Decree 6: On Powers Granted by the General Congregation to the Superior General, General Congregation 33 (1983)

Powers Which Were Granted to the Superior General at the End of the General Congregation

The 33rd General Congregation grants to the Superior General:

1° That he is empowered, after obtaining the deliberative vote of those fathers of the General Curia who have a right ex officio to attend a General Congregation, and without prejudice to the powers given him in other decrees, to abrogate or modify decrees of past General Congregations that seem not to be in accord with the decrees of this 33rd General Congregation.

2° That he is empowered, after obtaining the deliberative vote of those fathers of the General Curia who have a right ex officio to attend a General Congregation, to abrogate or modify regulations of the Formulas of the General Congregation, the Province Congregation, the Congregation of Procurators, and the Congregation of Provincials that seem not to be in accord with the decrees of this 33rd General Congregation.

3° That he himself, for a just reason, can suppress colleges and professed houses, with the deliberative votes of the general counsellors and the provincial of that province in which a college or house to be suppressed is located, and after consulting the regional assistant.

4° That he may approve of the minutes which could not be communicated with the fathers of the Congregation in accordance with the norm of the Formula of the General Congregation, n. 142, #4, 1°.

5° That in accordance with the norm of the same Formula of the General Congregation, n. 142, #4, 2°, in the decrees of this General Congregation he can:

a. make corrections that seem obviously needed, and reconcile contradictions, if any are detected (according to the mind of the Congregation and, after having ascertained the deliberative vote of those fathers of the General Curia who have a right ex officio to attend a General Congregation).

b. to edit the decrees with regard to style.

Special Powers That Are Granted to the Superior General in View of the Early Entrance into Effect of the New Code of Canon Law

1.     The 33rd General Congregation empowers the Superior General, after he shall have listened to the advice of experts and obtained the deliberative vote of the general counsellors:

1° If need be, to seek dispensations of the Holy See from laws of the new Code of Canon Law soon to take effect, in order to preserve the substantials of our institute.

2° In so far as it may be necessary, to compose decrees by which those elements that the new Code of Canon Law demands should be contained in Constitutions (cf. canon 587, #1) may be inserted in our legislation and that are not found in these or in decrees of general congregations that are still in effect. These decrees will be submitted to examination by the next General Congregation.

3° Insofar as is fitting for the good government of the Society, to adapt our law to the demands of the new Code. These regulations are to be submitted to examination by the next General Congregation.

2.     The Superior General is given the mandate to prepare by suitable studies for a review of our own law and of our privileges, to be completed by the next General Congregation.