Does Canon Law speak of sponsorship of Catholic works?
Though the term "sponsorship" is not used in the Code of Canon Law, it is generally accepted today that "sponsorship" entails the use of a particular name and the exercise of certain responsibilities that arise from this use. A person's good name--whether the "person" is an individual or a group--is of primary importance today; and sponsorship responsibilities are exercised in relation to what the name stands for. In the case of church ministries such as the Catholic health ministry, the term refers to works undertaken in the name of Christ, on behalf of the Catholic Church. Traditionally, sponsorship had emphasized a position of corporate strength and independence through ownership and control via reserved powers. Today, as new relations are established with other providers, a presence is required that relies more on the ability to influence. Sponsorship in canon law entails a relation to the threefold mission and ministry of the church: to teach, to sanctify, and to serve God's people. Undoubtedly, health care fits in among these elements of ecclesial service. It has generally been held that for a work to be identified as "Catholic," it must, in one way or another, be related to a juridic person in the church, such as a diocese, a religious institute, one of the institute's provinces, or even one of its established houses (canon 634). There could also be situations in which no formal juridical person is involved and yet the work is considered to be "Catholic." Lately, new entities established specifically for sponsorship purposes have been recognized either by bishops or by the Holy See. These entities, usually known as "public juridic persons" (but sometimes also called "foundations") assume the sponsorship responsibilities previously assumed by a religious institute (or one of its parts) or a diocese. In some instances, these entities also assume all the ownership and property rights previously held by the original institute or diocese.
Fr Francis G Morrisey
Saint Paul University, Ottawa, Ontario.
D002410:Catholicism; D003249:Constitution and Bylaws; D016519:Hospitals, Religious; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D014481:United States