Tucson diocese to incorporate parishes individually
I'd like a canon lawyer (or someone who plays one on TV) to confirm the details and explanations in this story. Comparisons to diocesan structures in other countries would be helpful.
At least seven other U.S. dioceses have already made their parishes separate, corporate entities. They include the archdioceses of New York and Milwaukee, and the dioceses of Rhode Island; Davenport, Iowa; Stockton, Calif.; Lincoln, Neb.; and Baker, Ore.
Bishop Robert F. Vasa of the Diocese of Baker said his parishioners weren't affected when his diocese separately incorporated its 60 parishes and missions in 2002.
"Making them individual corporations gives them a structure that's external and legal and much closer to the canonical world," said Vasa, who is also a canon lawyer. Canon law is church law.
....Bob Scala, a Tucson Catholic who is a member of the local diocese's parish incorporation committee, said the separate incorporation of local parishes already has been discussed by parish leaders, who approved the plan before it became part of the Tucson diocese's reorganization.
"The meetings in October are to brief everyone on the process of what is involved and what it means to parishes," he said.
"We will now recognize in civil law what has been in canon law from the beginning _ that parishes are separate entities."
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