| Consultative
Body |
General Description |
Membership |
Existence |
1. College of
Consultors
(c. 502)
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The college of consultors
assists the diocesan bishop
in the governance of the
diocese in accord with the
provisions of Church law.
For particular exercises of
ecclesiastical governance,
canon law requires that the
diocesan bishop consult the
college, and even obtain its
consent. When the see is
vacant, the college assumes
the functions of the
presbyteral council.
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The college is comprised of
no less than six priests, and
no more than twelve, who
are members of the
presbyteral council.
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The college of consultors is a required
body in the diocese. It is to be
established for a five-year term, but it
continues its functions even after that
time until a new college is constituted.
It continues in existence during a
vacant or impeded see. |
2. Diocesan
Pastoral Council
(cc. 511-514) |
The purpose of the diocesan
pastoral council is to follow
the bishop's direction in
investigating all things
which pertain to the
pastoral works of the
diocese. Following its
investigation, the council
studies the information it
has gathered and then
proposes practical
conclusions concerning it. |
The diocesan pastoral council
consists of members of the
Christian faithful who are in
full communion with the
Church. These clergy,
members of institutes of
consecrated life, and
especially lay persons are
named to the council in a
manner approved by the
diocesan bishop. The
council's membership as a
whole should be reflective of
the people of God who make
up the diocese. |
The pastoral council is established by
the diocesan bishop when, in his
judgement, pastoral circumstances
recommend it. It is to be established
for a definite period of time, during
which it is convoked at least once a
year. The council goes out of
existence at the completion of its term,
and whenever the see is vacant.
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3. Diocesan Synod
(cc. 460-468) |
The synod assists the
diocesan bishop in matters
pertaining to the entire
diocesan community. The
consultation rendered by the
members may lead to the
issuance of declarations or
the promulgation of
decrees. The synod's
consultative functions are
utilized solely at the
discretion of the diocesan
bishop. |
In iure members: the
coadjutor and auxiliary
bishops of the diocese; vicars
general, episcopal vicars and
the judicial vicar; cathedral
canons; members of the
presbyteral council, lay
members of the Christian
faithful and members of
institutes of consecrated life;
the rector of the diocesan
major seminary; the vicars
forane; at least one priest
from each vicariate, as well
as a designated alternate; and
some superiors of religious
institutes and societies of
apostolic life which have a
house in the diocese.
At the bishop's discretion:
As members "Other clerics,
members of institutes of
consecrated life, or lay
faithful. As
observers "Ministers or
members of other churches
or ecclesial communities. |
The diocesan bishop makes the
determination to convoke the synod
when circumstances warrant it, and
following consultation with the
presbyteral council. The diocesan
bishop may suspend or dissolve the
synod. The synod is interrupted ipso
iure when the see becomes vacant or
impeded, and remains interrupted until
the succeeding diocesan bishop
determines by decree to continue or
terminate it. |
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4. Episcopal
Council
(c. 473, 4)
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The episcopal council
assists the diocesan bishop
in fostering the more
suitable pastoral activity
within the diocese. It
achieves this end by
assisting in the coordination
of the work of the diocesan
vicars.
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The council is composed of
the vicars general and the
episcopal vicars within the
diocese. |
The council is established solely at the
discretion of the diocesan bishop to
meet particular pastoral needs. |
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5. Finance
Council
(cc. 492-494) |
The finance council exists
to advise the diocesan
bishop on financial matters
affecting the diocese.
Among its primary duties
are to approve the annual
diocesan fiscal statement
and to prepare the annual
budget. Canon law requires
that the bishop consult the
finance council in many
instances, and in some
cases, it requires that he
obtain the members'
consent before acting.
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The finance council is
composed of at least three
members of the Christian
faithful who must each be
well skilled in financial and
secular legal matters, and be
of outstanding integrity. The
bishop appoints the members
of the council to five-year
renewable terms.
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The existence of the finance council is
required by Church law. There is no
provision in law for its cessation
during a vacant or impeded see. |
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6. Presbyteral
Council
(cc. 495-501) |
In accord with the norms of
canon law, the presbyteral
council acts as a senate of
the bishop assisting him in
the governance of the
diocese so that the pastoral
welfare of the people of
God may be more
effectively achieved.
Consultation with the
presbyteral council is at the
discretion of the diocesan
bishop. The diocesan bishop
is required, however, to
seek the advice of the
council in matters of greater
importance, and to obtain
its explicit consent in those
instances stipulated in
Church law.
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The presbyteral council is
comprised of representative
members of the diocesan
presbyterate, who are to
named for a term. Half of
the members should be
elected by the presbyterate,
the remainder should be
comprised of ex officio
members (according to the
councils own statutes), and
members named by the
diocesan bishop.
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The diocesan bishop convokes the
presbyteral council, whose existence is
mandated for each diocese. The
council ceases its functions when the
see is vacant. However, within a year
of taking possession of the diocese, the
succeeding bishop is required to
reestablish the council. The diocesan
bishop may dissolve the council for
serious reasons only, and after
consultation with the metropolitan
bishop (or senior suffragan bishop, if it
is a question of the metropolitan see's
presbyteral council).
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