American-Cassinese Congregation

The Constitutions and the Directory

Supplementary Material

NORMS OF SPECIAL AUTHORITY OF THE PRESIDENT AND HIS COUNCIL
of the
American-Cassinese Congregation
of Benedictine Monasteries

(Enacted by the forty-seventh general chapter in June, 2001)

For very grave reason and for the welfare of a community that is troubled by want of leadership, personnel, or material resources, the President and his council, acting collegially, may

1. Defer the election of an abbot and appoint a temporary administrator under the same conditions as in D 17.1.
2. Suspend the right of a monastery to receive candidates into formation and to accept the profession of members.
3. Impose financial restrictions on a monastery.

A norm may be imposed only after a pastoral visit or a visitation by the President and at least one member of his council.

A norm may be imposed for a period of up to three years, at which time there shall be a visitation to determine whether the imposition of the norm should continue.

During the period of imposition of a norm, the President is to seek resources that could assist the monastery.

If special circumstances in a community require the imposition of a norm, the frequency of visitations is to be at the discretion of the President.

American-Cassinese Congregation * Table of Contents