Chapter III: Of the Diocesan Synod

§ 1. In each diocese a diocesan Synod is to be celebrated at least every tenth year, in which only those matters are to be treated which refer to the particular necessities or utilities of the clergy and people of the diocese.

§ 2. If a Bishop governs several dioceses united equally principally, or has one in title and another or others in perpetual administration, he can convoke one diocesan Synod only from all the dioceses.

§ 1. The Bishop convokes the diocesan Synod and presides over it, but not the Vicar General without a special mandate, nor the Capitular Vicar.

§ 2. It is to be celebrated in the cathedral church unless a reasonable cause suggests otherwise.

§ 1. To the Synod the following are to be called and must come:

1° The Vicar General.

2° The canons of the cathedral church or the diocesan consultors.

3° The rector of at least the major diocesan seminary.

4° The vicars forane.

5° A deputy of each collegiate church, to be elected by the Chapter of that church from its own body.

6° The pastors of the city in which the Synod is celebrated.

7° At least one pastor from each vicariate forane, to be elected by all who actually have care of souls there; moreover the elected pastor must provide for himself, for the time of absence, a substitute vicar according to the norm of can. 465, Sec. 4.

8° Abbots de regimine and one of the Superiors of each clerical religion who reside in the diocese, designated by the provincial Superior, unless the provincial house is in the diocese and the provincial Superior himself has preferred to be present.

§ 2. The Bishop, if he has judged it opportune, can call to the Synod also others and even all canons, pastors, religious Superiors, indeed even individual secular priests of his diocese, excepting however those who are necessary lest care of souls be lacking in the parishes; moreover those invited have the right of suffrage in all matters, just as the others, unless the Bishop has expressly provided otherwise in the invitation.

§ 1. Those who must come to the Synod, if they are held by a legitimate impediment, are not permitted to send a procurator who is present at the Synod in their name; but they are to make the Bishop more certain concerning the impediment.

§ 2. The Bishop can compel and punish the negligent with just penalties, unless there is question of exempt religious who are not pastors.

§ 1. The Bishop, if it seems expedient to him, at an opportune time before the Synod, is to name one or more commissions from the clergy of the city and diocese, or groups of men who are to prepare the matters to be treated in the Synod.

§ 2. Before the sessions of the Synod the Bishop is to take care that a schema of decrees be handed to all who have been convoked and have come together.

All proposed questions, with the Bishop presiding either personally or through another, are to be subjected to the free discussion of those standing by in the preparatory sessions.

The Bishop alone is the legislator in the Synod, the others having only a consultative vote; he alone signs the synodal constitutions; these, if they are promulgated in the Synod, begin by that very fact to oblige, unless something else is expressly provided.