Constitution of The Confraternity of Catholic Clergy
Just as the present "crisis of renewal" in the Catholic Church is fundamentally a crisis of faith, so the authentic renewal of all the members of the Church is ultimately dependent on the renewal of her clergy (bishops, priests and deacons), for to them alone the Church has confined in a pre-eminent way the Mystery of Faith. To help effect and maintain this renewal on the part of the ordained, individually and collectively, and in accordance with the directives of the Second Vatican Council in this matter which highly encouraged the establishment of “Associations of Priests” (Presbyterorum Ordinis, 8), we offer to God through His Church, for His judgment and blessing, this Constitution.
The 1983 Code of Canon Law states in Can. 278 §1 “The secular clergy have the right of association with others for the achievement of purposes befitting the clerical state.” Can. 298-299 furthermore guarantee the right of all the Christian Faithful, clergy and laity, to form private associations for the mutual spiritual benefit of the members and for the universal and local church as well. This is reiterated in Pastores Dabo Vobis, #81, of Pope John Paul II and in the Directory on the Ministry and Life of Priests, #29.
1. This corporation will be called The Confraternity of Catholic Clergy.
2. Any cleric (bishop, priest or deacon) of any recognized liturgical rite or church in union with the Holy See may be an active member of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy which also entitles them to hold office as long as they are in good canonical standing with their respective Diocese or Religious Community.
3. Seminarians and male religious not yet in Holy Orders may be enrolled as associate members until which time they are ordained and automatically become active members. Associates may not hold office but may participate in all Confraternity events.
4. Laity and women religious may assist the Confraternity as cooperators insofar as they commit themselves to praying for the members of the Confraternity and provide spiritual, moral, physical and/or financial support. Such persons will be remembered in prayer and at Mass during the Annual Convocation. Much more than benefactors, these men and women actively participate in promoting ongoing formation of the clergy for the good of Holy Mother Church..
5. Application by those eligible for either active or associate membership will consist of a written subscription affirming complete adherence to the Principles for Admission as stated in the initial brochure of this Confraternity (dated February 22, 1975).
6. Membership can be terminated either by the individual member (by his own positive statement in writing to that effect, submitted to the President) or by the directorate of this Confraternity (cf infra, Art. V, #2) if any member incurs the canonical penalty of excommunication or publicly declares or demonstrates that they no longer are in full communion with the Holy See and/or openly reject defined doctrines of the Magisterium. Obedience to the Roman Pontiff and fidelity to the teaching authority of the Church are hallmarks of this organization.
1. By virtue of his priestly office the Catholic cleric is totally given to God and His Church. By identifying his office with his total life he is called to fulfill in a total way the law of charity: love of God by a pietas, and love of neighbor by a zelus, that are thus in their integrity and inter-relationship the priestly virtues par excellence.
2. To grow and persevere in this charity, and specifically in this priestly piety and zeal, the cleric must be devoted first and always to the Most Holy Eucharist. This Mystery of Faith and Charity, pre-eminently in its Action at the Mass and permanently in its reservation on the altar, must thus be the very center and summation of his life.
3. Mediating to him this Eucharist Mystery is the person of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ and Mother of the Church. Devotion to Our Lady is thus an essential characteristic of the sacerdotal life.
4. The further and final mediation of the sacerdotal life, viz, the Church herself, must be personalized for the cleric by his devotion to his Ordinary (his bishop or his religious superior) and, above all, to the Roman Pontiff. His personal devotion to the Vicar of Christ will thus culminate his "thinking with the Church," and thus enable him to be what his office demands of him: to be a man of God and a man of the Church.
5. This strictly supernatural office (being man of God and the Church) and this strictly supernatural charity (piety and zeal) of the priest must be nourished and protected by all appropriate natural means. Among these means this Confraternity recognizes as pre-eminent: learning, especially in the sacred sciences; and friendship, especially among brother priests and deacons.
6. In view of these principles, this Confraternity will have for its primary patron Our Blessed Lady, under the title of Mater et Regina Cleri. The secondary patron will be St. John Mary Vianney, the officially designated patron of all parish priests.
1. Each member will endeavor to fulfill all the obligations of his particular office with a piety and zeal commensurate with the needs and expectations of the Church and with his own aspirations of grace and natural talents.
2. He will consider the rule of life to which he is already engaged (viz., all the prescriptions of the Canon Law applicable to priests in general; and in particular, the Rule of one's community if he is a religious, and the injunctions of his bishop if otherwise) as his rule qua member of this Confraternity.
3. For all further prayer, mortification, apostolic labor, or study to which he feels called, he will seek counsel of a good and prudent priest, whom he should also consider, if at all possible, as his regular confessor. This confessor-director might helpfully be also an active or associate member of this Confraternity.
4. He will frequently remember in his Mass and Divine Office the intentions of his brother priests and deacons; and he will, if at all possible, offer one Mass (first intention) each year for the needs of this Confraternity.
1. Since the basic program of this Confraternity can be summarized as an integral combination of "prayer, reflection, and companionship," its most characteristic collective activity should contain all three in some explicit manner.
2. As a specific "model" of this, the following is strongly recommended: a regularly scheduled meeting, once a month in frequency and something over two hours in duration. The first hour should consist of a presentation by one of the members and a discussion by all of a previously assigned topic (in theology, philosophy, history, etc.) pertinent to the ordained ministry. The second hour should consist of a Holy Hour of private and public prayer before the Blessed Sacrament exposed. The third hour (or part thereof) should be devoted to informal conversation and mild refreshment or common meal, concluding with a brief session on whatever business is currently pertinent to the Confraternity and to this particular group.
3. The importance of this "model" cannot be exaggerated, for upon its faithful fulfillment depends practically the entire corporate existence of this Confraternity. Indeed, if any individual member is impeded from attending such a meeting, it is recommended that he devote equivalent time to some particular study and prayer.
4. Besides this most characteristic activity, there is, of course, ample scope for other activities, as necessity or opportunity will dictate, e.g., sponsoring retreats and days of recollection, conducting symposia, circulating literature, etc. Of all such activities, however, what is to be most encouraged is simple correspondence, by letter or otherwise, among the priests and deacons of this Confraternity.
5. Participation by members, individually or in groups, in activities other than those formally sponsored by this Confraternity as such is, of course, recognized. However, any such participation that would in any way militate against the activities herein described and recommended would surely indicate that those members should re-examine their association with this Confraternity.
1. To secure the purpose of this Confraternity by the application of its principles and the implementation of its activities, a minimal organizational structure is both necessary and sufficient. This structure will consist of a central office and local chapters, in addition to the association by individual members of the clergy for which provision is made in Article I hereinabove.
2. The Central Office will consist of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee.
3. Board of Directors
a. The Board of Directors shall consist of no more than thirteen (13) and no less than nine (9) members which shall include the members of the Executive Committee as well.
b. Members of the Board of Directors must attend the annual convocation unless prevented by legitimate reasons (e.g., pastoral obligation or medical circumstance.) The President is to be notified (via letter, fax, e-mail, telephone or in person) no later than one day before the Convocation. Two (2) consecutive un-excused absences shall be cause for immediate separation and removal from the Board.
c. Members of the Board of Directors shall be elected to a five (5) year term, which may be renewable.
d. Candidates for the Board of Directors are nominated by the sitting Board of Directors and submitted for approval (election) by the General Assembly at the Annual Convocation.
e. Only active members in good standing with their respective Diocese or Religious Community (i.e., not under any canonical suspension or censure) and with the Confraternity itself (i.e., current in their dues) may participate in the election of Board Members.
4. Executive Committee --- The Executive Committee shall consist of the following officers:
a. President
b. Vice President
c. Secretary
d. Treasurer
e. Editor
5. Duties of the Officers
a. The President is the Chief Executive Officer of the Confraternity
i. He presides at all meetings of the Officers (Executive Committee), of the Board of Directors and at the General Assembly of the Annual Convocation.
ii. He shall prepare and distribute an agenda for every formal meeting.
iii. He shall appoint all Committees and their respective chairmen, both standing and ad hoc, after consultation with the Board of Directors.
iv. He shall represent the Confraternity in the public forum and in urgent necessity is empowered to issue statements or letters on behalf of the membership after consultation with some members of the Board of Directors.
v. He shall address the membership in writing at least once a year via the official Newsletter, SAPIENTIA.
vi. He shall submit for discussion several resolutions before the Executive Committee and Board of Directors after which said final resolutions will be presented in their entirety for approval by the General Assembly at the Annual Convocation.
b. The Vice President
i. He shall carry out the duties and responsibilities of the President in his absence.
ii. He shall initiate the procedures by which all vacancies on Standing Committees are filled
c. The Secretary
i. He shall represent the Confraternity in the absences of both the President and Vice President
ii. He shall take minutes of all meetings of the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors and submit them for approval at the next subsequent meeting.
iii. He shall record the names and addresses of all members in good standing of the Confraternity and ensure that the mailing list is current as far as possible.
d. The Treasurer
i. He shall prepare an annual budget for the Confraternity and submit it for approval by the Board of Directors.
ii. He shall prepare an annual fiscal report and publish it in the SAPIENTIA magazine or by mail to each member of the Confraternity.
iii. He shall collect the annual dues of each member and record their payment.
iv. He shall collect all fees from participants of the Annual Convocation and record their payment.
v. He shall pay all expenses and debts accrued by the Confraternity which have been previously authorized by the President and/or the Board of Directors. This shall be done with the general funds collected and donated to the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy.
e. The Editor of SAPIENTIA
i. He shall prepare the official Newsletter of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy, known as SAPIENTIA, which is the authentic voice of the Confraternity by which the members are apprised of official business and by which the Confraternity represents herself to the rest of the world.
ii. He shall publish this magazine no less than four (4) times a year and mail it to all the members in good standing.
iii. This quarterly journal is to promote and encourage ongoing theological and intellectual formation of the clergy as well as facilitating fraternity among the members.
f. Terms of Office
i. The President shall serve a term of office of three (3) years and must be a member of the Board of Directors to be eligible. He shall be nominated by the Executive Committee and voted for approval by the Board of Directors.
ii. The Vice President shall serve a term of office of two (2) years. He shall be nominated by the Executive Committee and voted for approval by the Board of Directors.
iii. The Secretary shall serve a term of office of two (2) years. He shall be nominated by the Executive Committee and voted for approval by the Board of Directors.
iv. The Treasurer shall serve a term of office of two (2) years. He shall be nominated by the Executive Committee and voted for approval by the Board of Directors.
v. Upon the approval and consent of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee may propose one person to hold simultaneously the offices of Secretary and Treasurer for the common good of the Confraternity.
vi. The Editor shall serve a term of office of five (5) years. He shall be nominated by the Executive Committee and voted for approval by the Board of Directors.
vii. All officers are de facto members of the Executive Committee and ex officio members of the Board of Directors.
viii. Terms of office for the Executive Committee may be renewable.
ix. An officer is automatically removed and dismissed from office if he has been laicized and thus no longer a member of the clergy; if as a cleric he has been suspended of his faculties by his lawful superiors; or if he has incurred a canonical penalty of excommunication or interdict.
x. An officer resigns or may be removed from office yet retains full status of a member of the Board of Directors if he is unable to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of office due to any serious medical condition or if his pastoral obligations prevent him from regularly and actively participating in meetings and the annual convocation.
g. Meetings
i. The Executive Committee shall meet in person or via phone conference at least twice yearly and at other times as may be deemed necessary or appropriate by the President.
ii. The Board of Directors shall meet at least once a year at the Annual Convocation.
iii. A simple majority shall constitute a quorum for both the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors in all regular and special meetings.
iv. Election of new Board Members shall take place at the Annual Convocation by all active members in good standing. Candidates are nominated as previously stated in art. V, par. 3.4
6. Standing Committees
a. There shall be at least two permanent standing committees:
i. Membership Committee — appointed by the President and Executive Committee to recruit new members and keep track of those members who are in need of prayers due to ill health or other reasons
ii. Convocation Committee — comprised of the Executive Committee and three other Board Members to select speakers, topics, dates and venue for the annual convocation.
7. General Membership ( see above, Article I : # 2, 3, 4 )
1. This Confraternity is obviously and explicitly at the complete disposition of the Holy See.
2. Since this Confraternity has no function whatever respecting the cura animarum and no canonical sanction respecting its individual members, it considers itself to be totally voluntary and "private," and thus in no way incompatible with any priest's antecedent obligations as a priest (or religious).
3. Since, however, this Confraternity is clearly conducive to the fulfillment of these same antecedent priestly obligations, it will welcome the recognition and eventual patronage of the hierarchy.
4. Although this Confraternity is strictly independent of any other clerical association, it recognizes the advantages that may accrue from cooperation with some of them, particularly those of similar purpose and program that have been established in other countries. This mutual recognition and assistance will remain, as presently foreseen, strictly informal.
5. What has been said of other clerical associations is equally applicable to lay associations.
1. This present Constitution is to be considered as the By-laws for the Corporation legally established under this title and under the date of March 3, 1976, in the State of New York.
2. Amendment of this Constitution in whole or in part will be the exclusive responsibility of the directorate.
MCMLXXVI
Prayer To The Most Blessed Virgin Mary
O Mary, Mother of Jesus Christ and Mother of priests, accept this title which we bestow on you to celebrate your motherhood and to contemplate with you the Priesthood of your Son and of your sons, O Holy Mother of God.
Mother of Christ, to the Messiah-Priest you gave a body of flesh through the anointing of the Holy Spirit for the salvation of the poor and the contrite of heart, guard priests in your heart and in the Church, O Mother of the Savior.
O Mother of Faith, you accompanied the Son of Man at the temple, in fulfillment of the promises made to the Fathers, give to the Father for his glory, the priests of his Son, O Ark of the Covenant.
O Mother of the Church, among the disciples in the Cenacle you prayed to the Spirit for the new People and their Shepherds, obtain for the Order of Presbyters the full measure of gifts, O Queen of the Apostles.
O Mother of Jesus Christ, you were with him from the beginning of his life and in his mission, you sought the Master among the crowd, you stood beside him when He was lifted up from the earth, consumed as the one eternal sacrifice, and you had John, your son, close by, accept from the beginning those who have been called protect their growth, in their life ministry accompany your sons, O Mother of Priests.
Amen!
(Pope John Paul II, Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Pastores Dabo Vobis, 82: l.c., 803-804)
Amended MMII, MMV