THE PRIESTSS COUNCIL AND THE COLLEGE OF CONSULTORS Origins In the early church presbyters existed from the

earliest times, and they are described as acting in common. Liturgically, the bishop presides with his presbyters around him. This reflects an early understanding of collegiality that was not fully enunciated. In the third century the corporate celebration of the liturgy was reflected in the way bishops governed their local churches. However, in the 4th century as the church grew rapidly and the presbyters dispersed into the countryside, collegial action declined. Eventually this led to the creation of cathedral chapters who besides singing the office were significant in helping the bishop govern. We see the power of these chapters when there have been disputes about Episcopal appointments in places like Chur in Switzerland. When the church spread after the Council of Trent, then there were no longer cathedral chapters around and the role was taken up by missionary councils of three presbyters. The diocesan synod is legislated for in canons 356-362 of the 1983 Code. Some people see these synods as the pre-cursors of the priests council. They did begin in the 4th century. The synods were significant throughout the history of the Church and the 4th Lateran Council in 1215 and the Council of Trent in 1563 required the Synods to be convoked once a year. This was one of the laws that were not obeyed by bishops.

The Cathedral Chapter is described in canons 503-510. By the 9th century cathedral chapters were very important. There is a history of chapters governing the diocese when the see was vacant. . Vatican ll The council said a few things about the Council of Priests but did not give any directions about how it was to be composed or structured. In the preparatory phase for the council there were 17 references in documents to some kind of new council of priests to assist the bishop in the governance of the diocese. In Christus dominus 27 it is stated: Among the collaborators of the bishop in the government of the diocese are numbered those presbyters who constitute his senate, or council, such as the cathedral chapter, the board of consultors or other committees according to the circumstances or nature of various localities. These institutions, especially the cathedral chapters, should be reorganized wherever necessary in keeping with present day needs.

In Christus dominus 28 the Council Fathers stated: let the bishop call the priests into
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dialogue, especially about pastoral matters. This he should do not only on a given occasion but at regularly fixed intervals insofar as possible. The Decree Presbyterium Ordinis explicitly speaks of a council in no 7,2 there should be, in a manner suited to todays conditions and necessities, and with a structure and norms to be determined by law, a body or senate of priests representing all the priests. This representative body by its advice will be able to give the bishop effective assistance in the administration of the diocese. The existence of a council close to the bishop for the governance of the diocese is not new in the life of the Church. This council was to have a juridical or legal form so that its members will have to be priest-representatives of the presbyterium. It does not include deacons or pastoral workers. Pope Paul Vl issued the motu proprio Ecclesiae Sanctae on August 6, 1966 to implement and legislate for many institutions and organisms created by Vatican ll. In this document in numbers 5 and 17 the word presbyteral is used in relation to the council to express the fact that it is composed of priests. It was obligatory to have a priests council in each diocese but it was left to each bishop to establish the constitution of the body and how it would function. It is of its nature a consultative body and when it makes decisions they are not binding on the bishop in an obligatory way except when it chooses the parish priests consultors to remove or move a parish priest who is unwilling to move. If the see is vacant the Council of Priests ceases to function. There have been issues in various dioceses such as Rockhampton, and when Bishop Hanrahan died the planned regional meetings/deanery meetings in Christchurch were going ahead but the nuncio intervened. It is up to the new diocesan bishop to reconstitute the Council of Priests. Ecclesiae Sanctae 1, 8 required the bishop to consult the priests council about the establishment of clergy trust funds and ES l, 21,2 required the bishop to consult the council about dividing parishes. Many bishops such as I remember Bishop Kavanagh in Dunedin resisted having a council of priests. The Congregation for Clergy sent a letter to Presidents of Bishops Conferences on 10 April 1970 (CLD 7, 383-390) expressing the fact that the Council of Priests is obligatory, and is a sign of hierarchical communion and is a suitable organisation for the present times. The letter reaffirmed that the Council of Priests is a consultative body except in those matters determined by law, or if there was a special faculty conceded to a diocesan bishop. It is meant to be the chief consultative body of the bishop and of all the organisms in a diocese it is the only one that is described as being the senate of the bishop for the governing of the diocese. The letter said it was most important that the Council of Priests deal with its internal regulations, the frequency of meetings, and its relationship to other diocesan organisations and to all the priests of the diocese.

In the 1983 Code, Canon 495 1 stated: In each diocese a presbyteral council is to be established, that is, a group of priests which, representing the presbyterium, is to be like a senate of the bishop and which assists the bishop in the governance of the diocese according to the norm of law to promote as much as possible the pastoral good of the portion of the people of God entrusted to him. 2. In apostolic vicariates and prefectures, the vicar or prefect is to establish a council of at least three missionary presbyters whose opinion, even by letter, he is to hear in more serious matters.

The council of priests is obligatory in each diocese. It is considered to represent the priests. This phrase had a difficult history during the process of writing the 1983 Code. There was concern about confrontations between the Priests Council and the Bishop. There was for example in Christchurch the letter to the Pope about optional celibacy before the 1971 Synod of Bishops on the Ministerial Priesthood and Justice. We experience various kinds of representation in civil society such as political, legal, organisations and voluntary representation. P.O. 7 described priests as indispensable helpers and advisors for bishops. It is not possible to apply the concept of political representation to representatives of Jesus Christ. The power of priests is sacramental. Ordinations and faculties make priests collaborators of bishops, and they are all meant to work together under the authority of the bishop. The individual priest has the power of governance most clearly expressed in canon 532. The Council of Priests as a body representing the priests as it assists the bishop in governing the diocese. Even if a member is appointed to the council by the bishop, the member is still representing the presbyterium since the members continue being priests regardless of the appointment by the bishop. Constitution of the Council of Priests In line with ES l, 15 Canon 496 of the 1983 Code specified that The presbyteral council is to have its own Statutes approved by the diocesan bishop, attentive to the norms issued by the Conference of bishops. The New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference decreed in 1994: Canon 496 Statutes of Presbyteral Councils In accordance with the prescriptions of canon 496, the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference decrees that the Presbyteral Council in each diocese shall have an Executive Committee chaired by the Diocesan Bishop or his delegate.
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The Presbyteral Council is to meet at least twice each year. The mandate of priests elected to the Presbyteral Council or named by the Diocesan Bishop is not less than two years nor more than five, renewable. The duties of the Presbyteral Council shall be co-ordinated with those of other diocesan bodies." COMMENTARY Canon 495 prescribes that in each diocese there is to be a Presbyteral Council, presided over by the diocesan bishop. He is not a member of the Council, but, according to canon 500, it is his prerogative to convene the Council, to preside over it, and to determine the matters to be discussed in it or to accept items proposed by the members. The present decree provides that each Council shall have its Executive. The number of members has not been determined; this is left to the particular statutes, and will depend to some extent on the number of members in the Council itself. Canon 500, 2 prescribes that the vote of the council is consultative, and not deliberative. However, in those instances foreseen in law, the diocesan bishop must first consult the Council before proceeding. Such instances are mentioned in canons 461; 500, 2; 515, 2; 531; 536; 1215, 2; 1222, 2; 1263; 1742. The validity of the actions mentioned therein depends on the fact of prior consultation (cf. canon 127). According to canon 496, each Presbyteral Council is to have its own statutes, which are to take into account the points listed in the present decree. Such statutes, once prepared, are to be approved by the diocesan bishop (canon 496). Canon 500, 1, provides that the Council is to be renewed over a five-year period. For this reason, the maximum term of the elected or appointed members has been set from two to five years. The particular statutes of each Council will determine the terms in more detail, as well as the number of times membership may be renewed. Those who are ex officio members of the Council retain their seat on it for as long as they hold the office, which, according to the particular statutes gives them membership on the Council (cf. canon 497, 2). The number of meetings prescribed is a minimum; the actual number of meetings will depend, then, on the particular statutes or on local situations. Finally, the decree calls for coordination with other diocesan groups. Such
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would be the Diocesan Pastoral Council (canon 511), the College of Consultors (canon 502), the Diocesan Finance Council (canon 492), and any other diocesan organisms established for the purpose of promoting pastoral care within the particular Church. Membership of the Council of Priests Canon 497 specifies the composition of the council of priests concerning elected and appointed members: Can. 497 In what pertains to the designation of members of the presbyteral council: 1/ the priests themselves are freely to elect about half, according to the norm of the following canons and of the statutes; 2/ according to the norm of the statutes, some priests must be ex officio members, that is, members who are to belong to the council by reason of the office entrusted to them; 3/ the diocesan bishop is freely entitled to appoint others. Can. 498 1. The following have the right of election, both active and passive, in constituting a presbyteral council: 1/ all secular priests incardinated in the diocese; 2/ secular priests not incardinated in the diocese and priests who are members of some religious institute or society of apostolic life, who reside in the diocese and exercise some office for the good of the diocese. 2. To the extent that the statutes provide for it, the same right of election can be conferred on other priests who have a domicile or quasi-domicile in the diocese.

Ordination as a priest is an essential requirement and condition to be a member of the council of priests. Priests must be incardinated or working in the diocese. E.g. I could be a member of the council of priests in Auckland or Christchurch. The 1994 Directory on the Life and Ministry of Priests in number 26 stated: secular priests not incardinated in the Diocese and the priest members of a religious Institute or of a Society of Apostolic Life who live in the diocese and hold, for its welfare, an office, though subject to the lawful Ordinaries, belong with full or with limited rights to the presbyterium of that Diocese where they have voice, both active and passive, to constitute a council of priests. The determining factor in elections is that the priests exercise an office of pastoral care in the diocese.
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The manner of election is determined by the statutes: Can. 499 The manner of electing members of the presbyteral council must be determined in the statutes in such a way that, insofar as possible, the priests of the presbyterium are represented, taking into account especially the different ministries and various regions of the diocese. Canon 499 no longer talks about representation according to age as Ecclesiae Sanctae had done. The 1970 letter from the Congregation of the Clergy distinguished parish priests from assistant priests, chaplains etc. There are various approaches such as dividing the priests between those with the direct care of souls and priests undertaking other activities of the apostolate. If there is too much emphasis on representing ministries and areas then some competent priests could be excluded from the council. In some small dioceses all priests are members. A bishop could only stop an elected priest from being a member for very grave reasons. Members have the right to participate in meetings, the right to present proposals about matters on the agenda, the right to compensation for travel costs. People can cease being members by not accepting election or appointment; leaving office, change of office for those who are there ex officio; expiry of mandate of appointment. Canon 501 specifies that the Council has a five year term: Can. 501 1. Members of the presbyteral council are to be designated for a time determined in the statutes, in such a way, however, that the entire council or some part of it is renewed within five years. 2. When a see is vacant, the presbyteral council ceases and the college of consultors fulfills its functions. Within a year of taking possession, a bishop must establish the presbyteral council anew. 3. If the presbyteral council does not fulfill the function entrusted to it for the good of the diocese or gravely abuses it, the diocesan bishop, after having consulted with the metropolitan, or, if it concerns the metropolitan see itself, with the suffragan bishop senior in promotion, can dissolve it but must establish it anew within a year. It is a balancing act getting the right length for a body such as the council of priests. If the term is too short, the members do not get to know their role practically speaking and if the term is too long then the body will very likely stagnate eventually. Of course the council ceases to exist when the see is vacant. The Code did make a change from Ecclesiae Sanctae l, 15, 4 in that the functions of the council of priests go to the consultors when the see is vacant. The new bishop must reconstitute the council of priests within a year of taking office. The diocesan bishop can dissolve the council if it abuses its functions but there is the safeguard that the diocesan bishop must consult the Metropolitan first. It is also important to appreciate that consultative voting power involves real power.
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C.f. canon 127. Can. 127 1. When it is established by law that in order to place acts a superior needs the consent or counsel of some college or group of persons, the college or group must be convoked according to the norm of can. 166 unless, when it concerns seeking counsel only, particular or proper law provides otherwise. For such acts to be valid, however, it is required that the consent of an absolute majority of those present is obtained or that the counsel of all is sought. 2. When it is established by law that in order to place acts a superior needs the consent or counsel of certain persons as individuals: 1/ if consent is required, the act of a superior who does not seek the consent of those persons or who acts contrary to the opinion of all or any of them is invalid; 2/ if counsel is required, the act of a superior who does not hear those persons is invalid; although not obliged to accept their opinion even if unanimous, a superior is nonetheless not to act contrary to that opinion, especially if unanimous, without a reason which is overriding in the superiors judgment. 3. All whose consent or counsel is required are obliged to offer their opinion sincerely and, if the gravity of the affair requires it, to observe secrecy diligently; moreover, the superior can insist upon this obligation.

Procedures must be followed and some bishops decide not to act to increase taxes rather than merely consult the priests council in relation to increasing the diocesan tax on parishes another 10% as that will involve facing their displeasure.

Relationship to Bishop Can. 500 1. It is for the diocesan bishop to convoke the presbyteral council, preside over it, and to determine the questions to be treated by it or to receive proposals from the members. 2. The presbyteral council possesses only a consultative vote; the diocesan bishop is to hear it in affairs of greater importance but needs its consent only in cases expressly defined by law. 3. The presbyteral council is not able to act without the diocesan bishop who alone has charge of making public those things which have been established according to the norm of 2. In paragraph 2 the canon specifies the consultative nature of the council of priests. Of course it does allow to have law that specifies particular cases where consent is required from the council of priests. The letter of the Congregation for Clergy in 1970 did say in no 9: The council of priests is a consultative organ of an individual nature. It is called consultative because it does not have a deliberative vote; therefore it cannot approve decisions that obligate the bishop, unless the universal law of the church has provided otherwise or that the bishop, in individual cases, has considered it advisable to attribute a deliberative vote to the council. (Comm. 13(1981) 131-133; 14(1982) 217; 25(1993) 122-132. The canon does not mention universal law so since the bishop is the only legislator in the diocese he could decree that he is going to be bound by a particular vote of the council of priests on a particular subject. It must be kept in mind that a lot of the time the council is not voting about matters. When issues are discussed and opinions are expressed, then possible solutions and suggestions of how to proceed are effectively being made to the bishop. In summary the Priests Council has consultative power in relation to the bishop. The Council cannot act without the bishop.In relation to the other offices of the diocesan curia, the Presbyteral Council is a principal structure of the diocese, intervening in its governance; In relation to the Presbyterium it is representative of the priests and is definitely not all of them so at times the bishop needs to speak to and listen to all the priests of the diocese such as at an AGM. The Directory on the Pastoral Ministry of Bishops in 2004 advised in paragraph 182 that The Bishop is to consult the council on affairs of greater importance concerning the Christian life of the faithful and the governance of the diocese (543). After obtaining the opinion of the council, the Bishop is free to make the decisions that he thinks are appropriate, evaluating and deciding the matter coram Domino, except when universal or particular law requires the consent of the council on certain questions . However, the Bishop should not act contrary to the unanimous opinion of his councillors without a serious and overriding reason, which he must weigh carefully
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according to his prudent judgement. PURPOSE OF THE COUNCIL OF PRIESTS As a body the purpose of the council of priests is not to resolve problems of the clergy, nor an organisation to manage the activities of the bishop, nor to be more precise in its applications of decisions made by the bishop. If it just resolved problems of the clergy it would be more like a commission for the clergy. If it was managing activities of the bishop or more precisely applying his decisions, then it would in a sense be above the bishop. The Council of Priests is to help specify and formulate what is necessary to make various pastoral decisions. It is to study and give advice about anything important in the life of the diocese. It is to contribute directly to decisions in relation to policy and procedures. The priests participate in the one and only priesthood and ministry of the bishops. They participate in a subordinate way in the office of teaching sanctifying and governing. The overriding purpose of the Council of Priests is to promote the pastoral good of the diocese. The Council is always to work in the spirit of the brotherly union with the priests so that the bishop is effectively assisted to govern the diocese as well as possible. The Council has the following powers: The council has the right to have 2 members participate in a provincial council; It must be heard before a diocesan synod is convoked- c. 461, 1; The members of the council if priests have the right to participate in the diocesan synod; The council must be heard in matters of greater importance c.500, 2; The council must be heard when parishes are erected, suppressed or substantially modified c. 515, 2; The council must be consulted about establishing norms for the offerings of the faithful referred to c in canon 531; The council must be heard when making parish councils obligatory c. 536 The council must be heard for establishing new churches 1215, 2; The council must be heard when a church is reduced to profane uses c. 1222, 2 e.g. to be a house; The council must be heard when levying taxes on parishes or changing the tax; as well as taxing individual persons or religious c. 1263; The council must choose who the parish priest consultors are for removing and moving parish
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priests c. 1742, c. 1750. Relationship to Consultors c. 502 All the members of the college of consultors are appointed by the bishop. Although the consultors already belong to a pre-determined group, the council of priests goes out of existence when the see is vacant. The college of consultors continue in existence. The same is true of the Diocesan Finance Committee even though it is not called a college. Canon 502 explains the relationship of the consultors to the council of priests: Can. 502 1. From among the members of the presbyteral council and in a number not less than six nor more than twelve, the diocesan bishop freely appoints some priests who are to constitute for five years a college of consultors, to which belongs the functions determined by law. When the five years elapse, however, it continues to exercise its proper functions until a new college is established. 2. The diocesan bishop presides over the college of consultors. When a see is impeded or vacant, however, the one who temporarily takes the place of the bishop or, if he has not yet been appointed, the priest who is senior in ordination in the college of consultors presides. 3. The conference of bishops can establish that the functions of the college of consultors are to be entrusted to the cathedral chapter. 4. In an apostolic vicariate and prefecture, the council of the mission mentioned in can. 495, 2 has the functions of the college of consultors unless the law establishes otherwise. The college of consultors is an innovation of the 1983 Code, which prescribes that the consultors arise out of the council of priests. Canons 423-428 of the 1917 Code had provided bishops with an analogous organisation if they did not have a cathedral chapter in their diocese. When the 1983 Code was being drafted the Commission for the Code was concerned about the difficulty of convoking the council l of priests in all cases, especially urgent cases such as over the sale of property etc. A smaller group allows for the bishop to consult more easily and in practice bishop-s like a small group to consult with about sensitive matters. Canon 502 specifies that the consultors continue on in existence even if the five year term has expired. The missionary council continues in strictly missionary countries. One sees the implications in law when for example all the church land in Samoa is held by the bishop and the missionary council. When a member of the college of consultors ceases to be a member of the council of priests during the five year term of the consultors, he still continues in his office as a consultor. If a consultor dies or resigns during the five year term of the college, the bishop does not have to
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replace him, unless the number of consultors is fewer than 6. The Directory on the Pastoral Ministry of Bishop advises in paragraph 183: From among
the members of the presbyteral council and in a number not less than six nor more than twelve, the diocesan Bishop freely appoints some priests who are to constitute for five years a college of consultors to which belong the functions determined by law. The establishment of the college is intended to guarantee that the Bishop is ably assisted. It expresses its consent and its opinion as required by law when important decisions of an economic nature have to be made and, in the case of a vacant or impeded See, it assures continuity of pastoral governance and correct procedure regarding the succession. The Episcopal Conference may determine that the functions of the college are to be entrusted to the cathedral chapter.

The meetings of the college of consultors should be chaired by the diocesan Bishop or by the one who takes his place. He abstains from voting with the consultors when an opinion or consent is requested of the college. The function of the consultors is: 1) to give consent when the diocesan administrator wants to incardinate or excardinate a priest after the see has been vacant for 12 months c. 272 2) canon 377,3 allows for a consultation over the appointment of a diocesan or coadjutor bishop 3) It receives the apostolic letters when a bishop takes possession of the diocese c. 382, 3 and 404, 1, 3. 4) When the see is impeded, the consultors elect the diocesan administrator c. 413. 5) When the see is vacant, the consultors govern the diocese c. 419, and must choose the diocesan administrator with in 8 days c. 421, 1. 6) The consultors inform the Holy See of the death of the diocesan bishop when there is no auxiliary bishop c. 422. 7) The council receives the resignation of the diocesan administrator and elects his replacement. Cc. 421, 430. 8) The diocesan administrator needs the consent of the consultors to remove the chancellor and the notaries of the curia c. 485. 9) The consultors must be consulted when the diocesan financial officer is being appointed or removed. C. 494, 1. 10) The consultors receive the profession of faith of the diocesan administrator. C. 833, 4. 11) The diocesan administrator must receive the consent of the consultors to issue dimissorial letters to secular clerics so they can be ordained. c.1018, 1, 2. 12) The consultors must be consulted concerning certain acts of financial expenditure and give consent where specified by law or statutes c. 1277. For amounts below the minimum sum of $200,000 and above $20,000 the bishop must consult with the consultors. 13) The diocesan bishop must obtain the consent of the College of consultors when goods are being alienated between the minimum and maximum sums for New Zealand, and the consultors must consent to alienation for amounts of the
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maximum sum or more when the case is made to the Congregation for the Evangelising of Peoples. Relationship to the Diocesan Pastoral Council Can. 511 In every diocese and to the extent that pastoral circumstances suggest it, a pastoral council is to be constituted which under the authority of the bishop investigates, considers, and proposes practical conclusions about those things which pertain to pastoral works in the diocese. Can. 512 1. A pastoral council consists of members of the Christian faithful who are i n full communion with the Catholic Churchclerics, members of institutes of consecrated life, and especially laitywho are designated in a manner determined by the diocesan bishop. 2. The Christian faithful who are designated to a pastoral council are to be selected in such a way that they truly reflect the entire portion of the people of God which constitutes the diocese, with consideration given to the different areas of the diocese, social conditions and professions, and the role which they have in the apostolate whether individually or joined with others. 3. No one except members of the Christian faithful outstanding in firm faith, good morals, and prudence is to be designated to a pastoral council. Can. 513 1. A pastoral council is constituted for a period of time according to the prescripts of the statutes which are issued by the bishop. 2. When the see is vacant, a pastoral council ceases. Can. 514 1. A pastoral council possesses only a consultative vote. It belongs to the diocesan bishop alone to convoke it according to the needs of the apostolate and to preside over it; it also belongs to him alone to make public what has been done in the council. 2. The pastoral council is to be convoked at least once a year. The various councils in the diocese express and foster common participation and collaboration of all the faithful in the life of the Church. The diocesan council is more concerned with pastoral planning. It has to be said that in many dioceses the Diocesan Pastoral Council is dead or dying. However, there are all sorts of groups involved in pastoral planning and perhaps it would be good to call one of these groups the Diocesan Pastoral Council. The Diocesan Pastoral Council does not have to be parallel to the Parish Council. There can be appointments to it etc.

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Relationship to Diocesan Finance Council Can. 492 1. In every diocese a Finance council is to be established, offer which the diocesan bishop himself or his delegate presides and which consists of at least three members of the Christian faithful truly expert in Financial affairs and civil law, outstanding in integrity, and appointed by the bishop. 2. Members of the Finance council are to be appointed for Five years, but at the end of this period they can be appointed for other Five year terms. 3. Persons who are related to the bishop up to the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity are excluded from the Finance council. The diocesan finance council has a deliberative vote in relation to financial matters just as the consultors do. Cf. c. 1277; c. 1292. The consultors must be consulted with concerning certain acts of financial expenditure and give consent where specified by law or statutes c. 1277. There can be a combined meeting of the DFC and the college of Consultors concerning certain acts of financial expenditure and each boy can give consent separately. The diocesan finance council can be related to the council of priests by having a priest a member of each body. The DFC has to report directly to the bishop because he must consult with it or have its consent on certain mattes. The DFC has a relatively permanent existence, while the council of priests goes out of existence when the see is vacant or if the bishop dissolves it.

Canon 1277 Extraordinary administration "The following are acts of extraordinary administration for Diocesan Bishops: a) an act of administration by which a diocese would be committed to an annual repayment, principal and interest of, or in excess of, $NZ 150,000. b) an act of administration by which a diocese would forego an annual sum equal to $NZ 60,000."
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COMMENTARY Canon 1277 provides that the Episcopal Conference is to determine which acts of temporal administration constitute acts of extraordinary administration. The Code distinguishes three categories of acts: ordinary administration (recurring expenditures), acts which in view of the particular circumstances of the diocese are of major importance (these are to be determined by each bishop in his diocese), and acts of extraordinary administration. Acts of extraordinary administration require the consent of both the Diocesan Finance Council and the College of Consultors before they can be carried out validly. Law suits are governed by the prescriptions of canon 1288.

Canon 1292 Alienation "The maximum sum for alienation as mentioned in Canon 1292, 1 is $4,000,000,000 New Zealand. The minimum sum for alienation as mentioned in Canon 1292, 1 is NZ$200,000." COMMENTARY Alienation, strictly speaking, is any act by which the right to ownership of ecclesiastical temporal goods is transferred to another. It includes the concepts of any act by which the use of the right of ownership itself could be endangered, restricted, or diminished. E.g. by entrusting the running of an institution to a board. The maximum amount for alienation or conveyance of Church property in New Zealand is $4,000,000. Consequently, in virtue of this decree, when church land or buildings are to be sold or other transactions entered into which could jeopardize the stable patrimony of a juridical person in the Church, the following norms are to be observed: - acts under $20,000: the diocesan bishop may carry out these acts on his
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own; - acts between $200,000 and $4,000,000: the diocesan bishop needs the consent of the Diocesan Finance Council, of the College of Consultors and of interested parties; - acts over $4,000,000: in addition to the consents mentioned immediately above, the consent of the Apostolic See is also required before the transaction can be validly concluded. Among the acts subject to these requirements, we could mention: - the sale of church land and buildings, - entering into long-term loans or mortgages, - entering into long-term leases, - issuing bonds and debentures, - transfer of corporate ownership to lay boards. The New Zealand Catholic Bishops allow parish priests to alienate up to $4000 on their own authority. Between $4000 and $12,000, the parish priest needs to consult with his Parish Finance Council. Over $12,000 the parish priest needs the permission of the bishop to act. For amounts below the minimum sum of $200,000 and above $20,000 the bishop must consult with the consultors The diocesan bishop must obtain the consent of the College of consultors when goods are being alienated between the minimum and maximum sums for New Zealand, and the consultors must consent to alienation for amounts of the maximum sum or more when the case is made to the Congregation for the Evangelising of Peoples.

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