Revised March 1, 1997
Approved For Implementation In The Diocese Of Beaumont
March 1, 1997
Most Rev. Joseph A. Galante, D.D., J.C.D.
Bishop of Beaumont
The 1983 Code of Canon Law calls for the establishment of consultative bodies in every parish to assist the pastor. Canon 537 mandates a Finance Council in every parish to assist the pastor in the administration of parish goods. “Each parish is to have a finance council which is regulated by universal law as well as by norms issued by the Diocesan Bishop; in this Council the Christian Faithful, selected according to the same norms, aid the Pastor in the administration of parish goods with due regard for the prescriptions of Canon 532.” (Canon 537)
The pastor, without abdicating his pastoral authority and leadership, must be willing to encourage and enable lay persons to assume various roles in a spirit of shared responsibility. A Finance Council can genuinely assist the pastor in his challenge to administer the temporal resources and fiscal affairs of the parish community and to formulate policy and procedures in service to the effective management of parish assets.
The primary purpose of the Finance Council is consultative. It is to assist the pastor, who is the Administrator of the juridic person — the parish — in making administrative decisions and policies, on both the ordinary and the extraordinary level of administration (see Appendix 1). There should be an awareness of the overall mission and pastoral vision of the parish in all consultation.
The Finance Council shall:
The Finance Council shall consist of no more than five nor less than two parishioners who are Catholic and, if possible, possess experience or expertise in business, finance, or law.
Members are appointed by the pastor for a three-year renewable term or until there is a change in pastorate. If a member is removed from the Council by the pastor for a serious reason, notification is to be given to the Diocesan Fiscal Officer.
The Council should consist, if possible, of professionals who are knowledgeable about banking, business, investment counseling, accounting, insurance, etc., and who are committed to the work of the Church. They are to be practicing members of the Church and outstanding in integrity.
Excluded from membership on the Finance Council are persons who could have a conflict of interest from such affiliation. Also ineligible are staff members, and any close relatives of the pastor (e.g. brother, sister, nephew, niece, in-law).
The Finance Council shall meet quarterly. Additional meetings are held as the pastor deems necessary.
The Finance Council is distinct from the Parish Pastoral Council. The Chairperson of the Finance Council is to attend the Parish Pastoral Council meetings when input will enable the Finance Council to fulfill its responsibilities (See Functions).
Those activities of an administrator that are done routinely or regularly, such as:
Those activities of an administrator that:
In the Diocese of Beaumont, effective March 1997, the Bishop established that any transaction over $15,000 constitutes extraordinary administration and requires his permission in advance.
The traditional notion of extraordinary administration includes, but is not limited to:
The permission of the competent authority according to the norm of law is required in order validly to alienate the goods which through lawful designation constitute the stable patrimony of a public juridic person
[parish] and whose value exceeds the sum determined in law.
All clerics or laypersons who, through a legitimate title, take part in the administration of ecclesiastical goods are bound to fulfill their duties in the name of the Church and in accord with the norm of law.
Before administrators take office:
Within the limits of ordinary administration only, it is permissible for administrators to make donations for purposes of piety or Christian charity from movable goods which do not pertain to the stable patrimony.
Administrators of goods:
Administrators are neither to initiate nor to contest a lawsuit on behalf of a public juridic person in civil court unless they obtain the written permission of their own ordinary.