CHAPTER VII

ECONOMIC POLICY

Prologue

"· A return to an evident simplicity of life would give a new authority to our words, would bind us together in more profound community, and would attract many and surely excellent vocations."· (Relatio Magistri Ordinis de statu ordinis (1998) 5, 5).

204.
The manner of dealing with economic affairs expresses today what a person or group actually believes and where they really place their trust: "Where your treasure is, there also is your heart." (Mt 6: 21) Not only our preaching, but also our economic administration must be a visible sign that we have placed our trust in the Lord; sharing our economic resources, maintaining our properties and using all in the service of others, especially in a world where differences in the level and quality of life are so evident.

At certain decisive moments ( kairoi ) we - either personally or communally - may be called to cut ourselves free from possessions that we have acquired. The accumulation of goods, whether at a local, national, or international level, is in contradiction with the preaching of the justice of God -which is the priority of the community.

On a personal level each of us has to discern how best to satisfy both our own genuine needs as well as those of others, without being engulfed by that vast display of goods that our consumerist world induces us to desire and purchase. A person's material needs should not overwhelm the values of participation, quiet, friendship, meaning and identity that mature when we share them. Each of us is called to defend the transcendent dignity inherent in each human being. Witnessing to that is demanding, especially in the face of a market economy that frequently treats people, especially the poor, as little more than consumable goods.

The common life offers a good standard for all its members to discern the needs they have and arrange how best to satisfy the genuine ones. These will vary from person to person depending upon their qualities, character, health, duties and apostolic commitments. All of this must not be opposed to the common good.

The more one uses credit cards, computers, cars and other equipment that enable brothers to work more quickly and efficiently on their own, all the greater is the need for personal honesty, the sharing of information, accountability to the community and working out together a community budget. This budget should take into account personal needs as well as the obligations and circumstances of each of the brethren.

Our provinces and vicariates, in addition to guaranteeing the life and health of its members, maintaining a program of formation and studies and developing their apostolic work, must also use their funds, investments and goods to struggle for a more just economy, especially in a world frequently divided clearly between rich and poor, creditors and debtors, powerful and those whose very survival is diminished. Provinces, therefore, must prepare bursars who not only have the technical qualities required, but who will also be sensitive to the ethical and human problems that present themselves in a world dominated exclusively by market forces.

Declarations

205.
We declare that in accordance with LCO 569, the Bursar of the Order, fr Fernando Mañero, presented the accounts of the General Curia and other administrations under the immediate jurisdiction of the Master of the Order, and these have been approved.

206.
We declare that, the Bursar of the Order, fr Fernando Mañero, presented the accounts of the Angelicum fund, and these have been approved.

207.
We declare that, the Bursar of the Order, fr Fernando Mañero, presented the accounts of the Solidarity fund, and these have been approved.

208.
We declare that, the Master of the Order presented his personal accounts to the Chapter, and these have been approved. (LCO 572)

Ordinations

209.
We ordain that according to LCO 573, I, the sum of money for the Ordinary Budget of the Order in 1999 will be $1,537,000. Of this $1,100,000 will be provided by the provinces.

210.
We ordain that the contributions of the provinces be reviewed and adjusted annually according to the percentage system used by the Order, so as to account for the fluctuations of monetary exchange rates in relation to the dollar which cause inequities in the ordinary contributions of the provinces. (Caleruega 137)

211.
We ordain that a mean sum be deducted for each brother in formation, from the pre-noviciate to the end of institutional formation in order to establish the net income of each province in determining the ordinary contributions to the Order. This mean sum will be calculated annually by the Bursar of the Order, aided by the Economic Commission and approved by the Master of the Order with his Council. (Caleruega 138)

212.
We ordain that in the determination of the net income of each province for deciding the ordinary contributions to the Order, donations to other entities of the Order outside the province may be deducted. (Caleruega 139)

213.
We ordain that houses under the immediate jurisdiction of the Master of the Order pay 6% of their income as an ordinary contribution. (Caleruega 140)

214.
We ordain that the ordinary contribution of the provinces, vice-provinces or general vicariates be not be less that $1,200.

215.
We ordain that the regional bodies of the Order (CIDAL, IAOP etc.) must submit an economic report to the Master of the Order annually giving account of income and expense totals.

216.
We ordain that $100,000 be included in the ordinary budget of the Order as an assistance to Africa. This money should be used for formation and distributed by Inter Africa.

217.
We ordain that $20,000 be included in the ordinary budget of the Order as an assistance to Latin America. This money should be distributed by CIDAL

218.
We ordain that $50,000 be included in the ordinary budget of the Order as an assistance to the provinces and vicariates of Central and Eastern Europe. This money is only to be distributed by the new organisation that will be established in accordance with Caleruega 54.

219.
We ordain that in the event that particular emergencies arise in the Order, the Master of the Order with his council may ask extraordinary contributions of up to 10% of the ordinary budget of the Order. (cf. Walberberg, n. 163, Caleruega 146)

220.
1. We ordain, in accordance with the Acts of Caleruega, 147.1, that the provincial bursar may not be appointed for more than two consecutive terms.

2. In the case of a third or subsequent term, the Provincial Chapter or the Provincial Council must ask the dispensation of the Master of the Order.

221.
We ordain that provinces decide, in their respective statutes, the limits of the duration in office for those brothers responsible for the economic administration of colleges, universities and scientific centres belonging to the Order. (cf. Mexico n 218 Caleruega 148)

222.
We ordain that ethical norms for investment and savings be established in every province. (cf. Appendix "The Ethics of Investment"). The prior provincial with his council will prepare these norms, having heard the economic council and the provincial commission or promoter of Justice and Peace. The province and houses are to be conscious of these norms when making investments. (LCO 560, I - II; Caleruega 149).

223.
We ordain that an approved budget be reviewed at least twice a year by the council that approved it.

224.
We ordain that the moderator of studies organise a seminar or course on practical economic administration for the students during the course of institutional studies

225.
We ordain that the Order may use the EURO - after its introduction - together with the US Dollar as an official currency. (Caleruega 138)

226.
We ordain that the Saint Dominic Foundation be established as a fund raising centre to support the mission of the Order. The foundation will solicit and distribute donations from Church organisations, governments, various foundations, the Dominican Family and the benefactors of the Order and its mission.

227.
We ordain that where it is necessary to use credit cards, the Provincial Chapter legislate for their use considering the following criteria: that the brother have the permission of his superior and that the credit card have a defined credit limit.

228.
We ordain that the annual economic reports of provinces, vice-provinces and general vicariates be completed in accordance with LCO 566 (cf LCO 567, I) and sent to the Master of the Order within five months of the close of the accounting year.

Recommendations

229.
We recommend that those provinces, vice provinces, general vicariates or provincial vicariates without civil recognition take all possible steps necessary to become civil juridical persons in those countries or territories in which they exist.

230.
We recommend that properties and immovable goods be held in the name of a civil entity of the Order.

231.
We recommend that each province establish in its own economic statutes the office of Assistant to the Provincial Bursar.

Saint Dominic Foundation

232.
We recommend that the Master of the Order consult professionals competent in international fund raising to determine the most effective way to organise the Saint Dominic Foundation.

233.
We recommend that the Director of the foundation be a friar of the Order who will work full time in this ministry.

234.
We recommend that, in case professional fund raisers be employed, their work be carefully supervised and periodically evaluated by the director of the Foundation and the economic council of the Order.

235.
We recommend that the Director of the Saint Dominic Foundation be provided the personal and technical assistance he may need to carry out his ministry effectively.

Exhortations

236.
The General Chapter thanks the provinces and the Dominican Family for their support of the Solidarity Fund and we renew the exhortation of the Chapters in Mexico and Caleruega to the Order, to increase the Solidarity fund in accordance with the express wish of the Master of the Order.

237.
We exhort all the members of the Dominican Family that, according to their means, they sustain the project of the Ecole Biblique library as a project of major importance for the future of the school and the mission of the Order.

238.
The General Chapter thanks the provinces and the Dominican Family for their generous response to the Master of the Order's appeal to build up the Angelicum Fund and secure the economic autonomy of the PUST, permitting the normal functioning and fulfilment of the objectives of the university. We renew the exhortation of the Chapters in Mexico and Caleruega to the Order to increase the Angelicum Fund.

239.
We exhort all the brethren to keep in mind the norms of the CIC c. 668 concerning the possible civil validity of the total renunciation of his goods effective at solemn profession.

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