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Policies and Guidelines Table of Contents Book I: General Norms 101 Unity Policy 102 Parish Rectories 103 Diocesan Celebrations Appendix 103: Diocesan Celebrations 104 Apostolate to the Hearing Impaired 105 Sale and Use of Alcoholic Beverages 106 The Saint Charles Borromeo Scholarship Fund 107 Parish Halls and Building Usage Appendix 107: Political Activities 108 Plan of Emergency Preparedness Book II: The People of God 201 Suitability for Ministry Appendix 201-A: Testimonial of Suitability for Priestly Ministry Appendix 201-B: Testimonial of Suitability for Diaconal Ministry 202 Faculties for Priests 203 Continuing Formation of Priests Appendix 203: Guidelines for Retreats, Workshops, Seminars and Sabbaticals 204 Guidelines for Postgraduate Continuing Education 205 Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies Appendix 205: Alcoholism and Other Drug Dependencies 206 Compensation for Clergy Working in Diocese Appendix 206-A: Compensation Guidelines for Diocesan and Religious Clergy Appendix 206-B: Priest Absences 207 Pre-Retired, Senior and Retired Priests Appendix 207: Guidelines for Pre-Retired, Senior and Retired Priests 208 International Student Priests 209 Relationship of Pastors and Parochial Vicar 210 Presbyteral Council Appendix 210: Constitution of Presbyteral Council 211 Personnel Advisory Board Appendix 211: Guidelines for the Personnel Advisory Board 212 Faculties for Deacons 213 Continuing Formation of Deacons Appendix 213: Guidelines for Retreats, Workshops, Seminars and Sabbaticals for Deacons 214 Director of Vocations/Director of Seminarians Appendix 214: Guidelines for Seminarians 215 Leave of Absence for Seminarians 216 Vicars, General and Episcopal Appendix 216-A: Vicars General and Episcopal Appendix 216-B: Vicar for Clergy 217 Deans Appendix 217: Deans 218 Parish Boundaries Commission 219 Parish Pastoral Councils Appendix 219: Guidelines for Organization and Function of Parish Pastoral Councils Book III: The Teaching Function of the Church 301 Office of Religious Education 302 Office of Catholic Schools 303 Certification of Catechists and Catechetical Leaders in Schools and Parishes 304 Office of Youth Ministry Appendix 304: Coordinators of Youth Ministry 305 Education in Human Sexuality Appendix 305: Guidelines for Education in Human Sexuality Book IV: The Sanctifying Function of the Church 401 Baptisms for Infants and Young Children Appendix 401: Guidelines for Preparation of Parents and Sponsors for the Celebration of Baptism 402 Guidelines for the Reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation 403 Guidelines for the Sacrament of Eucharist Appendix 403: Sacramental Preparation for First Eucharist 404 Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion 405 Communion Under Both Species Appendix 405: Communion Under Both Kinds 406 Guidelines for the Sacrament of Penance Appendix 406: Sacramental Preparation for First Penance 407 Preparation for the Sacrament of Marriage in the Catholic Church 408 Separation and Divorce 409 Christian Burials 410 Guidelines Regarding Servers 411 Offerings Given for the Celebration of Mass and Multiple Intentions Appendix 411: Addendum 412 Sacred Music 413 Posture of Celebrant at the Celebration of the Eucharist 414 Tabernacle Placement Book V: The Temporal Goods of the Church 501 Parish Finance Councils Appendix 501: Guidelines for Organization and Function of Finance Councils 502 Parish Trustees Appendix 502: Guidelines for Organization and Function of Parish Trustees 503 Diocesan Building Commission Appendix 503: Diocesan Building Commission 504 Diocesan Pastoral Council Appendix 504: Diocesan Pastoral Book VI: Council Sanctions in the Church Book VII: Processes 702 Due Process 703 A Safe Environment for the Protection of Children and Young People 704 Code of Professional Conduct for All Who Have Contact With Minors Appendix 704: Louisiana Child Abuse or Neglect Reporting Laws The Diocese of Lake Charles Policies and Guidelines Book I General Norms Updated August 2015 Copyright © 2015 The Diocese of Lake Charles All rights reserved. 101 DIOCESE OF LAKE CHARLES DIOCESAN POLICY STATEMENT UNITY POLICY TO EFFECT GREATER UNITY AMONG ALL PARISHES AND THE PEOPLE OF GOD SERVED BY THE DIOCESE OF LAKE CHARLES, BISHOP PROVOST ISSUES THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT AS DIOCESAN POLICY: INTRODUCTION The purpose of the Diocese is to form all people into a "family" within the larger family of the Church - a family that is the body of Christ. With this ideal in mind and with the hope that we can, as a "family," work toward renewing and uniting the Church of Lake Charles, the following is established as policy: 1. Efforts must be made continually to develop programs of collaboration in every phase of pastoral activity among all parishes of a given area. This collaboration may take many forms. Some examples are the following: a. Parish councils meeting regularly or at stated intervals. b. Shared catechetical programs. c. Exchange of pulpits occasionally. d. Combined choir recitals, exchange of choirs on Sunday. e. Retreats or days of recollection for organizations. f. Team ministry. g. Joint confirmation ceremonies, alternating parishes. h. Joint adult education programs. i. Active deanery pastoral council. j. Adoption of poorer parishes by those more fortunate. 2. The practice of having racially designated parishes has been a major cause of lack of unity among the people of the Diocese. The Bishop has mandated that the Parish Boundaries and Development Commission study each situation with the local church - clergy and parish councils - to develop and implement effective measures to bring about unity among the people of the Diocese. In many cases, this can be done by giving parishes specific territorial boundaries. Each case is to be studied and evaluated individually. No decision will be made without prior consultation. Promulgated: April 23, 2008 Effective: July 1, 2008 + Glen John Provost Bishop of Lake Charles Updated: July 1, 2015 102 DIOCESE OF LAKE CHARLES DIOCESAN POLICY STATEMENT PARISH RECTORIES Rectories are provided as residences for priests. Only priests, and seminarians assigned to the parish by the Bishop may live in rectories. Overnight guests are restricted to priests, seminarians, or family members. In those parishes staffed by members of religious congregations, members of the congregation who are not priests may live in the rectory if assigned to do so by the competent congregational authority. Any exception to this policy must be approved in advance by the Bishop. Promulgated: April 23, 2008 Effective: July 1, 2008 + Glen John Provost Bishop of Lake Charles Updated: July 1, 2015 103 DIOCESE OF LAKE CHARLES DIOCESAN POLICY STATEMENT DIOCESAN CELEBRATIONS The Diocese of Lake Charles will have a Diocesan Liturgical Commission (DLC). The purpose and function of this commission will be to organize and coordinate liturgical celebrations on the diocesan level. Additionally, this commission will hold seminars and in other ways serve as a source of materials, support, and information for those in ministry throughout the Diocese. The DLC will plan and coordinate diocesan level celebrations which include, but are not limited to the following: the feast of St. Peter Claver, Ordinations to diaconate and priesthood, the Chrism Mass, Diocesan Penance Services during Lent, and the Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion. No matter in which church parish the diocesan celebrations are held, it is the responsibility of the chairperson of the DLC to contact the pastor of the parish insofar as the proposed liturgy, date, availability of the church/facility, and other arrangements. The chairperson will make available to the pastor the names of the DLC consultors involved in the planning of the particular liturgy in order to facilitate the coordination between the parish and the DLC. Insofar as possible and available, the resources, ministers, and staff of the host parish will be utilized first. The DLC will provide, in coordination with the parish, additional support for the liturgy. See APPENDIX 103 for details. Promulgated: April 23, 2008 Effective: July 1, 2008 + Glen John Provost Bishop of Lake Charles Updated: July 1, 2015 Appendix 103 DIOCESE OF LAKE CHARLES DIOCESAN CELEBRATIONS DIOCESAN LEVEL CELEBRATIONS From time to time the people of the Diocese of Lake Charles gather to celebrate certain events as a unified Church. Some events for which we gather are: the Feast of St. Peter Claver, patron saint of the diocese; ordinations to diaconate and/or priesthood; the Sacrament of Penance during Lent each year; the Rite of Election of Catechumens as part of the RCIA process; the Chrism Mass, and other celebrations designated by the Bishop. PLANNING AND COORDINATION The Diocesan Liturgy Commission (DLC) will have overall supervision of the planning and coordination of such events. It will be the responsibility of the chairperson of the DLC to contact the pastor of the parish in which the celebration is to be held. The initial contact will be made as early as possible and should include such information as to: 1) the desire of the Bishop and/or the Diocese to hold a celebration in the parish; 2) the date and time of the celebration; 3) and any other arrangements known at that time. The chairperson of the DLC is to assure the pastor that the resources, facilities, ministers, and staff are to be given first priority in the planning and carrying out of the celebration. The DLC will provide the support needed to supplement the parish. Should a coordinator other than the chairperson be assigned, the pastor
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