STATUTES
The National Association of Papal Knights and Dames in the United States
is Incorporated as a Not for Profit Corporation.
Chapter One
1. 1. The
name of this organization is the National Association of Papal Honorees in the
United States, known hereafter as the Association.
1.2.
The
territorial limits of the Association shall be the fifty States of the United
States of America.
1.3.
The Association shall be a not-for-profit organization and is not formed
for pecuniary profit or for financial gain.
1.4.
The period of duration of the Society shall be until such time as this
charter may be revoked by a vote of two thirds of the membership.
Chapter Two
2.1. The
purposes of this Association are:
(a)
To identify, distinguish and bring together all those persons honored
with appointment to the post of Gentleman of His Holiness, membership in the
Papal Orders, namely the Pontifical
Equestrian Order of Pius IX (Ordine Piano; Pian Order), the Pontifical Equestrian Order of Saint Gregory the Great (Ordine di
San Gregorio Magno), and the Pontifical
Equestrian Order of Pope Saint Sylvester (Ordine di San Silvestro), or who
have received the Crosses Pro Ecclesia et
Pontifice,
and Benemerenti.
(b)
To
support and defend the Supreme Pontiff and the Magisterium of the Church.
(c)
To celebrate an annual Mass in honor of Saint Gregory the Great and Pope
Saint Sylvester.
(d)
To remember deceased Gentlemen of His Holiness, Pontifical Knights and
Dames, and recipients of the Crosses Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, and
Benemerenti.
(e)
To identify, distinguish and bring together, as Honorary Members in good
standing, all Ecclesiastical Honorees in the classes of Monsignorial Titles a,
b, and c,
and those holding the title of Assistant to the Papal Throne.
Chapter Three
3.1.
Membership is automatic for every qualified person appointed to the post of
Gentleman of His Holiness, nominated to the Papal Orders or who receives the
Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice. All those persons who are presently Gentleman
of His Holiness, or members of the Papal Orders shall be members of the
Association; any future Gentlemen of His Holiness, knights or dames of the Papal
Orders, and recipients of the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice will become
members after they receive their bull of appointment or diploma.
3.2.
Ecclesiastical Honorees shall be accorded honorary membership, following the
grant of a bull of appointment by the Cardinal Secretary of State. All those
presently holding one of the three Monsignorial ranks or the title of Assistant
to the Papal Throne shall become Honorary Members.
Chapter Four
4.1. The
Association shall be governed by a Council composed of a President,
Vice-Presidents, Chancellor, Treasurer, and Secretary-Registrar, and an
Ecclesiastical advisor known as Chaplain, each of whom shall have one vote.
4.2. The
Knights or Dames Grand Cross of the Papal Orders and the Gentlemen of His
Holiness shall be Vice-Presidents from the foundation of the Association or from
the date of their appointment, for their lifetimes.
4.3. The
Council shall elect the President from among the Vice-Presidents for a
non-renewable term of three years.
4.4. The
Council shall nominate the Chancellor, Treasurer and Secretary-Registrar from
among the membership for renewable terms of five years.
4.5. Members
of the Council may not receive any remuneration for the exercise of their
functions other than reimbursement of those out of pocket expenses authorized by
the Council.
Chapter Five
5.1
The Council shall be empowered to set a minimum annual membership fee payable by
all subscribing members, which shall be used to defray the expenses of
organization and management. This amount shall not exceed $50 annually.
5.2.
The Council may also, from time to time, and on occasions such as Papal
Jubilees, and other special events, raise a one time donation as a gift for the
Supreme Pontiff.
Chapter Six
6.1. Proposed
amendments to the Charter or Statutes must be presented in writing to each
member of the Council, not less than twenty-one days prior to a regularly
scheduled or special meeting of the Council.
6.2.
Amendments to the Regulations may be approved by a two-thirds majority of the
full membership of the Council.
Chapter Seven
7.1.
The Council of the Association shall be empowered to draw up Regulations of this
Association provided these Regulations do not conflict in any regard with this
Charter.
Chapter Eight
8.1. The Council shall
nominate a Patron of the Association who shall be a Member of the Sacred
College, or hold the office of titular or residential Archbishop of the Holy
Roman Catholic Church.
Chapter Nine
9.1. This Charter may only be amended following approval
by a three-quarters majority of the full membership of the Council, confirmed by
a two-thirds majority of the membership.
REGULATIONS
Article One
1.1.
Membership in the National Association of Papal Honorees in the United
States (NAPHUS), known hereafter as the Association, is automatic for any United
States citizens or permanent residents who have been honored with appointment to
the post of Gentleman of His Holiness,
membership in the Papal Orders, namely the Pontifical
Equestrian Order of Pius IX (Ordine Piano; Pian Order), the Pontifical
Equestrian Order of Saint Gregory the Great (Ordine di San Gregorio Magno),
and the Pontifical Equestrian Order of
Pope Saint Sylvester (Ordine di San Silvestro), or receipt of the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice,
1.2.
Honorary Membership shall be automatic for any United States citizen who
has been elevated to the Episcopacy and as such is a member of the Papal Chapel,
or have been honored with the Monsignorial titles of Apostolic
Protonotary (both classes), Prelate
of Honor of His Holiness, or Chaplain
of His Holiness and Assistant to the
Papal Throne
1.3.
Only those members who pay the annual subscription or who have paid the
life membership fee, and will be styled subscribing
members, shall receive mailings and the newsletter. Honorary members may
request the mailings for which they shall be charged a fee to be set by the
Council.
1.4.
There shall be not less than one regularly scheduled annual membership
meeting each calendar year at which, in the event of a motion put forward by the
Council of the Association, each subscribing member may have one vote. Notice of
such meetings must be given at least twenty-one days in advance. A quorum for
the purpose of transacting business shall consist of a minimum of forty per cent
of the subscribing members in good standing that are in attendance at the
meeting or who have remitted proxies.
Article Two
2.1. Since
the Papal Orders and Honorary Appointments are given as a personal distinction
without any particular duties or responsibilities, membership of the Association
does not demand specific obligations other than payment of the annual or life
membership fee by subscribing members.
Article Three
3.1. The
Association shall be presided over by a President, elected by the Council from
among the Vice-Presidents.
3.2.
The deputy of the President shall be the Senior Vice-President, elected by the
Council from among the Vice-Presidents.
3.3. The
President or, in the President’s absence, the Senior Vice-President shall
chair meetings of the Council.
Article Four
4.1. The
senior executive officer of the Association will be the Chancellor. He shall
convene the meetings of the Council and require the Secretary to inform the
members of the Council of the dates of such meetings in good time.
Article Five
5.1. The
Treasurer shall be responsible for preparing the Annual Budget, submitting it to
the Council for approval, and presenting the Accounts of the Association; shall
be responsible for collecting membership fees and dues, maintain the books and
accounts and have custody of the funds of the Association; shall render periodic
reports of the Association’s finances as directed by the Council; shall
deposit all funds of the Association in the bank account designated by the
Council; shall attend to the payment of all bills and obligations of the
Association, and shall have such other duties as ordinarily pertain to the
office of Treasurer.
Article Six
6.1. The Secretary-Registrar: shall maintain the membership roll of
the Association; shall inform the Editor of the Newsletter of the names of all
new Gentlemen of His Holiness and Papal Knights and Dames, and recipients of the
Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice, and those who have been honored with one of the
three Monsignorial ranks or the post of Assistant to the Papal Throne, and of
those who have died. He shall record and keep the minutes of meetings and any
other proceedings of the Council or the Association; shall be responsible for
all correspondence of the Association; shall mail such notices as may be
required to the membership of the Association and to the members of the Council
thereof, and shall have such duties as ordinarily pertain to the office of
Secretary.
6.2. The
Council may appoint a full or part-time assistant-secretary and
assistant-registrar, neither of who may be members of the Association, to assist
the Secretary and the Registrar with their duties. These officers may receive
remuneration for the exercise of their functions, the amount of which shall be
established by the Council.
Article Seven
7.1. The
Council must appoint a firm of Accountants to prepare the annual accounts.
7.2. The Association shall maintain such bank accounts as may be
necessary which shall bear the name of the Association. Checks drawn on these
accounts shall require the signature of two officers, one of whom shall be the
Treasurer.
Article Eight
8.1. The Executive Committee shall be composed of the Chancellor,
Treasurer and Secretary-Registrar along with one or more Vice-President. This
Committee may transact the ordinary business of the Association but may not
alter the charter or Statutes in any way.
Article Nine
9.1. Meetings
of the Council should take place at least once annually and must be notified in
writing to each member twenty-one days in advance.
9.2. Participation
or voting in such meetings may be by telephone conference or some other similar
means of electronic communication, which will enable all participants to hear
the entire proceedings.
Article Ten
10.1 State
or Regional Delegations may be established by members of the Papal Orders in
each State or Region of the United States and may be attached to the National
Association with the permission of the Council of the Association.
10.2. These
Delegations may be organized in order to facilitate social meetings of members
in that area and arrange functions on behalf of the local membership.
10.3.
These Delegations shall arrange representation at Diocesan functions with the
local Ordinary, at the burial of members, at the investitures of Papal Knights
and Dames, and the installation of ecclesiastical honorees.
10.4. Each
Delegation may elect its own Council and Officers, make its own rules and
statutes provided that such rules do not conflict with this Charter, and charge
an appropriate annual membership fee. This fee may be charged as part of the fee
payable to the National Association, that portion of the fee due to the National
Association being payable by the Delegation to the Treasurer.
10.5. The
Council must approve any outlays of funds requiring reimbursement from the
National Association.
Article Eleven
11.1. The
members shall be invited to meet annually for a Mass to be celebrated in honor
of Saint Gregory the Great and Saint Sylvester [or the Chair of Peter], and for
the health and intentions of the reigning Pontiff. The place shall be selected
by the Council in consultation with the membership, with the permission of the
Ordinary of the local diocese, and shall be followed by a reception and dinner.
11.2.
The Annual Membership Meeting, as required under Article 1.4. of these Statutes,
shall ordinarily be held at this time.
11.3. Members
of the Association should seek to obtain the uniform of their respective Order
to wear when invited to participate in ceremonies of their local Diocese.
11.4.
The Association or local Delegation shall assign duties at Diocesan events for
both ladies and gentlemen in consultation with the local Ordinary.
Article Twelve
12.1. The
Council of the Association shall set the amount of the annual membership fee.
12.2.
The initial amount of the annual membership fee shall
be [$25].
12.3.
The annual fee shall be payable upon joining and each
calendar year thereafter on the first day of January.
12.4. Either upon joining or at any time thereafter, members of the
Association shall elect to pay a single lifetime membership fee. This will give
rise to no further demand for annual dues.
Article Thirteen
13.1. The
Association shall publish a Newsletter for the subscribing membership. This
shall include the names and rank of new Papal honorees, the names of those
promoted and of those who have died. Every subscribing member shall be entitled
to receive the Newsletter.
13.2. The
Council shall appoint an honorary Editor of the Newsletter, who need not be a
member of the Council, for a period not to exceed one year and whose
reappointment must be confirmed at the Annual General meeting.
13.3. The
Council may institute the employment of such full or part-time personnel as may
be necessary to assist the Editor in the production of the Newsletter, in
consultation with the membership.
13.4.
A directory of all members shall be created in due course. This shall include
the names of all Papal Honorees, their personal and business addresses, and
details and dates of all Papal honors, degrees, titles and awards (but no
further information).
Article Fourteen
14.1. The
Council may make grants in the name of the Association directly to the Holy See
or to Catholic Church charities selected in discussion with the Patron of the
Association, and approved by the general body of the Subscribing Membership.
Article Fifteen
15.1. Any
changes to these Regulations must be in accordance with the terms of the Charter
of the Association and must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the full Council
of the Association.
