Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 17.djvu/588

 PATAOOmA 572 PATAOOKIA

a forced removal no examination is held. Where the he jud^ suitable, provided no spiritual detriment to

system of concursus is in vogue it is to be continued the faithful results. If the ordinary finds unsatis-

till the Holy See provides otherwise. A parish priest factory the reasons given by the priest for declining to

should have only one parish, except where parishes resign he must tell him so. The priest has then ten

have beep united ague principaHUr; no parish may days within which to request a stay in order to bring

have more than one parish priest having cure of souls, forward new reasons and the testimony of two or

all customs to the contrary being reprobated and all three iwitnesses which he had been unable to obtain

privileges to the contrary withdrawn. A parish priest on the previous occasion. The ordinary, taking

obtains his cure of souls from the moment he takes advice with two parish priests as consultors, must

canonical possession of his parish, before or at which examine these fresh reasons, if they have been pre-

time he must make the profession of faith prescribed sented within ten days from the time of the request

by the sacred canons. for a stay. The final decision rests exclusively with

The following duties are reserved to parish priests, the ordinary, not as formerly with the ordinary and

unless the law in certain instances has provided other- the consultors. The ordinary should endeavor to

wise: to administer solemn baptism; to carry Holy provide the priest as soon as possible with other

Communion publicly to the sick in his parish; to bring parish, office, or benefice, if he is fitted for such, or

the Viaticum publicly or privately to the sick and to with a pension if circumstance allow. The priest

administer extreme imction (except to bishops, to should leave the parochial house as soon as he can,

those resident in houses of clerical reli^ous or of nuns but if he is infirm and cannot conveniently move, he

with solemn vows, or of lay reli^ous if exempted by is to be allowed to remain there during his illness,

the bishop); to announce ordmations or proclaim A removable parish priest may be removed for the

banns of marriape; to assist at marriages, and give same reasons as one who is irremovable; the pro-

the nuptial blessmg; to hold funeral services; to bless cedure is similar, except that he is not allowed a

hoxises according to the ritual on Easter Saturday or second hearing. At times it may seem advisable to

other days if customary; to bless the baptismal font an ordinary to transfer to another parish a parish

on Easter Saturday, to lead public processions outside priest who is perfectly sati^actory and exemplary,

of the Church J and to sdve olessings with pomp and Special faculties would be necessary to remove an

solemnity outside of the Church, except where a chapter irremovable parish priest against his wiU, but this is

performs these functions in connection with its church, not so if the pastor is removable and the new parish

A parish priest is entitled to the statutory or sane- is not notably inferior. The removable priest maV,

tioned customary fees for voluntary acts of jurisdic- however, set forth his objections in writing for the

tion or on the occasion of administering certam sacra- ordinary; if the latter is unmoved by the objections

ments; if he exacts more he is bound to restitution; he must, to proceed validly, call in two parochial

if any one performs such duties for him the parish consultors ana discuss with them the priest's objec-

priest is entitled to the fees, even to any surplus over tions, the conditions of the two parishes, and the

the ordinary amount, unless it is certain that the reasons why he deems the change useful or necessary,

donor intended the surplus for the actual minister; If, after hearing the consultors, the ordinary still

however, if a party is too poor to pay the parish priest favors the change he is to advise the priest to 3rieid;

is obliged to give his services. He has care ex officio should the latter still refuse, the ordinary may notify

of all tnose in his parish who are not exempt (a semi- him in writing that after the lapse of a certain time

nary is exempt), but the bishop for just and grave his present parish is to be vacated, and may declare

cause may withdraw from the jurisdiction reli^ous it vacant when that period has elapsed, hpua^ and pious places not exempt by law. In virtue Among the duties which a parish priest must be

of this the- bishop may give parochial rights to the most careful to fulfil are saying Mass and administer-

chaplains of such places. ., . ^, , . , ing the sacraments, visiting and comforting the sick

A parish pnest IS bound to reside in the parochial and dying, preparing chUdren and others for first house near his own church; however, the local ordi- confession. Holy <5)mmunion and confirmation, nary may, when there is a just cause, aUow hun to preaching on Sundays and feasts of precept, explaining reside elsewhere, provided the house is not so far the catecnism to adults in Sunday sermons, and keep- f rom the church as to interfere with the proper j^g ^he church clean and free from unbecoming pro- discharge of his parochial duties. He is entitled U> ceedings, such as sales for pious purposes. If he is two months' leave of absence each year as a maxi- gravely careless in these matters the bishop should mum, whether continuous or mterrupted, but the call his attention to his fault; if he does not amend time of his annual retreat is not mcluded m this; the bishop is to admonish him and punish him, if the ordinary may, however, for grave reasons prolong ^fter consulting two examiners and giving the pnest or curtail the period of vacation. When the parish ^n opportunity of defending hunself he judges that priest is absent more than a week he must have the the parochial duties havebeen seriously neglected ordinary's written permission, and must provide a without a just cause; if the admonition and punish- substitute approved by him (approval and leave of ment produce no amendment the bishop can at once his supenor would also he needed if the parish pnest deprive a removable parish priest of his office; an were a rehwous). K for grave cause the pansh irremovable parish priest is to be punished by de- nriest has been called away suddenly and cannot,. t .*^, , r xu r * r u:- ?S within a week he miit notify tie oidinary as P^^^>?« ^^°? .^ P^'^.^lf ^^°^! °!k^^^ ^"^'^^ ^5 Boon as possible, exphiininK the cauk and suggesting benefice, which are to be given to the poor Should a substitute ani must hold himself ready to obey the irremovable pnest contmue recalcitrant the orders. ordinary, after establishing the fact as above, is to

Removal of Pastors. — If the bishop thinks that deprive him of his parish likewise, there is a canonical reason for changing an irremov- able parish priest, he must first consult any two of Patagonia, Northern, Vicariate Apostouc of

the synodal examiners. He then invites the pastor (Pataooni^ sbptentrionalis; cf. C. E., XI— ^540c),

either verbally or by writing to resign (the demand in South America. The vicariate is confided to the

is unnecessary if the priest's mind is affected). The Salesians but at present the see is vacant. Tlie

invitation, however, is invalid unless it mentions the population is 123,100, of whom 115,000 are Catholics,

cause ana the arguments inducing the ordinary to There are: 60 priests, 30 churches, 9 chapels, 2

make the request. The latter may allow the priest seminaries, 26 schools, 10 colleges, 97 Salesians, and

whatever extension of the time fixed for replying 112 Daughters of Marie-Auxiliatnce.