ABCH00KFBATEBNIT7 53 ABDAGH
after obtaining permission from Rome; formerly tant or vice-chancellor, and often he has the help the practice was for him to undertake it only after of other notaries who may be laymen. The chan- the matter had been discussed and approved at a cellor or the notaries may be suspended or removed provincial council; but at that time such councils by the bishop, but not by a vicar capitular unless were held every three years, while now they need the cathedral chapter consents. It is the duty of the be called every twenty years. When an archbishop chancellor to draw up an inventory or a catalogue is canonically visiting a suffragan's diocese he may of the contents of the archives with an abstract preach, hear confessions and absolve even from sins of each document. In the first half of each year reserved by the bishop; he may investigate the he must add a precis of the documents of the pre- manner of life of the clergy, and denounce to their ceding year and any others that have been over- ordinaries those clerics who are tainted with infamy looked. The archives are to be kept locked, and so that they may be punished; and may inflict no one must have access to them without the leave equitable punishment, not excluding censures, for of the bishop or of the vicar-general and the chan- notorious crimes or for public notorious offenses cellor, the key being always entrusted to the latter, committed against himself or his assistants. He Documents must not be taken from the archives may pontificate in any church, even if it is exempt, without leave of the bishop or vicar-general; if though he must notify the ordinary if he desires any are removed with permission they must be to do so in the cathedral ; he may bless the faithful, returned at the end of three days, unless the ordi- and may have the cross carried before him when nary extends the time.
he enters the church. He must not, however, per- In the document room there must be a special
form any other acts which imply jurisdiction. Of compartment or irremovable safe in which all secret
course he acts as first judge of appeal in cases documents are preserved with the greatest care,
originating in his suffragans' courts, but he may This is to have two different locks, the key of one
hear suits in first instance when they directly in- lock being retained by the bishop or Apostolic
volve the rights or temporalities of the bishop or administrator, while the other is held by the vicar-
the diocesan mensa or curia. Formerly when an general or, if there is no vicar-general, by the chan-
archbishop heard a suit in first instance, an appeal, cellor. No one except the bishop or the Apostolic
if taken, had to be brought before the Holy See: administrator is allowed to open the archives or
now the appeal is taken before a bishop selected consult the secret documents, and special regula-
by the archbishop for that purpose once for all, tions have been laid down to prevent the bishop's
with the approval of the Holy See. key from coming into possession of the official
A^i.^^#^«..».^4»w / / /^ -n T onf%\ m. ^-^i holding the second key, in case of the bishop's
Archconteitcmlty (cf. C. E 1-692) .-The title death or disability. The illegal destruction, fe-
archconfratermty can be conceded, even when it is ^^^al or substantial modifying of any document
merely honorary, to an association only by the belonging to the episcopal archives is punished ipso
Holy See, whose permission must be obtained ateo jado by excommunication; however, the documents
before the location of an archconfrateraity can be relating to criminal cases of morality must be burnt
changed. No association can be affiliated to an immediately after the death of a culprit or as soon
archconfratemity unless it has the same title and ^s ten years have elapsed since the sentence of
object, except by special permi^ion of the pope., condemnation was pronounced, but a synopsis of
When an association has been affiliated all the m- ^11 of these cases with the text of the final judg-
duJgences, privileges and other communicable spir- j^ent is to be preserved. An inventory or catalogue
itual favors which have been granted by the Holy of these secret archives must be kept as described
See to the aggregating association, directly and by above.
name, and all that are granted thereafter are com- Vicars and prefects Apostolic shall have their
municated to the affiliat,ed association, unless the archives, which are subject to the same regulations
contrary is stated by the Holy See. This com- as diocesan archives, due allowance being made for
munication, however, gives the archconfratemity no differences of persons and places.
"?!J^ whatsoever over the aggregated association. Duplicate inventories or catalogues of the archives
The following conditions are expressly laid down of the cathedral and collegiate or parochial churches,
for valid aggregation: the association must have and also of confraternities and holy places, are to
been canonically erected and must not have been \y^ made; one copy is to be kept m its proper
aflMiated to any other archconfratemity or primary pjace, and the other deposited in the diocesan
union; the aggregation must be perpetual, and must archives. At the end of each year parish priests
be executed in the manner prescribed . m the must send the episcopal curia a certified copy of all
statutes; the diploma of aggregation is to be sent their parochial books, except the census returns;
gratis, voluntary payment for it being for- and administrators of ecclesiastical goods are to
bidden, except what is necessary to cover expenses, forward likewise a descriptive inventory of the
which shall not be more than thirty francs or six property entmsted to their care, noting the values
dollars; the indulgences, privileges, and other spir- and calling attention to any changes in the prop-
itual favors communicated by aggregation must be erty; moreover, they must send the curia certified
set forth m a schedule, authenticated by the ordi- copies of the documents relating to the ownership
nary of the place where the archconfratermty is of the property, if that can be done conveniently,
established, and sent to the aggregated society; Anvone who is interested in these documents mav
finally, the aggregation must be made with the insjject those that are not secret, and may obtain
written consent and testimonial letters of the local a copy of them. Documents may also be borrowed,
ordinary. but only under the regulations goveming the
Archives, Ecclesiastical (cf. C. E., 1-696).-. diocesan archives.
Every diocese must have a special place, known as Ardagh, Diocese of (Ardachadensib; cf. C. E.,
the archives, in which all writings and documents I-699c), in Ireland, by the census of 1911 had a total
relating to the spiritual and temporal affairs of the population of 102,380, of whom 94,827 were Catholics.
diocese are to be kept carefully in order and in- There are 41 parishes in the diocese, 96 secidar and
dexed by the diocesan chancellor. The chancellor 4 regular clergy, 75 churches, 12 chapels, 1 seminary,
is always a notary and documents drawn up by him 1 house of regulars, 12 convents, and 2 monasteries.
are held authentic. Sometimes he is given an assis- The various institutions in the diocese include 6
