Northern Territory Consolidated Acts

CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE NORTHERN TERRITORY ACT - SECT 2

    (1)     In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:

"bishop", in relation to a diocese, means the person for the time being ruling the diocese under and in accordance with the canon law of the Catholic Church, and includes an administrator apostolic and a vicar capitular.

"Catholic Church" means the church which acknowledges that the Roman Pontiff for the time being is its spiritual head.

"diocese" means a diocese of the Catholic Church, and includes an archdiocese.

"parish" means a parish of a diocese.

"parish priest", in relation to a parish of a diocese, means the person duly appointed by the bishop of the diocese as parish priest of the parish, and includes:

        (a)     in relation to a cathedral parish – the bishop of the diocese; and

        (b)     a priest appointed by the bishop to act for the time being:

            (i)     on behalf of the parish priest; or

            (ii)     as administrator of the parish.

"property trust" means a property trust established under this Act.

"public officer", in relation to a property trust established in respect of an institution or association, means the public officer of the property trust and includes any person for the time being exercising the powers of the public officer.

    (2)     An institution or association shall not be held not to be Catholic by reason only that some of the members of the institution or association are not Catholic.

    (3)     Where a diocese or parish extends beyond the Territory, this Act applies as if the diocese or parish, as the case may be, consisted only of so much of the diocese or parish as is within the Territory.

    (4)     Where the cathedral of a diocese or the principal church of a parish is outside the Territory, this Act does not apply in relation to the diocese or parish, as the case may be, unless:

        (a)     in the case of a diocese – it has an address for service of notices in the Territory; or

        (b)     in the case of a parish – both it and the diocese of which it is a parish have addresses for service of notices in the Territory.