Article 20

The Secular Franciscan Order is divided into fraternities of various levels--local, regional, national, and international. Each one has its own moral personality in the Church. These various fraternities are coordinated and united according to the norm of this rule and of the constitutions.

Article 20 of the Rule of St. Francis of the Secular Franciscan Order is self-explanatory. The important thing to remember is that the Professed are members not only of their local fraternity, but also of the Regional fraternity they reside in, the National fraternity, and the International which is CIOFS. It is so easy to forget this "hierarchy" but we belong to a very large International Order.

The F.U.N. Manual really has no specific reflection on Article 20. /fss

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7-16-2012