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Bishops, even as delegates of the Apostolic See, shall, in all parish churches, or those wherein baptism is administered, in which the people is so numerous, that one rector is not sufficient for the administration of the sacraments of the Church, and for the performance of divine worship, compel the rectors, or others to whom it may appertain, to associate with themselves unto this office, as many priests as shall suffice to administer the sacraments, and to celebrate the divine worship. But in respect to those [churches] to which, on account of the distance, or the difficulties of the localities, [the people] cannot, without great inconvenience, repair to receive the sacraments, and to hear the divine offices; they may, even against the will of the rectors, constitute new parishes, according to the form of constitution of Alexander III., which begins, Ad audientiam. And to those priests who shall have to be appointed anew over the churches newly erected, a competent portion, according to the bishop's judgment, shall be assigned out of the fruits in any wise belonging to the mother church: and if it be necessary, he may compel the people to contribute those things which may suffice for the sustaining the life of the said priests; every general or special reservation, or assignment, that may lie upon the said churches, notwithstanding. Neither shall such ordinances and erections be prevented or hindered by means of any provisions, or even by force of any resignation, or by any other derogations, or suspensions soever.

In order, also, that the state of those churches, wherein the sacred offices are administered unto God, may be maintained according to their dignity, the bishops, even as the delegates of the Apostolic See, may, according to form of law, make unions in perpetuity, without prejudice, however, to the incumbents of any parochial churches soever, and of those wherein baptism is administered, and of