The Guidelines note: "A Diocesan Bishop is required to determine in writing what constitutes ordinary and extraordinary administration of a parish’s temporal goods wherever canon law is silent on such matters (can. 1281§2). These guidelines seek to provide such guidance, and must, therefore, be followed diligently to ensure that high standards of good practice are maintained, and that the requirements of canon law are carefully observed thereby ensuring that priests do not inadvertently leave themselves open to possible sanction under can. 1380 ff."

The Guidelines show the inherent ambiguity in language - account and 'The Accounts". 

Can. 1287 states that administrators should render accounts to the faithful concerning the goods they have given to the Church. To discharge this duty, the Accounts (as at 31st December) must be published to the Parish. The Finance Committee shall advise on the form and content of the published Accounts. However, they must show as a minimum the income and expenditure of the parish for the financial year (1 January – 31 December). Accounts for the preceding financial year should be published to parishioners by 31st March.

The ten 'Matters for the Finance Committee' do not include reference to the this annual report.

The A&B Parish Finance Committees document seen on their website in 2018 showed the same wording about Trustees.  A note on their Publication of Parish Accounts also said: “Can 1287 states that administrators should render accounts to the faithful concerning the goods they have given to the Church. To discharge this duty, a yearly financial statement must be made available for all parishioners. The format of the Parish Financial Return is suitable.” However, in the 2020 Guide for Finance Committees and Parish Accounting Handbook all reference to Canon 1287.2 has disappeared, together with the statement of Trustees’ obligation.

 The Trustees’ duty was seen alive in East Anglia.  Here’s the December 2020 Parish Finance Committee Procedures for the parish of St John The Baptist Cathedral in Norwich: “The main aim of the Charities Act 2006 is to ensure that all assets of a charity are managed prudently and effectively. In particular, the Trustees must ensure that…parish accounts are presented annually to the faithful.” 

The website shows the parish accounts for 2020 and 2019 - one of only two among 40 cathedral parish websites searched in mid-2021 in the UK and New Zealand.

In contrast, for the 78-page Parish Handbook on the Diocesan website the Trustees approved a different interpretation of Canon 1287.2.  This says a Finance Committee should report annually to the wider parish on the financial situation of the parish, for example at the AGM of the Parish Pastoral Council and in the parish newsletter. 

The St John’s guide also has a handy reminder for all Trustees. “The parish priest must ensure that an effective Parish Finance Committee (PFC) is formed and that all relevant information is made available to its members. While he is encouraged to delegate many financial and administrative matters relating to the parish to people with relevant expertise, it is his duty to keep himself fully informed of all material matters relating to the parish. He must ensure that all necessary documents are completed accurately and within the time allowed. He is ultimately responsible for the administration of the juridical person – the parish. That responsibility cannot be delegated.”

By contrast, in the USA the Diocese of Birmingham has available on-line its Financial Best Practices Guide: “The Parish Finance Council should review and assure that a financial report is issued each year and made available for parishioners to review.” Under Internal Controls, one function of the PFC is “to prepare and publish an Annual Financial Statement and Report for the Parish Finance Council (and Parish Pastoral Council and the members of the parish community if desired)”. HRHG Even if they don’t desire, Canon 1287.2 says the priest has to make that report.