Title V. Associations of the Christian Faithful (Cann. 298 - 329)

CHAPTER I. Common Norms

Can.298 §1. In the Church there are associations distinct from institutes of consecrated life and societies of apostolic

life; in these associations the Christian faithful, whether clerics, lay persons, or clerics and lay persons together, strive

in a common endeavor to foster a more perfect life, to promote public worship or Christian doctrine, or to exercise

other works of the apostolate such as initiatives of evangelization, works of piety or charity, and those which animate

the temporal order with a Christian spirit.

§2. The Christian faithful are to join especially those associations which competent ecclesiastical authority has

erected, praised, or commended.

Can.299 §1. By means of a private agreement made among themselves, the Christian faithful are free to establish

associations to pursue the purposes mentioned in can. 298, §1, without prejudice to the prescript of can. 301, §1.

§2. Even if ecclesiastical authority praises or commends them, associations of this type are called private

associations.

§3. No private association of the Christian faithful is recognized in the Church unless competent authority

reviews its statutes.

Can.300 No association is to assume the name Catholic without the consent of competent ecclesiastical authority

according to the norm of can. 312.

Can.301 §1. It is for the competent ecclesiastical authority alone to erect associations of the Christian faithful which

propose to hand on Christian doctrine in the name of the Church or to promote public worship, or which intend

other purposes whose pursuit is of its nature reserved to the same ecclesiastical authority.

§2. Competent ecclesiastical authority, if it has judged it expedient, can also erect associations of the Christian

faithful to pursue directly or indirectly other spiritual purposes whose accomplishment has not been sufficiently

provided for through the initiatives of private persons.

§3. Associations of the Christian faithful which are erected by competent ecclesiastical authority are called

public associations.

Can.302 Those associations of the Christian faithful are called clerical which are under the direction of clerics,

assume the exercise of sacred orders, and are recognized as such by competent authority.

Can.303 Associations whose members share in the spirit of some religious institute while in secular life, lead an

apostolic life, and strive for Christian perfection under the higher direction of the same institute are called third

orders or some other appropriate name.

Can.304 §1. All public or private associations of the Christian faithful, by whatever title or name they are called,

are to have their own statutes which define the purpose or social objective of the association, its seat, government,

and conditions required for membership and which determine the manner of its acting, attentive, however, to the

necessity or advantage of time and place.

§2. They are to choose a title or name for themselves adapted to the usage of time and place, selected above

all with regard to their intended purpose.

Can.305 §1. All associations of the Christian faithful are subject to the vigilance of competent ecclesiastical

authority which is to take care that the integrity of faith and morals is preserved in them and is to watch so that

abuse does not creep into ecclesiastical discipline. This authority therefore has the duty and right to inspect them

according to the norm of law and the statutes. These associations are also subject to the governance of this same

authority according to the prescripts of the canons which follow.

§2. Associations of any kind are subject to the vigilance of the Holy See; diocesan associations and other

associations to the extent that they work in the diocese are subject to the vigilance of the local ordinary.

Can.306 In order for a person to possess the rights and privileges of an association and the indulgences and other

spiritual favors granted to the same association, it is necessary and sufficient that the person has been validly

received into it and has not been legitimately dismissed from it according to the prescripts of law and the proper

statutes of the association.

Can.307 §1. The reception of members is to be done according to the norm of law and the statutes of each

association.

§2. The same person can be enrolled in several associations.

§3. Members of religious institutes can join associations according to the norm of their proper law with the

consent of their superior.

Can.308 No one legitimately enrolled is to be dismissed from an association except for a just cause according to the

norm of law and the statutes.

Can.309 According to the norm of law and the statutes, legitimately established associations have the right to issue

particular norms respecting the association itself, to hold meetings, and to designate moderators, officials, other

officers, and administrators of goods.

Can.310 A private association which has not been established as a juridic person cannot, as such, be a subject of

obligations and rights. Nevertheless, the members of the Christian faithful associated together in it can jointly

contract obligations and can acquire and possess rights and goods as co-owners and co-possessors; they are able to

exercise these rights and obligations through an agent or a proxy.

Can.311 Members of institutes of consecrated life who preside offer or assist associations in some way united to their

institute are to take care that these associations give assistance to the works of the apostolate which already exist

in a diocese, especially cooperating, under the direction of the local ordinary, with associations which are ordered

to the exercise of the apostolate in the diocese.