Confirmed ACG 1968 River Forest n. Revision history
- A diffinitor of a general chapter is a brother elected in a provincial chapter of any province, to whom active voting rights in a general chapter are conferred by law.
- The socius of a diffinitor, elected in the same manner, has the right to take his place in case of necessity.
- The socius of a prior provincial going to a general chapter is elected in the same way, and with the same right to take his place.
- In an elective general chapter, the socius of a diffinitor, as in n. 407, § I, 5, and the socius of a prior provincial, as in n. 407, § I, 6, have voting rights.
Confirmed ACG 1968 River Forest n. Revision history
- In every provincial chapter, two diffinitors general and two socii must be elected. Those elected in the first place shall be considered elected for the first chapter in which diffinitors will take part whether it is an elective chapter or a chapter of diffinitors only; those elected in the second place shall be considered elected for the second such chapter unless, before they exercise their office, another provincial chapter intervenes.
- Three different brothers must be elected as socii of the diffinitors and socius of the prior provincial.
Technice ACG 2013 Traugurii n. 264 Revision history
For someone to be eligible as a diffinitor of a general chapter or a socius of a diffinitor or of a prior provincial, it is required that:
- he is a member of the province or, if he is not a member of the province, he has been assigned there for at least six years;
- he has not served as diffinitor, nor as an elector, under the same title in the immediately preceding general chapter.
- he is not directly assigned in a house convent under the immediate jurisdiction of the Master of the Order.
Confirmed ACG 1968 River Forest n. Revision history
All shall be elected, one after the other, by all the voters at the chapter. In each election, if by the third ballot inclusively, no candidate has achieved an absolute majority, in the fourth and final ballot two are to be considered eligible, they being those who received the greater number of votes in the previous ballot without prejudice to n. 494, § II., n 515, § IV, 2.
Confirmed ACG 1968 River Forest n. Revision history
Testimonial letters, signed by the president of the chapter and the diffinitors (see Appendix n. 30) shall be given to those elected as diffinitors of a general chapter and as socii; otherwise, in no way shall they be admitted to the position of diffinitor or to the election of the Master of the Order unless their right may be established in some other way.
Confirmed ACG 1968 River Forest n. Revision history
- If, before a general chapter is held, a brother who has been elected diffinitor is elected or appointed prior provincial in his own or in another province or is impeded in any other way, the socius of the diffinitor shall be substituted in his place as of right.
- If, however, the socius of a diffinitor or of a prior provincial is impeded or not available, in his place shall be substituted one of the diffinitors of the preceding provincial chapter, who has the conditions required in n. 522, beginning with the older in the Order.