Organy zarządu i współodpowiedzialności ‒ rady w prawie własnym Towarzystwa św. Franciszka Salezego

Abstract

The history of councils which assist superiors dates back to the origins of monastic life, i.e. St Benedict’s Rule. The Second Vatican Council recognized the importance of governing and responsibility bodies, especially in religious life. The particular law of the Society of St. Francis de Sales clearly refers to the issue of religious councils which are found on every authority level. The article presents a short history of this issue. It also provides infonnation about the norms of the common law of the Catholic Church regarding religious councils. In the second part of the article, the nom s of the Salesian particular law are explained against the background of theological and legal premises. The Salesian Constitutions regulate the way councils support superiors. In some of the cases mentioned in the article, councils’ approval or advice is necessary to adopt legal acts. In principle, the superior turns to the council but does not vote himself. The only case of collegial action provided for in the Constitutions concerns the dismissal of members. Then the superior general also votes. The law follows life and some dynamics can be seen in the development of the particular law, among others in the decisions of recent general chapters. It seems that it is necessary to reissue the Constitutions and the General Regulations in Polish to include these changes. This would also be an opportunity to clarify the language. To sum up, the tasks of councils specified by the law and the actual ministry of the religious who are members of councils are in keeping with the shared responsibility of the religious for their common good, an idea endorsed by the Church. At the same time councilors’ commitment effectively supports the board at every level of congregational organization.