Independent Catholics

INCORPORATION: As applied to an ecclesiastical benefice, its union with a spiritual corporation, such as a monastery, with reference to things spiritual and temporal. Such incorporations oocurred frequently as early as the ninth century. The effect was that the office connected with the benefice ceased to exist as an independent qfi'ice, and .passed over, with the temporalities, to the corporation, which was charged with the performance of all duties attached thereto. In the case of a parochial benefice, the corporation was required to appoint a vicar, who exercised the actual cure of souls. Different from these complete incorporations were others which related only to the temporalities of a benefice. These came into the possession of the monastic or collegiate body, which was required to set apart a sufficient sum (porno congrua) for the maintenance of the priest in charge. His spiritual functions remained untouched, and he was appointed by the bishop on the nomination of the corporation. Though he was called vicarius, and not parochus, he differed only in name from a regular rector, and was subject only to the bishop in regard to the exercise of his spiritual functions. The Council of Trent struck at the root of the many abuses which this system had brought about, and forbade the union of parish churches with monasteries, collegiate chapters, hospitals, etc. Since that time such incorporations have occurred but rarely, by special permission of the pope and where a good reason could be shown.

(F. W. H. Wasserschleben † .)

Bibliography: G. C. Neller, De genuina idea et sipnis paroehiddahs prunitioa sjusque principto incorporatdone, and De juribsa parochi primitivi, both in A. Schmidt, Thesaurus isris ealsaiaat" vol. vi., Bamberg, 1772; Richter. Kirchenrorht, pp. 464, 617; E. Friedberg, Lehrbuck des . . . Kirrhenrach4, p. 302, ib..1895; P. Hineohius, Kirchemecht . . . in Deutedaand, ii. 395, 436, 464, Berlin, 1871-78.