The College of Consultors of the Diocese This matter is regulated in can.502 of the Code of Canon Law in the following terms: §1.

D. If Canon Law requires the advice of the College of Consultors, an actual meeting is desir- able. On the other hand the previous Code of Canon Law, promulgated in 1917, had what can be considered as an Where canon law specifies that the consent or advice of the college of consultors is required, there must be consent of an absolute majority of those present and counsel of all who are present must have been sought (cf. §4.

And it often happens that the Holy See (i.e., the Pope) does just that: instead of waiting for the college of consultors to elect an administrator, the Pope can name one himself. (Canon 413) D. When the College is required by Canon Law or these statutes to give its advice or consent, it is to act according to the norms of Canons 119 and 127.

§4 Unless the law provides otherwise, in a vicariate or prefecture apostolic the functions of the college of consultors belong to the council of the mission mentioned in can. In an apostolic vicariate and prefecture, the council of the mission mentioned in CIC 495 , §2 has the functions of the college of consultors unless the law …

From among the members of the council of priests, the diocesan bishop freely appoints not fewer than six and not more than twelve priests, who are for five years to constitute the college of consultors.

This canon states that the college of consultors is to take charge of the diocese and act as just described, unless the Holy See has provided otherwise. 1917 Code of Canon Law Previous to the promulgation of the Code of Canon Law in 1983, the institute of the College of Consultors did not formally exist -in fact it is a novelty established by the 1983 Code of Canon Law.

This canon specifies that such goods must form the stable patrimony by lawful assignment—i.e., they must be goods whose stability or attachment to the stable pat­rimonial fund of the juridic person has been determined by its own stat­utes or by its competent bodies, or, if applicable, by lawful authority or by law. 495 §2.

C. When the see is impeded and other provisions of the law do not provide for the governance of the impeded see, the College is to select a priest to govern the Diocese in the interim.

C. If Canon Law requires the consent of the College of Consultors for an action to be valid, the matter is to be considered formally at a meeting of the College (c. 127 §1); the Bishop is not able to break a tie when consent is required.

Canon 127.1).

A consultor is one who gives counsel, i.e., a counselor.. §3 The Episcopal Conference can determine that the functions of the college of consultors be entrusted to the cathedral chapter. In the Catholic Church, it is a specific title for various advisory positions: . The conference of bishops can establish that the functions of the college of consultors are to be entrusted to the cathedral chapter.