CATHOLIC ASSOCIATIONS. — Under this name, certainly a very general one, may be included all societies of the faithful having an aim in conformity with Catholic doctrine or at least not opposed to II. In this broad sense, there are Catholic associations for mutual aid, charity, insurance, etc.
In a narrower sense, this designation applies only to those societies of the faithful which, while not being religious institutes, pursue an aim that is more specifically charitable, religious, or similar, with the approval or at least the recommendation of ecclesiastical authority. The CIC recommends all of them, urging the faithful to belong to them and warning them against secret, condemned, seditious, suspect associations, or associations that in any way seek to evade the legitimate vigilance of the Church (can. 684).
In an even narrower sense, the same Code legislates on associations of the faithful canonically erected or at least approved by the Church (can. 686, § 1), all of which are also called ecclesiastical associations, in contrast to those merely recommended, which are called lay associations (but this is imprecise terminology).
Thus we have a threefold class of Catholic associations understood in the strict sense: recommended associations, approved associations, and canonically erected associations. Although urging the faithful to belong to such associations, the CIC deals only with those falling into the last two classes and distinguishes them (can. 700 ff.) into Third Orders, Confraternities, and Pious Unions (v. CONFRATERNITA; TERZ'ORDINE; UNIONE PIA), admitting that those belonging to the last two categories may be elevated to the dignity of Archconfraternities or Primary Unions. All three classes are of interest to us.
Special mention is deserved by the Associations of Catholic Action, which, according to some, would constitute a fourth category of associations erected or approved by the Church, in addition to the three mentioned above (v. AZIONE CATTOLICA).
From the historical-juridical point of view, it is useful to recall that, from its origin, the Church expressed in concrete forms its native right to group the faithful into special associations or fraternities, with the aim of more effectively attaining the essential purpose of the sanctification and salvation of souls, or of achieving more immediate ends dependent upon and connected with that purpose, or in any case of employing the means most appropriate for attaining those ends.
If there was an evolution in this activity of the Church, we find it in the progressively closer organization of its associations, under the impulse of their preservation and perfection, or of the various circumstances of time and place, or of new needs of social life. Thus, from the primitive pious associations of charity, suggested by contingent circumstances, there developed, also through the impulse of religious institutes, associations for worship (Confraternities), associations for moral and spiritual perfection (Third Orders), and associations for cooperation in the apostolate and for social assistance (Catholic Action).
At first, the juridical activity of the Church intervened chiefly only to approve or authorize private initiatives; from the thirteenth century, and especially after the Council of Trent, a more direct legislative action gained momentum, intended to issue regulations, settle questions, promote new forms of associations, and regulate their foundation, development, and activities. Extensive documentation on this subject is supplied by the sources annotated at the foot of can. 684 ff.
The CIC, at least with regard to associations of the faithful understood in the stricter sense, provides precise norms for their erection or approval and aggregation, for their government, for the admission and dismissal of members, and for the administration of property (can. 686 ff.). These norms are not in themselves applicable to associations that are merely recommended.
The Concordat between the Holy See and Italy establishes the dependence of Catholic associations upon ecclesiastical authority (art. 29 c, 30, 43), and also provides for their recognition for civil purposes (art. 31), which entails the capacity to acquire and possess property (art. 30). The laws, regulations, instructions, etc., issued by the two High Parties for the implementation of the Concordat further determine the points mentioned above.
For associations of arts and trades, V. CORPORAZIONE.