THE CODE OF CANON LAW

CODEX IURIS CANONICI (1983)

BOOK V:
The Temporal Goods Of The Church

Can. 1254 §1 The Catholic Church has the inherent right, independently of any secular power, to acquire, retain, administer and alienate temporal goods, in pursuit of its proper objectives.
§2 These proper objectives are principally the regulation of divine worship, the provision of fitting support for the clergy and other ministers, and the carrying out of works of the sacred apostolate and of charity, especially for the needy.
Can. 1255 The universal Church, as well as the Apostolic See, particular Churches and all other public and private juridical persons are capable of acquiring, retaining, administering and alienating temporal goods, in accordance with the law.
Can. 1256 Under the supreme authority of the Roman Pontiff, ownership of goods belongs to that juridical person which has lawfully acquired them.
Can. 1257 §1 All temporal goods belonging to the universal Church, to the Apostolic See or to other public juridical persons in the Church, are ecclesiastical goods and are regulated by the canons which follow, as well as by their own statutes.
§2 Unless it is otherwise expressly provided, temporal goods belonging to a private juridical person are regulated by its own statutes, not by these canons.
Can. 1258 In the canons which follow, the term Church signifies not only the universal Church or the Apostolic See, but also any public juridical person in the Church, unless the contrary is clear from the context or from the nature of the matter.

LIBER V
DE BONIS ECCLESIAE TEMPORALIBUS

Can. 1254 - § 1. Ecclesia catholica bona temporalia iure nativo, independenter a civili potestate, acquirere, retinere, administrare et alienare valet ad fines sibi proprios prosequendos.
§ 2. Fines vero proprii praecipue sunt: cultus divinus ordinandus, honesta cleri aliorumque ministrorum sustentatio procuranda, opera sacri apostolatus et caritatis, praesertim erga egenos, exercenda.
Can. 1255 - Ecclesia universa atque Apostolica Sedes, Ecclesiae particulares necnon alia quaevis persona iuridica, sive publica sive privata, subiecta sunt capacia bona temporalia acquirendi, retinendi, administrandi et alienandi ad normam iuris.
Can. 1256 - Dominium bonorum, sub suprema auctoritate Romani Pontificis, ad eam pertinet iuridicam personam, quae eadem bona legitime acquisiverit.
Can. 1257 - § 1. Bona temporalia omnia quae ad Ecclesiam universam, Apostolicam Sedem aliasve in Ecclesia personas iuridicas publicas pertinent, sunt bona ecclesiastica et reguntur canonibus qui sequuntur, necnon propriis statutis.
§ 2. Bona temporalia personae iuridicae privatae reguntur propriis statutis, non autem hisce canonibus, nisi expresse aliud caveatur.
Can. 1258 - In canonibus qui sequuntur nomine Ecclesiae significatur non solum Ecclesia universa aut Sedes Apostolica, sed etiam quaelibet persona iuridica publica in Ecclesia, nisi ex contextu sermonis vel ex natura rei aliud appareat.

TITLE I: THE ACQUISITION OF GOODS

Can. 1259 The Church may acquire temporal goods in any way in which, by either natural or positive law, it is lawful for others to do this.
Can. 1260 The Church has the inherent right to require from the faithful whatever is necessary for its proper objectives.
Can. 1261 §1 The faithful have the right to donate temporal goods for the benefit of the Church.
§2 The diocesan Bishop is bound to remind the faithful of the obligation mentioned in Can. 222 §1, and in an appropriate manner to urge it.
Can. 1262 The faithful are to give their support to the Church in response to appeals and in accordance with the norms laid down by the Episcopal Conference.
Can. 1263 The diocesan Bishop, after consulting the finance committee and the council of priests, has the right to levy on public juridical persons subject to his authority a tax for the needs of the diocese. This tax must be moderate and proportionate to their income. He may impose an extraordinary and moderate tax on other physical and juridical persons only in a grave necessity and under the same conditions, but without prejudice to particular laws and customs which may give him greater rights.
Can. 1264 Unless the law prescribes otherwise, it is for the provincial Bishops’ meeting to:
1° determine the taxes, to be approved by the Apostolic See, for acts of executive authority which grant a favour, or for the execution of rescripts from the Apostolic See;
2° determine the offerings on the occasion of the administration of the sacraments and sacramentals.
Can. 1265 §1 Without prejudice to the right of mendicant religious, all private juridical or physical persons are forbidden to make a collection for any pious or ecclesiastical institute or purpose without the written permission of their proper Ordinary and of the local Ordinary.
§2 The Episcopal Conference can draw up rules regarding collections, which must be observed by all, including those who from their foundation are called and are ‘mendicants’.
Can. 1266 §1 In all churches and oratories regularly open to Christ’s faithful, including those belonging to religious institutes, the local Ordinary may order that a special collection be taken up for specified parochial, diocesan, national or universal initiatives. The collection must afterwards be carefully forwarded to the diocesan curia.
Can. 1267 §1 Unless the contrary is clear, offerings made to Superiors or administrators of any ecclesiastical juridical person, even a private one, are presumed to have been made to the juridical person itself.
§2 If there is question of a public juridical person, the offerings mentioned in §1 cannot be refused except for a just reason and, in matters of greater importance, with the permission of the Ordinary. Without prejudice to the provisions of Can. 1295, the permission of the Ordinary is also required for the acceptance of offerings to which are attached some qualifying obligation or condition.
§3 Offerings given by the faithful for a specified purpose may be used only for that purpose.
Can. 1268 The Church recognises prescription, in accordance with Cann. 197–199, as a means both of acquiring temporal goods and of being freed from their obligations.
Can. 1269 Sacred objects in private ownership may be acquired by private persons by prescription, but they may not be used for secular purposes unless they have lost their dedication or blessing. If, however, they belong to a public ecclesiastical juridical person, they may be acquired only by another public ecclesiastical juridical person.
Can. 1270 Immovable goods, precious movable goods, rights and legal claims, whether personal or real, which belong to the Apostolic See, are prescribed after a period of one hundred years. For those goods which belong to another public ecclesiastical juridical person, the period for prescription is thirty years.
Can. 1271 By reason of their bond of unity and charity, and according to the resources of their dioceses, Bishops are to join together to produce those means which the Apostolic See may from time to time need to exercise properly its service of the universal Church.
Can. 1272 In those regions where benefices properly so called still exist, it is for the Episcopal Conference to regulate such benefices by appropriate norms, agreed with and approved by the Apostolic See. The purpose of these norms is that the income and as far as possible the capital itself of the benefice should by degrees be transferred to the fund mentioned in Can. 1274 §1.

TITULUS I: DE ACQUISITIONE BONORUM

Can. 1259 - Ecclesia acquirere bona temporalia potest omnibus iustis modis iuris sive naturalis sive positivi, quibus aliis licet.
Can. 1260 - Ecclesiae nativum ius est exigendi a christifidelibus, quae ad fines sibi proprios sint necessaria.
Can. 1261 - § 1. Integrum est christifidelibus bona temporalia in favorem Ecclesiae conferre.
§ 2. Episcopus dioecesanus fideles de obligatione, de qua in Can. 222, § 1, monere tenetur et opportuno modo eam urgere.
Can. 1262 - Fideles subsidia Ecclesiae conferant per subventiones rogatas et iuxta normas ab Episcoporum conferentia latas.
Can. 1263 - Ius est Episcopo dioecesano, auditis consilio a rebus oeconomicis et consilio presbyterali, pro dioecesis necessitatibus, personis iuridicis publicis suo regimini subiectis moderatum tributum, earum redditibus proportionatum, imponendi; ceteris personis physicis et iuridicis ipsi licet tantum, in casu gravis necessitatis et sub iisdem condicionibus, extraordinariam et moderatam exactionem imponere, salvis legibus et consuetudinibus particularibus quae eidem potiora iura tribuant.
Can. 1264 - Nisi aliud iure cautum sit, conventus Episcoporum provinciae est:
1° praefinire taxas pro actibus potestatis exsecutivae gratiosae vel pro exsecutione rescriptorum Sedis Apostolicae, ad ipsa Sede Apostolica approbandas;
2° definire oblationes occasione ministrationis sacramentorum et sacramentalium.
Can. 1265 - § 1. Salvo iure religiosorum mendicantium, vetatur persona quaevis privata, sive physica sive iuridica, sine proprii Ordinarii et Ordinarii loci licentia, in scriptis data, stipem cogere pro quolibet pio aut ecclesiastico instituto vel fine.
§ 2. Episcoporum conferentia potest normas de stipe quaeritanda statuere, quae ab omnibus servari debent, iis non exclusis, qui ex institutione mendicantes vocantur et sunt.
Can. 1266 - In omnibus ecclesiis et oratoriis, etiam ad instituta religiosa pertinentibus, quae de facto habitualiter christifidelibus pateant, Ordinarius loci praecipere potest ut specialis stips colligatur pro determinatis inceptis paroecialibus, dioecesanis, nationalibus vel universalibus, ad curiam dioecesanam postea sedulo mittenda.
Can. 1267 - § 1. Nisi contrarium constet, oblationes quae fiunt Superioribus vel administratoribus cuiusvis personae iuridicae ecclesiasticae, etiam privatae, praesumuntur ipsi personae iuridicae factae.
§ 2. Oblationes, de quibus in § 1, repudiari nequeunt nisi iusta de causa et, in rebus maioris momenti, de licentia Ordinarii, si agitur de persona iuridica publica; eiusdem Ordinarii licentia requiritur ut acceptentur quae onere modali vel condicione gravantur, firmo praescripto Can. 1295.
§ 3. Oblationes a fidelibus ad certum finem factae, nonnisi ad eundem finem destinari possunt.
Can. 1268 - Praescriptionem, tamquam acquirendi et se liberandi modum, Ecclesia pro bonis temporalibus recipit, ad normam Cann. 197-199.
Can. 1269 - Res sacrae, si in dominio privatorum sunt, praescriptione acquiri a privatis personis possunt, sed eas adhibere ad usus profanos non licet, nisi dedicationem vel benedictionem amiserint; si vero ad personam iuridicam ecclesiasticam publicam pertinent, tantum ab alia persona iuridica ecclesiastica publica acquiri possunt.
Can. 1270 - Res immobiles, mobiles pretiosae, iura et actiones sive personales sive reales, quae pertinent ad Sedem Apostolicam, spatio centum annorum praescribuntur; quae ad aliam personam iuridicam publicam ecclesiasticam pertinent, spatio triginta annorum.
Can. 1271 - Episcopi, ratione vinculi unitatis et caritatis, pro suae dioecesis facultatibus, conferant ad media procuranda, quibus Sedes Apostolica secundum temporum condiciones indiget, ut servitium erga Ecclesiam universam rite praestare valeat.
Can. 1272 - In regionibus ubi beneficia proprie dicta adhuc exsistunt, Episcoporum conferentiae est, opportunis normis cum Apostolica Sede concordatis et ab ea approbatis, huiusmodi beneficiorum regimen moderari, ita ut reditus, immo quatenus possibile sit ipsa dos beneficiorum ad institutum, de quo in Can. 1274, § 1, paulatim deferatur.

TITLE II: THE ADMINISTRATION OF GOODS

Can. 1273 The Roman Pontiff, by virtue of his primacy of governance, is the supreme administrator and steward of all ecclesiastical goods.
Can. 1274 §1 In every diocese there is to be a special fund which collects offerings and temporal goods for the purpose of providing, in accordance with Can. 281, for the support of the clergy who serve the diocese, unless they are otherwise catered for.
§2 Where there is as yet no properly organised system of social provision for the clergy, the Episcopal Conference is to see that a fund is established which will furnish adequate social security for them.
§3 To the extent that it is required, a common reserve is to be established in every diocese by which the Bishop is enabled to fulfil his obligations towards other persons who serve the Church and to meet various needs of the diocese, this can also be the means by which wealthier dioceses may help poorer ones.
§4 Depending on differing local circumstances, the purposes described in §§2 and 3 might better be achieved by amalgamating various diocesan funds, or by cooperation between various dioceses, or even by setting up a suitable association for them, or indeed for the whole territory of the Episcopal Conference itself.
§5 If possible, these funds are to be established in such a manner that they will have standing also in the civil law.
Can. 1275 A reserve set up by a number of different dioceses is to be administered according to norms opportunely agreed upon by the Bishops concerned.
Can. 1276 §1 Ordinaries must carefully supervise the administration of all the goods which belong to public juridical persons subject to them, without prejudice to lawful titles which may give the Ordinary greater rights.
§2 Taking into account rights, lawful customs and the circumstances, Ordinaries are to regulate the whole matter of the administration of ecclesiastical goods by issuing special instructions, within the limits of universal and particular law.
Can. 1277 In carrying out acts of administration which, in the light of the financial situation of the diocese, are of major importance, the diocesan Bishop must consult the finance committee and the college of consultors. For acts of extraordinary administration, except in cases expressly provided for in the universal law or stated in the documents of foundation, the diocesan Bishop needs the consent of the committee and of the college of consultors. It is for the Episcopal Conference to determine what are to be regarded as acts of extraordinary administration.
Can. 1278 Besides the duties mentioned in Can. 494 §§3 and 4, the diocesan Bishop may also entrust to the financial administrator the duties mentioned in Can. 1276 §1 and Can. 1279 §2.
Can. 1279 §1 The administration of ecclesiastical goods pertains to the one with direct power of governance over the person to whom the goods belong, unless particular law or statutes or legitimate custom state otherwise, and without prejudice to the right of the Ordinary to intervene where there is negligence on the part of the administrator.
§2 Where no administrators are appointed for a public juridical person by law or by the documents of foundation or by its own statutes, the Ordinary to which it is subject is to appoint suitable persons as administrators for a three year term. The same persons can be re appointed by the Ordinary.
Can. 1280 Every juridical person is to have its own finance committee, or at least two counsellors, who are to assist in the performance of the administrator’s duties, in accordance with the statutes.
Can. 1281 §1 Without prejudice to the provisions of the statutes administrators act invalidly when they go beyond the limits and manner of ordinary administration, unless they have first received in writing from the Ordinary the faculty to do so.
§2 The statutes are to determine what acts go beyond the limits and manner of ordinary administration. If the statutes are silent on this point, it is for the diocesan Bishop, after consulting the finance committee, to determine these acts for the persons subject to him.
§3 Except and insofar as it is to its benefit, a juridical person is not held responsible for the invalid actions of its administrators. The juridical person is, however, responsible when such actions are valid but unlawful, without prejudice to its right to bring an action or have recourse against the administrators who have caused it damage.
Can. 1282 All persons, whether clerics or laity, who lawfully take part in the administration of ecclesiastical goods, are bound to fulfil their duties in the name of the Church, in accordance with the law.
Can. 1283 Before administrators undertake their duties:
1° they must take an oath, in the presence of the Ordinary or his delegate, that they will well and truly perform their office;
2° they are to draw up a clear and accurate inventory, to be signed by themselves, of all immovable goods, of those movable goods which are precious or of a high cultural value, and of all other goods, with a description and an estimate of their value; when this has been compiled, it is to be certified as correct;
3° one copy of this inventory is to be kept in the administration office and another in the curial archive; any change which takes place in the property is to be noted on both copies.
Can. 1284 §1 All administrators are to perform their duties with the diligence of a good householder.
§2 Therefore they must:
1° be vigilant that no goods placed in their care in any way perish or suffer damage; to this end they are, to the extent necessary, to arrange insurance contracts;
2° ensure that the ownership of ecclesiastical goods is safeguarded in ways which are valid in civil law;
3° observe the provisions of canon and civil law, and the stipulations of the founder or donor or lawful authority; they are to take special care that damage will not be suffered by the Church through the non observance of the civil law;
4° seek accurately and at the proper time the income and produce of the goods, guard them securely and expend them in accordance with the wishes of the founder or lawful norms;
5° at the proper time pay the interest which is due by reason of a loan or pledge, and take care that in due time the capital is repaid;
6° with the consent of the Ordinary make use of money which is surplus after payment of expenses and which can be profitably invested for the purposes of the juridical person;
7° keep accurate records of income and expenditure;
8° draw up an account of their administration at the end of each year;
9° keep in order and preserve in a convenient and suitable archive the documents and records establishing the rights of the Church or institute to its goods; where conveniently possible, authentic copies must be placed in the curial archives.
§3 It is earnestly recommended that administrators draw up each year a budget of income and expenditure. However, it is left to particular law to make this an obligation and to determine more precisely how it is to be presented.
Can. 1285 Solely within the limits of ordinary administration, administrators are allowed to make gifts for pious purposes or Christian charity out of the movable goods which do not form part of the stable patrimony.
Can. 1286 Administrators of temporal goods:
1° in making contracts of employment, are accurately to observe also, according to the principles taught by the Church, the civil laws relating to labour and social life
2° are to pay to those who work for them under contract a just and honest wage which will be sufficient to provide for their needs and those of their dependents.
Can. 1287 §1 Where ecclesiastical goods of any kind are not lawfully withdrawn from the power of governance of the diocesan Bishop, their administrators, both clerical and lay, are bound to submit each year to the local Ordinary an account of their administration, which he is to pass on to his finance committee for examination. Any contrary custom is reprobated.
§2 Administrators are to render accounts to the faithful concerning the goods they have given to the Church, in accordance with the norms to be laid down by particular law.
Can. 1288 Administrators are not to begin legal proceedings in the name of a public juridical person, nor are they to contest them in a secular court, without first obtaining the written permission of their proper Ordinary.
Can. 1289 Although they may not be bound to the work of administration by virtue of an ecclesiastical office, administrators may not arbitrarily relinquish the work they have undertaken. If they do so, and this occasions damage to the Church, they are bound to restitution.

TITULUS II: DE ADMINISTRATIONE BONORUM

Can. 1273 - Romanus Pontifex, vi primatus regiminis, est omnium bonorum ecclesiasticorum supremus administrator et dispensator.
Can. 1274 - § 1. Habeatur in singulis dioecesibus speciale institutum, quod bona vel oblationes colligat eum in finem ut sustentationi clericorum, qui in favorem dioecesis servitium praestant, ad normam Can. 281 provideatur, nisi aliter eisdem provisum sit.
§ 2. Ubi praevidentia socialis in favorem cleri nondum apte ordinata est, curet Episcoporum conferentia ut habeatur institutum, quo securitati sociali clericorum satis provideatur.
§ 3. In singulis dioecesibus constituatur, quatenus opus sit, massa communis qua valeant Episcopi obligationibus erga alias personas Ecclesiae deservientes satisfacere variisque dioecesis necessitatibus occurrere, quaque etiam dioeceses divitiores possint pauperioribus subvenire.
§4. Pro diversis locorum adiunctis, fines de quibus in §§ 2 et 3 aptius obtineri possunt per instituta dioecesana inter se foederata, vel per cooperationem aut etiam per convenientem consociationem pro variis dioecesibus, immo et pro toto territorio ipsius Episcoporum conferentiae constitutam.
§ 5 Haec instituta, si fieri possit, ita constituenda sunt, ut efficaciam quoque in iure civili obtineant.
Can. 1275 - Massa bonorum ex diversis dioecesibus provenientium administratur secundum normas ab Episcopis, quorum interest, opportune concordatas.
Can. 1276 - § 1. Ordinarii est sedulo advigilare administrationi omnium bonorum, quae ad personas iuridicas publicas sibi subiectas pertinent, salvis legitimis titulis quibus eidem Ordinario potiora iura tribuantur.
§ 2. Habita ratione iurium, legitimarum consuetudinum et circumstantiarum, Ordinarii, editis pecularibus instructionibus intra fines iuris universalis et particularis, universum administrationis bonorum ecclesiasticorum negotium ordinandum curent.
Can. 1277 - Episcopus dioecesanus quod attinet ad actus administrationis ponendos, qui, attento statu oeconomico dioecesis, sunt maioris momenti, consilium a rebus oeconomicis et collegium consultorum audire debet; eiusdem tamen consilii atque etiam collegii consultorum consensu eget, praeterquam in casibus iure universali vel tabulis fundationis specialiter expressis, ad ponendos actus extraordinariae administrationis. Conferentiae autem Episcoporum est definire quinam actus habendi sint extraordinariae administrationis.
Can. 1278 - Praeter munera de quibus in Can. 494, §§ 3 et 4, oeconomo committi possunt ab Episcopo dioecesano munera de quibus in Cann. 1276, § 1 et 1279, § 2.
Can. 1279 - § 1. Administratio bonorum ecclesiasticorum ei competit, qui immediate regit personam ad quam eadem bona pertinent, nisi aliud ferant ius particulare, statuta aut legitima consuetudo, et salvo iure Ordinarii interveniendi in casu neglegentiae administratoris.
§ 2. In administratione bonorum personae iuridicae publicae, quae ex iure vel tabulis fundationis aut propriis statutis suos non habeat administratores, Ordinarius, cui eadem subiecta est, personas idoneas ad triennium assumat; eaedem ab Ordinario iterum nominari possunt.
Can. 1280 - Quaevis persona iuridica suum habeat consilium a rebus oeconomicis vel saltem duos consiliarios, qui administratorem, ad normam statutorum, in munere adimplendo adiuvent.
Can. 1281 - § 1. Firmis statutorum praescriptis, administratores invalide ponunt actus qui fines modumque ordinariae administrationis excedunt, nisi prius ab Ordinario facultatem scripto datam obtinuerint.
§ 2. In statutis definiantur actus qui finem et modum ordinariae administrationis excedunt; si vero de hac re sileant statuta, competit Episcopo dioecesano, audito consilio a rebus oeconomicis, huiusmodi actus pro personis sibi subiectis determinare.
§ 3. Nisi quando et quatenus in rem suam versum sit, persona iuridica non tenetur respondere de actibus ab administratoribus invalide positis; de actibus autem ab administratoribus illegitime sed valide positis respondebit ipsa persona iuridica, salva eius actione seu recursu adversus administratores qui damna eidem intulerint.
Can. 1282 - Omnes, sive clerici sive laici, qui legitimo titulo partes habent in administratione bonorum ecclesiasticorum, munera sua adimplere tenentur nomine Ecclesiae, ad normam iuris.
Can. 1283 - Antequam administratores suum munus ineant:
1° debent se bene et fideliter administraturos coram Ordinario vel eius delegato iureiurando spondere;
2° accuratum ac distinctum inventarium, ab ipsis subscribendum, rerum immobilium, rerum mobilium sive pretiosarum sive utcumque ad bona culturalia pertinentium aliarumve cum descriptione atque aestimatione earundem redigatur, redactumque recognoscatur;
3° huius inventarii alterum exemplar conservetur in tabulario administrationis, alterum in archivo curiae; et in utroque quaelibet immutatio adnotetur, quam patrimonium subire contingat.
Can. 1284 - § 1. Omnes administratores diligentia boni patrisfamilias suum munus implere tenentur.
§ 2. Exinde debent:
1° vigilare ne bona suae curae concredita quoquo modo pereant aut detrimentum capiant, initis in hunc finem, quatenus opus sit, contractibus assecurationis;
2° curare ut proprietas bonorum ecclesiasticorum modis civiliter validis in tuto ponatur;
3° praescripta servare iuris tam canonici quam civilis, aut quae a fundatore vel donatore vel legitima auctoritate imposita sint, ac praesertim cavere ne ex legum civilium inobservantia damnum Ecclesiae obveniat;
4° reditus bonorum ac proventus accurate et iusto tempore exigere exactosque tuto servare et secundum fundatoris mentem aut legitimas normas impendere;
5° foenus vel mutui vel hypothecae causa solvendum, statuto tempore solvere, ipsamque debiti summam capitalem opportune reddendam curare;
6° pecuniam, quae de expensis supersit et utiliter collocari possit, de consensu Ordinarii in fines personae iuridicae occupare;
7° accepti et expensi libros bene ordinatos habere;
8° rationem administrationis singulis exeuntibus annis componere;
9° documenta et instrumenta, quibus Ecclesiae aut instituti iura in bona nituntur, rite ordinare et in archivo convenienti et apto custodire; authentica vero eorum exemplaria, ubi commode fieri potest, in archivo curiae deponere.
§ 3. Provisiones accepti et expensi, ut ab administratoribus quotannis componantur, enixe commendatur; iuri autem particulari relinquitur eas praecipere et pressius determinare modos quibus exhibendae sint.
Can. 1285 - Intra limites dumtaxat ordinariae administrationis fas est administratoribus de bonis mobilibus, quae ad patrimonium stabile non pertinent, donationes ad fines pietatis aut christianae caritatis facere.
Can. 1286 - Administratores bonorum:
1° in operarum locatione leges etiam civiles, quae ad laborem et vitam socialem attinent, adamussim servent, iuxta principia ab Ecclesia tradita;
2° iis, qui operam ex condicto praestant, iustam et honestam mercedem tribuant, ita ut iidem suis et suorum necessitatibus convenienter providere valeant.
Can. 1287 - § 1. Reprobata contraria consuetudine, administratores tam clerici quam laici quorumvis bonorum ecclesiasticorum, quae ab Episcopi dioecesani potestate regiminis non sint legitime subducta, singulis annis officio tenentur rationes Ordinario loci exhibendi, qui eas consilio a rebus oeconomicis examinandas committat.
§ 2. De bonis, quae a fidelibus Ecclesiae offeruntur, administratores rationes fidelibus reddant iuxta normas iure particulari statuendas.
Can. 1288 - Administratores litem nomine personae iuridicae publicae ne inchoent neve contestentur in foro civili, nisi licentiam scripto datam Ordinarii proprii obtinuerint. Can. 1289 - Quamvis ad administrationem non teneantur titulo officii ecclesiastici, administratores munus suspectum arbitratu suo dimittere nequeunt; quod si ex arbitraria dimissione damnum Ecclesiae obveniat, ad restitutionem tenentur.

TITLE III: CONTRACTS AND ESPECIALLY ALIENATION

Can. 1290 Without prejudice to Can. 1547, whatever the local civil law decrees about contracts, both generally and specifically, and about the voiding of contracts, is to be observed regarding goods which are subject to the power of governance of the Church, and with the same effect, provided that the civil law is not contrary to divine law, and that canon law does not provide otherwise.
Can. 1291 The permission of the authority competent by law is required for the valid alienation of goods which, by lawful assignment, constitute the stable patrimony of a public juridical person, whenever their value exceeds the sum determined by law.
Can. 1292 §1 Without prejudice to the provision of Can. 638 §3, when the amount of the goods to be alienated is between the minimum and maximum sums to be established by the Episcopal Conference for its region, the competent authority in the case of juridical persons not subject to the diocesan Bishop is determined by the juridical person’s own statutes. In other cases, the competent authority is the diocesan Bishop acting with the consent of the finance committee, of the college of consultors, and of any interested parties. The diocesan Bishop needs the consent of these same persons to alienate goods which belong to the diocese itself.
§2 The permission of the Holy See also is required for the valid alienation of goods whose value exceeds the maximum sum, or if it is a question of the alienation of something given to the Church by reason of a vow, or of objects which are precious by reason of their artistic or historical significance.
§3 When a request is made to alienate goods which are divisible, the request must state what parts have already been alienated; otherwise, the permission is invalid.
§4 Those who must give advice about or consent to the alienation of goods are not to give this advice or consent until they have first been informed precisely both about the economic situation of the juridical person whose goods it is proposed to alienate and about alienations which have already taken place.
Can. 1293 §1 To alienate goods whose value exceeds the determined minimum sum, it is also required that there be:
1° a just reason, such as urgent necessity, evident advantage, or a religious, charitable or other grave pastoral reason;
2° a written expert valuation of the goods to be alienated.
§2 To avoid harm to the Church, any other precautions drawn up by lawful authority are also to be followed.
Can. 1294 §1 Normally goods must not be alienated for a price lower than that given in the valuation.
§2 The money obtained from alienation must be carefully invested for the benefit of the Church, or prudently expended according to the purposes of the alienation.
Can. 1295 The provisions of Cann. 1291–1294, to which the statutes of juridical persons are to conform, must be observed not only in alienation, but also in any dealings in which the patrimonial condition of the juridical person may be jeopardised.
Can. 1296 When alienation has taken place without the prescribed canonical formalities, but is valid in civil law, the competent authority must carefully weigh all the circumstances and decide whether, and if so what, action is to be taken, namely personal or real, by whom and against whom, to vindicate the rights of the Church.
Can. 1297 It is the duty of the Episcopal Conference, taking into account the local circumstances, to determine norms about the leasing of ecclesiastical goods, especially about permission to be obtained from the competent ecclesiastical authority.
Can. 1298 Unless they are of little value, ecclesiastical goods are not to be sold or leased to the administrators themselves or to their relatives up to the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity, without the special written permission of the competent authority.

TITULUS III: DE CONTRACTIBUS AC PRAESERTIM DE ALIENATIONE

Can. 1290 - Quae ius civile in territorio statuit de contractibus tam in genere, quam in specie et de solutionibus, eadem iure canonico quoad res potestati regiminis Ecclesiae subiectas iisdem cum effectibus serventur, nisi iuri divino contraria sint aut aliud iure canonico caveatur, et firmo iure canonico caveatur, et firmo praescripto Can. 1547.
Can. 1291 - Ad valide alienanda bona, quae personae iuridicae publicae ex legitima assignatione patrimonium stabile constituunt et quorum valor summam iure definitam excedit, requiritur licentia auctoritatis ad normam iuris competentis.
Can. 1292 - § 1. Salvo praescripto Can. 638, § 3, cum valor bonorum, quorum alienatio proponitur, continetur intra summam minimam et summam maximam ab Episcoporum conferentia pro sua cuiusque regione definiendas, auctoritas competens, si agatur de personis iuridicis Episcopo dioecesano non subiectis, propriis determinatur statutis secus, auctoritas competens est Episcopus dioecesanus cum consensu consilii a rebus oeconomicis et collegii consultorum necnon eorum quorum interest. Eorundem quoque consensu eget ipse Episcopus dioecesanus ad bona dioecesis alienanda.
§ 2. Si tamen agatur de rebus quarum valor summam maximam excedit, vel de rebus ex voto Ecclesiae donatis, vel de rebus pretiosis artis vel historiae causa, ad validitatem alienationis requiritur insuper licentia Sanctae Sedis.
§ 3. Si res alienanda sit divisibilis, in petenda licentia pro alienatione exprimi debent partes antea alienatae; secus licentia irrita est.
§4. Ii, qui in alienandis bonis consilio vel consensu partem habere debent, ne praebeant consilium vel consensum nisi prius exacte fuerint edocti tam de statu oeconomico personae iuridicae cuius bona alienanda proponuntur, quam de alienationibus iam peractis.
Can. 1293 - § 1. Ad alienanda bona, quorum valor summam minimam definitam excedit, requiritur insuper:
1° iusta causa, veluti urgens necessitas, evidens utilitas, pietas, caritas vel gravis alia ratio pastoralis;
2° aestimatio rei alienandae a peritis scripto facta.
§ 2. Aliae quoque cautelae a legitima auctoritate praescriptae serventur, ut Ecclesiae damnum vitetur.
Can. 1294 - § 1. Res alienari minore pretio ordinarie non debet, quam quod in aestimatione indicatur.
§ 2. Pecunia ex alienatione percepta vel in commodum Ecclesiae caute collocetur vel, iuxta alienationis fines, prudenter erogetur.
Can. 1295 - Requisita ad normam Cann. 1291-1294, quibus etiam statuta personarum iuridicarum conformanda sunt, servari debent non solum in alienatione, sed etiam in quolibet negotio, quo condicio patrimonialis personae iuridicae peior fieri possit.
Can. 1296 - Si quando bona ecclesiastica sine debitis quidem sollemnitatibus canonicis alienata fuerint, sed alienatio sit civiliter valida, auctoritatis competentis est decernere, omnibus mature perpensis, an et qualis actio, personalis scilicet vel realis, a quonam et contra quemnam instituenda sit ad Ecclesiae iura vindicanda.
Can. 1297 - Conferentiae Episcoporum est, attentis locorum adiunctis, normas statuere de bonis Ecclesiae locandis, praesertim de licentia a competenti auctoritate ecclesiastica obtinenda.
Can. 1298 - Nisi res sit minimi momenti, bona ecclesiastica propriis administratoribus eorumve propinquis usque ad quartum consanguinitatis vel affinitatis gradum non sunt vendenda aut locanda sine speciali competentis auctoritatis licentia scripto data.

TITLE IV: PIOUS DISPOSITIONS IN GENERAL AND PIOUS FOUNDATIONS

Can. 1299 §1 Those who by the natural law and by canon law can freely dispose of their goods may leave them to pious causes either by an act inter vivos or by an act mortis causa.
§2 In arrangements mortis causa in favour of the Church, the formalities of the civil law are as far as possible to be observed. If these formalities have been omitted, the heirs must be advised of their obligation to fulfil the intention of the testator.
Can. 1300 The intentions of the faithful who give or leave goods to pious causes, whether by an act inter vivos or by an act mortis causa, once lawfully accepted, are to be most carefully observed, even in the manner of the administration and the expending of the goods, without prejudice to the provisions of Can. 1301 §3.
Can. 1301 §1 The Ordinary is the executor of all pious dispositions whether made mortis causa or inter vivos.
§2 By this right the Ordinary can and must ensure, even by making a visitation, that pious dispositions are fulfilled. Other executors are to render him an account when they have finished their task.
§3 Any clause contrary to this right of the Ordinary which is added to a last will, is to be regarded as non existent.
Can. 1302 §1 Anyone who receives goods in trust for pious causes, whether by an act inter vivos or by last will, must inform the Ordinary about the trust, as well as about the goods in question, both movable and immovable, and about any obligations attached to them. If the donor has expressly and totally forbidden this, the trust is not to be accepted.
§2 The Ordinary must demand that goods left in trust be safely preserved and, in accordance with Can. 1301, he must ensure that the pious disposition is executed.
§3 When goods given in trust to a member of a religious institute or society of apostolic life, are destined for a particular place or diocese or their inhabitants, or for pious causes, the Ordinary mentioned in §§1 and 2 is the local Ordinary. Otherwise, when the person is a member of a pontifical clerical institute or of a pontifical clerical society of apostolic life, it is the major Superior; when of other religious institutes, it is the member’s proper Ordinary.
Can. 1303 §1 In law the term pious foundation comprises:
1° autonomous pious foundations, that is, aggregates of things destined for the purposes described in Can. 114 §2, and established as juridical persons by the competent ecclesiastical authority.
2° non autonomous pious foundations, that is, temporal goods given in any way to a public juridical person and carrying with them a long term obligation, such period to be determined by particular law. The obligation is for the juridical person, from the annual income, to celebrate Masses, or to perform other determined ecclesiastical functions, or in some other way to fulfil the purposes mentioned in Can. 114 §2.
§2 If the goods of a non autonomous pious foundation are entrusted to a juridical person subject to the diocesan Bishop, they are, on the expiry of the time, to be sent to the fund mentioned in Can. 1274 §1, unless some other intention was expressly manifested by the donor. Otherwise, the goods fall to the juridical person itself.
Can. 1304 §1 For the valid acceptance of a pious foundation by a juridical person, the written permission of the Ordinary is required. He is not to give this permission until he has lawfully established that the juridical person can satisfy not only the new obligations to be undertaken, but also any already undertaken. The Ordinary is to take special care that the revenue fully corresponds to the obligations laid down, taking into account the customs of the region or place.
§2 Other conditions for the establishment or acceptance of a pious foundation are to be determined by particular law.
Can. 1305 Money and movable goods which are assigned as a dowry are immediately to be put in a safe place approved by the Ordinary, so that the money or the value of the movable goods is safeguarded; as soon as possible, they are to be carefully and profitably invested for the good of the foundation, with an express and individual mention of the obligation undertaken, in accordance with the prudent judgement of the Ordinary when he has consulted those concerned and his own finance committee.
Can. 1306 §1 All foundations, even if made orally, are to be recorded in writing.
§2 One copy of the document is to be carefully preserved in the curial archive and another copy in the archive of the juridical person to which the foundation pertains.
Can. 1307 §1 When the provisions of Cann. 1300–1302 and 1287 have been observed, a document showing the obligations arising from the pious foundations is to be drawn up. This is to be displayed in a conspicuous place, so that the obligations to be fulfilled are not forgotten.
§2 Apart from the book mentioned in Can. 958 §1, another book is to be kept by the parish priest or rector, in which each of the obligations, their fulfilment and the offering given, is to be recorded.
Can. 1308 §1 The reduction of Mass obligations, for a just and necessary reason, is reserved to the Apostolic See, without prejudice to the provisions which follow.
§2 If this is expressly provided for in the document of foundation, the Ordinary may reduce Mass obligations on the ground of reduced income.
§3 In the cases of Masses given in legacies or in foundations of any kind, which are solely for the purpose of Masses, the diocesan Bishop has the power, because of the diminution of income and for as long as this persists, to reduce the obligations to the level of the offering lawfully current in the diocese. He may do this, however, only if there is no one who has an obligation to increase the offering and can actually be made to do so.
§4 The diocesan Bishop has the power to reduce the obligations or legacies of Masses which bind an ecclesiastical institute, if the revenue has become insufficient to achieve in a fitting manner the proper purpose of the institute.
§5 The supreme Moderator of a clerical religious institute of pontifical right has the powers given in §§3 and 4.
Can. 1309 Where a fitting reason exists, the authorities mentioned in Can. 1308 have the power to transfer Mass obligations to days, churches or altars other than those determined in the foundation.
Can. 1310 §1 The intentions of the faithful in pious cases may be reduced, directed or changed by the Ordinary, if the donor has expressly conceded this power to him, but only for a just and necessary reason.
§2 If it has become impossible to carry out the obligations because of reduced income, or for any other reason arising without fault on the part of the administrators, the Ordinary can diminish these obligations in an equitable manner, with the exception of the reduction of Masses, which is governed by the provisions of Can. 1308. He may do so only after consulting those concerned and his own finance committee, keeping in the best way possible to the intention of the donor.
§3 In all other cases, the Apostolic See is to be approached.

TITULUS IV: DE PIIS VOLUNTATIBUS IN GENERE ET DE PIIS FUNDATIONIBUS

Can. 1299 - § 1. Qui ex iure naturae et canonico libere valet de suis bonis statuere, potest ad causas pias, sive per actum inter vivos sive per actum mortis causa, bona relinquere.
§ 2. In dispositionibus mortis causa in bonum Ecclesiae serventur, si fieri possit, sollemnitates iuris civilis; quae si omissae fuerint, heredes moneri debent de obligatione, qua tenentur, adimplendi testatoris voluntatem.
Can. 1300 - Voluntates fidelium facultates suas in pias causas donantium vel relinquentium, sive per actum inter vivos sive per actum mortis causa, legitime acceptatae, diligentissime impleantur etiam circa modum administrationis et erogationis bonorum, firmo praescripto Can. 1301, § 3.
Can. 1301 - § 1. Ordinarius omnium piarum voluntatum tam mortis causa quam inter vivos exsecutor est.
§ 2. Hoc ex iure Ordinarius vigilare potest ac debet, etiam per visitationem, ut piae voluntates impleantur, eique ceteri exsecutores, perfuncti munere, reddere rationem tenentur.
§ 3. Clausulae huic Ordinarii iuri contrariae, ultimis voluntatibus adiectae, tamquam non appositae habeantur.
Can. 1302 - § 1. Qui bona ad pias causas sive per actum inter vivos sive ex testamento fiduciarie accepit, debet de sua fiducia Ordinarium certiorem reddere, eique omnia istiusmodi bona mobilia vel immobilia cum oneribus adiunctis indicare; quod si donator id expresse et omnino prohibuerit, fiduciam ne acceptet.
§ 2. Ordinarius debet exigere ut bona fiduciaria in tuto collocentur, itemque vigilare pro exsecutione piae voluntatis ad normam Can. 1301.
§ 3. Bonis fiduciariis alicui sodali instituti religiosi aut societatis vitae apostolicae commissis, si quidem bona sint attributa loco seu dioecesi eorumve incolis aut piis causis iuvandis, Ordinarius, de quo in §§ 1 et 2, est loci Ordinarius; secus est Superior maior in instituto clericali iuris pontificii et in clericalibus societatibus vitae apostolicae iuris pontificii, aut Ordinarius eiusdem sodalis proprius in aliis institutis religiosis.
Can. 1303 - § 1. Nomine piarum fundationum in iure veniunt:
1° piae fundationes autonomae, scilicet universitates rerum ad fines de quibus in Can. 114, §2 destinatae et a competenti auctoritate ecclesiastica in personam iuridicam erectae;
2° piae fundationes non autonomae, scilicet bona temporalia alicui personae iuridicae publicae quoquo modo data cum onere in diuturnum tempus, iure particulari determinandum, ex reditibus annuis Missas celebrandi aliasque praefinitas functiones ecclesiasticas peragendi, aut fines de quibus in Can. 114, § 2 aliter persequendi.
§ 2. Bona piae fundationis non autonomae, si concredita fuerint personae iuridicae Episcopo dioecesano subiectae, expleto tempore, ad institutum de quo in Can. 1274, § 1, destinari debent, nisi alia fuerit fundatoris voluntas expresse manifestata; secus ipsi personae iuridicae cedunt.
Can. 1304 - § 1. Ut fundatio a persona iuridica valide acceptari possit, requiritur licentia Ordinarii in scriptis data; qui eam ne praebeat, antequam legitime compererit personam iuridicam tum novo oneri suscipiendo, tum iam susceptis satisfacere posse; maximeque caveat ut reditus omnino respondeant oneribus adiunctis, secundum cuiusque loci vel regionis morem.
§ 2. Ulteriores condiciones ad constitutionem et acceptationem fundationum quod attinet, iure particulari definiantur.
Can. 1305 - Pecunia et bona mobilia, dotationis nomine assignata, statim in loco tuto ab Ordinario approbando deponantur eum in finem, ut eadem pecunia vel bonorum mobilium pretium custodiantur et quam primum caute et utiliter secundum prudens eiusdem Ordinarii iudicium, auditis et iis quorum interest et proprio a rebus oeconomicis consilio, collocentur in commodum eiusdem fundationis cum expressa et individua mentione oneris.
Can. 1306 - § 1. Fundationes, etiam viva voce factae, scripto consignentur.
§ 2. Alterum tabularum exemplar in curiae archivo, alterum in archivo personae iuridicae ad quam fundatio spectat, tuto asserventur.
Can. 1307 - § 1. Servatis praescriptis Cann. 1300-1302, et 1287, onerum ex piis fundationibus incumbentium tabella conficiatur, quae in loco patenti exponatur, ne obligationes adimplendae in oblivionem cadant.
§ 2. Praeter librum de quo in Can. 958, § 1, alter liber retineatur et apud parochum vel rectorem servetur, in quo singula onera eorumque adimpletio et eleemosynae adnotentur.
Can. 1308 - § 1. Reductio onerum Missarum, ex iusta tantum et necessaria causa facienda, reservatur Sedi Apostolicae, salvis praescriptis quae sequuntur.
§ 2. Sibi in tabulis fundationum id expresse caveatur, Ordinarius ob imminutos reditus onera Missarum reducere valet.
§ 3. Episcopo dioecesano competit potestas reducendi ob deminutionem redituum, quamdiu causa perduret, ad rationem eleemosynae in dioecesi legitime vigentis, Missas legatorum vel quoquo modo fundatas, quae sint per se stantia, dummodo nemo sit qui obligatione teneatur et utiliter cogi possit ad eleemosynae augmentum faciendum.
§4. Eidem competit potestas reducendi onera seu legata Missarum gravantia institutum ecclesiasticum, si reditus insufficientes evaserint ad finem proprium eiusdem instituti congruenter consequendum.
§ 5 Iisdem potestatibus, de quibus in §§ 3 et 4, gaudet supremus Moderator instituti religiosi clericalis iuris pontificii.
Can. 1309 - Iisdem auctoritatibus, de quibus in Can. 1308, potestas insuper competit transferendi, congrua de causa, onera Missarum in dies, ecclesias vel altaria diversa ab illis, quae in fundationibus sunt statuta.
Can. 1310 - § 1. Fidelium voluntatum pro piis causis reductio, moderatio, commutatio, si fundator potestatem hanc Ordinario expresse concesserit, potest ab eodem fieri ex iusta tantum et necessaria causa.
§ 2. Si exsecutio onerum impositorum, ob imminutos reditus aliamve causam, nulla administratorum culpa, impossibilis evaserit, Ordinarius, auditis iis quorum interest et proprio consilio a rebus oeconomicis atque servata, meliore quo fieri potest modo, fundatoris voluntate, poterit eadem onera aeque imminuere, excepta Missarum reductione, quae praescriptis Can. 1308 regitur.
§ 3. In ceteris casibus recurrendum est ad Sedem Apostolicam.