On renovation of the churches and various other cases.

 

As in the past the decrees of the Holy Fathers have already shined forth in regard to various cases, also now a law that is suitable for the times and the order has to be enacted. For as the antiquity has issued multifarious edicts on disturbing questions, in the same way our own times issue their own on the cases which arise. Therefore it has been presented to our gathering an inordinated custom of some priests who oppress their parishes beyond measure with various exactions and compulsory services, or that they have many derelict churches. For that reason, the union of our oneness decreed and decided that if bishops want to exact the third part that the ancient canons prescribed them to have, they have to renovate the derelict churches. If, however, they prefer to hand over these means, the renovation of the church shall be delegated to the care and concern of the keeper of the church.

But when all the churches are either undamaged, or all the derelict ones have been already renovated, if the bishop wants to collect the third part that is prescribed for him by the ancient canons, he can absolutely do this, in such a way, however, that no bishop exacts from the parish churches as a third part the resources for the royal needs (pro regiis inquisitionibus), or presumes to give someone as a stipend something from the estates of these churches. But we consider it neccessary to decree that many churches shall never be entrusted to one presbyter, because being alone he will not be able to celebrate office in every church and provide priestly jurisdiction to the people, nor take a necessary care to the property of the Church, but under such condition that a church that has ten tenants (mancipia) shall be presided over by a priest; those churches, however, that have less than ten mancipia, shall be joined to other churches.

 

(trans. M. Szada)