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MASSACHUSETTS

GENERAL LAWS OF MASSACHUSETTS

PART I.
ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT

TITLE XI.
CERTAIN RELIGIOUS AND CHARITABLE MATTERS

CHAPTER 67. PARISHES AND RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES
Chapter 67: Section 44 Incorporation
Section 44. The Roman Catholic archbishop or bishop of the diocese in which a Roman Catholic church is erected or intended to be erected, the vicar-general of such diocese and the pastor of such church, for the time being, or a majority of them, may associate with themselves two laymen, communicants of said church, and may, with such laymen, sign a certificate in duplicate, showing the name or title by which they and their successors shall be known as a body corporate, which certificate shall be acknowledged in the same manner as conveyances of land. One copy of such certificate shall be filed in the office of the state secretary, and the other recorded in the registry of deeds in the county where such church is erected or intended to be erected; and thereupon such church shall be a body corporate by the name expressed in such certificate, and the persons so signing the same shall be the trustees thereof.

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES
Chapter 67: Section 45 Status and powers of archbishop's successor
Section 45. The successor of any archbishop, bishop, vicar-general or pastor shall, by virtue of his office, be for the time being a member of such corporation in place of his predecessor; and such laymen shall hold office respectively for one year; and when the office of any such layman becomes vacant, his successor shall be appointed in the manner provided for the original selection.

ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES
Chapter 67: Section 46 Powers of corporation
Section 46. Such corporation may receive, hold and manage all real and personal property belonging to such church; may sell and convey the same; and may hold in trust gifts, grants, bequests or devises to such church for the support of public worship and for other religious purposes; but all the property belonging to any one church or parish and held by such corporation shall never exceed one hundred thousand dollars exclusive of the church buildings.

INCORPORATION OF CHURCHES
Chapter 67: Section 54 Conveyances from religious societies
Section 54. Any religious society connected with a church so incorporated may, at any meeting called for the purpose, by a three fourths vote, authorize one or more persons in its name and behalf to convey any real or personal property belonging to it to such church, and such property shall thereafter be held by the church subject to the same uses and trusts as when held by said religious society.

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