472 
Plaints and appeals againft the conduét and 
decifions of the fuffragan bifhops. 
Seion III. Of the Bifbops, the Vicars-Gene- 
ral, and the Sexsinaries. 
Article XVI. No perfon can be named a 
bifhop who is not a Frenchman, and who is 
not at leait thirty years of age. 
XVII. Before the decree for his nomina- 
tion is difpatched, he fhall be bound to pro- 
duce an atteftation of the correétnefs of his 
conduct and manners, furnifhed by the bifhop 
of that diocefe in which he fhall have exer- 
cifed the functions of the miniftry 5 he fhall 
undergo an examination refpecting his tenets, 
by a bifhop and two priefts commiffioned by 
the Chief Conful, and who fhall addrefs the 
refult of their examination to the counfellor 
of ftate who prefides over the department of 
ecelefiaftical affairs. 
XVIII. The prieft, nominated by the 
Chief Conful, fhall endeavour without delay 
to procure inftall ation from the Pope; he 
fhall be permitted to perform no funétion till 
the bul! authorizing his inftallation fhall have 
received the fanétion of Government, and 
till he fhall have taken in perfon the oath 
prefcribed by the convention entered into be- 
tween the French government and the Holy 
See. This oath fhall be taken to the Chief 
Conful, and a minute of it fhall be entered 
by the fecretary of ftzte. 
XIX. The bifhops fhall nominate and 
inftall the curés ; they fhall not however make 
public their appeintment; nor fhall they give 
them canonical! inftitution till their nomination 
fhall have been agreed to by the Chief Conful. 
XX. They fhall be bound to refide in 
their diocefes, and fhall not be fuffered to 
quit them without the permifiion of the 
Chief Conful. 
XXI. Each bitfhop fhall be empowered to 
appoint two, and each archbifhop three, vicars- 
general: they fhal] make choice of them 
from among thofe priefis who poffefs the re- 
quifite qualifications for being bifhops. 
XX. They fall vifit annually in hoa 
a certain portion of their diocefe ; and within 
the {pace of five years the whole of it. In 
cafe unavoidable circumftances fhall prevent 
them from making this vifit, it fhall be made 
by a vicar-general, 
XXIII. The bifhops fhall be bound to or- 
ganize their feminaries, and the rules of this 
organization fhall be fubmitted to the appro- 
bation of the Chief Conful. 
XXIV. Thofe who fha'!l be chofen teach- 
ers in thefe feminaries thall fubfcribe the 
d-claration made by the French clergy in 
1632, and publifhed by an edi& of the fame 
year. They fhall limit themfelves to teach 
only the do@rine therein Sos 3 and the 
bithops fall addrefs a certificate of their abid- 
ing by this limitation, to the counfellor of 
ftate who prefides over the ecclefiaftical de- 
pait.nest 
XXV. The bifhops fhall fend every year 
te this counfellor of fate the names of the 
State of Public Affairs in May, 1802. 
[ June 1, 
ftudents of thofe feminaries who are deftined - 
to the holy miniftry. 
XXXVI They thall appoint no ecclefiaftic 
who, does not poffefs a property of the annual 
value of 300 francs, unlefs he has attained 
the age of twenty-five years, and poffefs the 
qualities required by the canons of France. 
The bithops fhall form no ordination before 
the number of perfons to be ordaimed has been 
fubmitted to the government, and by them 
agreed to. 
Section I7.— Of the Curés. 
Article XXVIH. The curés fhall perform 
no ecclefiaftical funétions before they have 
taken, in the prefence of the prefect, the 
oath prefcribed by the cenvention entered 
into between the government and the holy 
fee. Acopy of ‘His oath fhall be made out 
by the fecretary of the prefe&t-general, and 
regularly lodged with each party. 
AXVIUI. They fhall be introduced to 
the poffeffion of their benefice either by a 
curé, or by a prieft whom the bithop fhall 
point out. 
AXIX,. They fhall be bound to refide in 
their refpe@ive parithes. 
XXX. The curés fhall be dire€tly fubje& 
to the bifhops in the exercife of their func- 
tions ; 
XXXI The vicars, and the affiftants per- 
forming their duties, fhall be under the fu- 
perintendance and direétion of the curés, 
They fhall be approved by the bifhop, and 
liable to be recalled by his authority. 
XXXII. No foreigner fhall be employed 
in the functions of the ecclefiaftical miniftry, 
without the permiffion of the government. 
XXXIIL. Every ecclefiaftic, though e 
Frenchman, is forbidden the exercife of ec- 
clefiaftical fun€tidns, unlefs conneéted with 
fome diocefe. 
XXXIV. No prieft fhall quit his diocefe 
to ferve in another, without the permiffion 
of his bifhop. 
Section V.—Of the Cathedral Chapters, and the 
Government of the Diocefes, during the Va- 
cancy of the See. 
Article XXXV. The archbifhops and 
bifhops who fhall with to exercife the power 
which is given them, by eftablifhing chap- 
ters, fhall make no appointment without _ 
having previoufly obtained the authority of 
the government, not only for the eftablifh- 
ment itfelf, but for the number and choice 
of the ecclefiaftics by whom they are to be 
formed. 
XXXVI. During the vacancy of the fee, 
the metropolitan, or, in his ftead, the oldeft 
of the fuffragan bifhops, fhall watch overthe 
governments of the diocefes. 
The vicars-general of thefe diocefes fhall 
continue their funétions after the death of 
the bifhop, till the inftallation of his fuc- 
ceflor. 
XXXVI. It fhall be the duty of the 
metropolitans and the cathedral chapters to 
4 communicate 
