Framework for Lay Associations

[Cloisters]

All lay associations are “private” unless founded by a bishop. Then they are “public.”

There are three kinds of private associations:

–**without **the intention of becoming an institute of religious life

–**with **the intention of becoming an institute of religious life (or secular institute or society of apostolic life)

–with the intention of becoming an institute of religious life (or other) **suri juris **(they have a recognition letter from the bishop after a period of experimentation to find what works for them)

What I’m addressing is the LAF without intention.

You’ll need the following:

1. Nature, purpose & name
2. Membership - how to join, but, more importantly, how to leave
3. Manner of Action
4. Government & Center
5. Review & Amendment of Statutes
   (6. Formation program)
   (7. How to disband the organization)

The statutes are all of the above, and whatever else you wish to put into the document.

Non-profit status is not always necessary.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

**
You’ll need the following:**

According to whom? The Church, your state government, the IRS?

 

[Cloisters]

According to whom? The Church, your state government, the IRS?

Correspondence with a canonist. Should be somewhere in canon law.

Also found in Fr Gambari’s book on founding new religious communities.

 

[Cloisters]

Here is a link to our CAMM statutes. They follow what I posted previously:

cloisters.tripod.com/camm/id3.html