On the erection and suppression of religious [institutes], provinces, and houses (Can. 492-498)

Canon 492

§ 1. Bishops, but not the Vicar Capitulary or the Vicar General, can found religious Congregations; but they shall not found them or allow them to be founded without consulting the Apostolic See; but if it concerns tertiaries living in common, it is also required that they be aggregated by the supreme Moderator to the first Order of that religious [institute].

§ 2. A Congregation of diocesan right, even though over the course of time it becomes spread over several dioceses, nevertheless, remains diocesan for so long as it lacks pontifical approbation or testament of praise, and it is fully subject to the jurisdiction of the Ordinary according to the norm of law.

§ 3. Neither a name nor a religious habit already constituted can be assumed by anyone who does not belong to it or by a new religious [institute].

Canon 493

Any religious [institute], even one of only diocesan right, once it is legitimately founded, even if it consists of only one house, can be suppressed by no one except the Holy See, to which is reserved in such case [the disposal] of the goods, always with due regard for the will of the donors.

Canon 494

§ 1. It pertains solely to the Apostolic See to divide the provinces of a religious [institute] of pontifical right, to unite a province already founded or otherwise to circumscribe them, to found new ones or suppress others, and to separate monasteries of their own right from monastic Congregations and to unite others.

§ 2. Upon extinction of a province, unless the constitutions provide otherwise, and with due regard for the law of justice and wills of the donors, the disposition of its goods belongs to the general Chapter or, if it is outside of the times of the Chapter, to the Moderator general with his Council.

Canon 495

§ 1. A religious Congregation of diocesan right cannot constitute houses in another diocese, except with the consent of both Ordinaries, both of the place where there is the principal house and of the place where it wishes to go; the local Ordinary from which it leaves, however, shall not deny this consent except for grave cause.

§ 2. If it happens that [other houses] are propagated in other dioceses, nothing can be changed regarding its laws, except with the consent of each of the Ordinaries of the dioceses in which it has a building, with due regard for those things that, according to the norm of Canon 492, § 1, are subject to the Apostolic See.

Canon 496

No religious house can be erected unless it can be prudently judged that either from its own income or from customary donations or in some other way an appropriate living and sustenance can be provided.

Canon 497

§ 1. For the erection of an exempt religious house, whether formal or not formal, or a monastery of nuns or of any religious house whatsoever in any place subject to the Sacred Congregation for the Prop. of the Faith, there is required the good pleasure of the Apostolic See and the consent of the local Ordinary given in writing; otherwise it is sufficient that the Ordinary approves.

§ 2. Permission for the constitution of a new house includes the faculty for clerical religious to have a church or public oratory attached to the house, with due regard for the prescription of Canon 1162, § 4, and to conduct sacred ministry, observing those things that in law ought to be observed; for all religious, [it includes the right] of exercising pious works proper to the religious [institute] with due regard for conditions laid down in this permission.

§ 3. In order that a school be built and opened, or [likewise] a hospital or a similar building separated even from an exempt house, it is necessary and sufficient that the special permission of the Ordinary [be had] in writing.

§ 4. In order that a constituted house be converted to another use, those formalities required in § 1 [shall be observed], unless it concerns the conversion, with due regard for the law of foundation, of something that only refers to the internal governance and discipline of the religious [institute].

Canon 498

A religious house, whether formal or not formal, if it pertains to an exempt religious [institute], cannot be suppressed without apostolic good pleasure; if [it pertains] to a non-exempt Congregation of pontifical rite, it can be suppressed by the supreme Moderator, the local Ordinary consenting; if [it pertains] to a Congregation of diocesan rite, [it can be suppressed] with only the authority of the local Ordinary, having heard the Moderator of the Congregation, with due regard for the prescription of Canon 493, and if it concerns the only house [of the institute], then with due regard for the right of recourse in suspension to the Apostolic See.