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SUMMARY Provincial synod, for
the correction of abuses and the enforcement of canonical enactments must be
held annually. To ensure this, reliable persons are to be appointed who will
investigate such thin as need correction.
Text. In accordance with the
ancient provisions of the holy Fathers, the metropolitans must not neglect to
hold with their suffragans the annual provincial synods. In these they should
be actuated with a genuine fear of God in correcting abuses and reforming
morals, especially the morals of the clergy, familiarizing themselves anew with
the canonical rules, particularly those that are enacted in this general
council, that they may enforce their observance by imposing due punishment on
transgressors. That this may be done more effectively, let them appoint in each
and every diocese prudent and upright persons, who throughout the entire year
shall informally and without any jurisdiction diligently investigate such
things as need correction or reform and faithfully present them to the
metropolitan, suffragans, and others in the following synod, so that they may
give prudent consideration to these and other matters as circumstances demand;
and in reference to those things that they decree, let them enforce observance,
publishing the decisions in the episcopal synods to be held annually in each
diocese. Whoever shall neglect to comply with this salutary statute, let him be
suspended from his office and benefits till it shall please his superior to
restore him.
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