs.
Can.
496 The council of priests is to have its own statutes. These are to be
approved by the diocesan Bishop, having taken account of the norms laid down by
the Episcopal Conference.
Can.
497 As far as the designation of the members of the council of priests is
concerned:
1° about
half are to be freely elected by the priests themselves in accordance with the
canons which follow and with the statutes;
2° some
priests must, in accordance with the statutes, be members ex officio, that is
belong to the council by reason of the office they hold;
3° the
diocesan Bishop may freely appoint some others.
Can.
498 §1 The following have the right to both an active and a passive voice in an
election to the council of priests:
1° all
secular priests incardinated in the diocese;
2° priests
who are living in the diocese and exercise some useful office there, whether
they be secular priests not incardinated in the diocese, or priest members of
religious institutes or of societies of apostolic life.
§2 Insofar
as the statutes so provide, the same right of election may be given to other
priests who have a domicile or quasi-domicile in the diocese.
Can.
499 The manner of electing the members of the council of priests is to be
determined by the statutes, and in such a way that as far as possible the
priests of the presbyterium are represented, with special regard to the
diversity of ministries and to the various regions of the diocese.
Can.
500 §1 It is the prerogative of the diocesan Bishop to convene the council of
priests, to preside over it, and to determine the matters to be discussed in it
or to accept items proposed by the members.
§2 The
council of priests has only a consultative vote. The diocesan Bishop is to
consult it in matters of more serious moment, but he requires its consent only
in the cases expressly defined in the law.
§3 The
council of priests can never act without the diocesan Bishop. He alone can make
public those things which have been decided in accordance with §2.
Can.
501 §1 The members of the council of priests are to be designated for a period
specified in the statutes, subject however to the condition that over a five
year period the council is renewed in whole or in part.
§2 When the
see is vacant, the council of priests lapses and its functions are fulfilled by
the college of consultors. The Bishop must reconstitute the council of priests
within a year of taking possession.
§3 If the
council of priests does not fulfil the office entrusted to it for the welfare
of the diocese, or if it gravely abuses that office, it can be dissolved by the
diocesan Bishop, after consultation with the Metropolitan, in the case of a
metropolitan see, the Bishop must first consult with the suffragan Bishop who
is senior by promotion. Within a year, however, the diocesan Bishop must
reconstitute the council.
Can.
502 §1 From among the members of the council of priests, the diocesan Bishop
freely appoints not fewer than six and not more than twelve priests, who are
for five years to constitute the college of consultors. To it belong the
functions determined by law; on the expiry of the five year period, however, it
continues to exercise its functions until the new college is constituted.
§2 The
diocesan Bishop presides over the college of consultors. If, however, the see
is impeded or vacant, that person presides who in the interim takes the
Bishop's place or, if he has not yet been appointed, then the priest in the
college of consultors who is senior by ordination.
§3 The
Episcopal Conference can determine that the functions of the college of
consultors be entrusted to the cathedral chapter.
§4 Unless
the law provides otherwise, in a vicariate or prefecture apostolic the
functions of the college of consultors belong to the council of the mission
mentioned in can. 495 §2.
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