In the light of evolving financial regulations and emerging challenges related to the management of material assets within religious institutions, priests and members of religious orders are becoming increasingly hesitant to assume the role of Treasurer, Procurator, or Financial Administrator for a Province or an entire Congregation. Given this context, is it permissible to appoint a layperson to fulfill these responsibilities?
Canon 636 of CIC explicitly throws light into the appointment of Treasurer (Procurator/ Financial Administrator) in the Congregation in the following words: “In each institute and likewise in each province which is governed by a major superior, there is to be a Finance officer, distinct from the major superior and constituted according to the norm of proper law, who is to manage the administration of goods under the direction of the respective superior. Insofar as possible, a Finance officer distinct from the local superior is to be designated even in local communities. §2. At the time and in the manner established by proper law, Finance officers and other administrators are to render an account of their administration to the competent authority”. Canon 516 of CCEO provides the same norm concerning the appointment as follows “§1. There shall be finance officers in orders and congregations for the administration of temporal goods; a general finance officer who administers the goods of the entire order or congregation; a provincial finance officer for the province, a local finance officer for each single house; all of whom shall discharge their duties under the authority of the superior… §3. If the statutes are silent on the manner of designating finance officers, they shall be appointed by the major superior with the consent of the council”. Canons 447 & 558 of CCEO give the similar norms for Monastery and Societies of Apostolic life.
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