CathSoc Expectations & Requirements

CATHSOC – Expectations and Requirements

This summary brings together from various sources the expectations and requirements of the Catholic Society by the Chaplaincy. It is not exhaustive and may be amended from time to time as needed. The Committee is expected to comply with these terms; if there are any concerns or clarifications needed, please consult with the chaplain.

The Liverpool universities’ Catholic Society (CathSoc) is a society for students and university members of the University of Liverpool, Liverpool John Moores University and the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts. Its ‘home’ is the Catholic Chaplaincy to the University of Liverpool, and it works in association with the chaplain and the chaplaincy as a whole. It plays a valuable role there in ensuring student participation, promoting and publicising the chaplaincy, supporting chaplaincy events, and in training members for leadership in the wider Church.

The Society is entitled to use the name ‘Catholic’ under the provisions of Canon 300 of the Roman Catholic Church’s [1983] Code of Canon Law*. The chaplain, appointed by the Archbishop, acts as the ‘guarantor of catholicity’ of the society, and accredits the society on behalf of the Church. It is not possible for the society to sever its connection with the chaplaincy – if it did so it would lose the right to call itself Catholic. The Society therefore is the public face of the Catholic Church to the Universities and LIPA – a responsibility it must take very seriously. In return, the chaplain will support the society, in helping to publicise and plan events, and on occasion providing material support.

CathSoc’s committee is composed of elected members of the student body, so it is a ‘lay-led’ society. The chaplain also sits ex officio on on the committee has the task of accompanying and guiding the committee, and through it, the society. Its not the chaplain’s role to dictate or control, but to accompany and guide (though he may intervene if he thinks the committee is failing to function well, or acting in a way contrary to its identity as a Catholic Society). The committee may decide to co-opt new members onto the committee during the academic year. But this should be agreed at formal meetings, and in consultation with the chaplain. The president(s) of the society should be in close contact with the chaplain throughout the year.

The society has the duty to reflect in its life the values of the Roman Catholic Church, obviously, since it is a Catholic society. This should guide the way the society is led, the types of evens it runs and any outside events or organisations it becomes involved in.

Where committee members fail consistently to discharge their office and / or fail to attend meetings, or behave in a way such as to risk bringing the Church, the Chaplaincy or the Society into disrepute, the chaplain can instruct the committee to take appropriate action, and this may include terminating the committee members position on the committee.

Committee members have a duty to ensure they are properly trained to undertake the offices they hold. If they feel in need of help in this, please contact the chaplain. The Guild or the JMSU may be able to provide some training, however they cannot provide the training specific to the Catholic character of the society. The Chaplaincy pays for up to 2 committee members to attend the training weekend run by the Catholic Students Network in London. This is excellent training, and also means members will meet many other members of different CathSocs around the country.

The committee takes the initiative to consult with students and plan events, whether these take place at the chaplaincy or not. The society has the responsibility to support chaplaincy events, and support the chaplaincy team in planning and developing such. So committee members should be present at the regular activities at the chaplaincy, as far as reasonably possible, and should encourage the members to be involved as well.

CathSoc has normally been registered with the UoL Guild of Students (though not always), and sometimes with JMSU. It is not, however, a requirement of the Church that this is the case. The committee each year has a duty to evaluate sensibly the pros and cons of membership, and to make a decision about whether to retain or reinstate registration. This should be done at the start of the academic year, and should be minuted. Given that the Guild, and JMSU do not always share the values of the Catholic Church (e.g. the Guild’s ‘pro-Choice’ stance), it is important that registration is not taken for granted.

It is essential that CathSoc plans its activities each term and each year, in an accountable manner. It therefore holds meetings at least termly which are attended by committee members and by the chaplain (and if possible, other Chaplaincy team members, such as the assistant). Meetings must be notified in advance to all committee members and the chaplain. Minutes should be taken of all meetings and the minutes should, once approved, be made available to its membership. (Any confidential matter discussed at the meeting should be minuted, but this part of the minutes should not be published). There should be an annual general meeting, open to all members, and this should be publicised so all can attend.

CathSoc must obtain approval from the chaplain before inviting visiting speakers, even where the event is planned at a venue other than the chaplaincy.

CathSoc should encourage links with other faith societies at the universities, and other University Catholic Societies. Fundraising for good causes and involvement in social action should also be things that CathSoc is involved in.