THEOLOGICAL COMMISSION EXCLUDES ORDAINING WOMEN AS DEACONS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 18, 2002 (VIS) - Following is a communique released by the International Theological Commission in response to a media article on women being ordained as deacons:

"The general secretary of the International Theological Commission, Fr. Georges Cottier, O.P., has responded to certain questions about the Commission's study of the diaconate raised in the October 8 issue of 'La Croix'. Fr. Cottier stated that the Commission's study has not concluded that the possibility that women could be ordained to the diaconate remains open, as asserted by La Croix, but rather tends to support the exclusion of this possibility."

"The Commission of theologians ... presented two important indications which emerge from study of the matter. In the first place, the Commission observed that the deaconesses mentioned in the tradition of the early Church cannot simply be assimilated to ordained deacons. In support of this conclusion, Fr. Cottier noted that both the rite of institution and the functions exercised by deaconesses distinguished them from ordained deacons.

"Furthermore, Fr. Cottier noted that the Commission's study reaffirmed the unity of the sacrament of Holy Orders. The distinction between the ministry of bishops and priests, on the one hand, and that of deacons, on the other hand, is nonetheless embraced within the unity of the sacrament of Holy Orders.

"Fr. Cottier stated that 'it belongs to the Magisterium to pronounce with authority on the question, taking into account the historical and theological research presented by the study of the International Theological Commission'. ...

"The International Theological Commission devoted over five years of research to the topic of the history and theology of the diaconate before approving the text of its study at its recently concluded meeting. The study was produced at the request of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith."

COM-TI;DIACONATE;...;COTTIER;VIS;20021018;Word: 310;

THE PRIEST, PASTOR AND LEADER OF THE PARISH COMMUNITY

VATICAN CITY, OCT 18, 2002 (VIS) - This afternoon in the Holy See Press Office, Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos and Archbishop Csaba Ternyak, respectively prefect and secretary of the Congregation for Clergy, presented the Instruction "The Priest, Pastor and Leader of the Parish Community."

The Introduction of the document, which was published in Italian, Spanish, English, German and Polish, includes the Holy Father's speech to participants in the plenary assembly of the congregation on November 23, 2001. The first part tackles the topic of common and ordained priesthood and the central elements of the ministry and life of priests. The second part talks about the parish and the office of parish priest, and the current challenges in parish pastoral care. It concludes with a prayer of the parish priest to Mary Most Holy.

Cardinal Castrillon affirmed that this Instruction follows a series of documents such as the "Directory on the ministry and life of Priests" (1994), the Interdicasterial Instruction "Ecclesiae de mysterio" (1997) and the Circular Letter "The Priest and the Third Christian Millennium, Teacher of the Word, Minister of the Sacraments and Leader of the Community," published on the occasion of the Great Jubilee.

"The main objective of this Instruction," he said, "is to define for the community and the clergy the role of pastor and sacramental leader, who from the parish encourages and leads (the people) to Christ, the Way to the Father."

The prefect emphasized that this document will help parish priests "to live out better their pastoral duties and to collaborate effectively for the good of the community so that the same community discovers once again the irreplaceable importance of the parish priest."

Referring to the first part of the text, which is doctrinal in nature, Cardinal Castrillon stated that the parish priest is "a man of communion, with the local Church and with the universal Church. Therefore, he must be a model of adherence to the Magisterium of the Church and he must truly feel like a father to the community and to each one of its members. He is an authentic leader of souls."

Regarding priestly identity, he said that "it must be searched for in pastoral grace which derives from having received the Sacrament of Orders. ... One must be able to recognize it by his way of being, of doing things and expressing himself, by his lifestyle and his way of introducing himself externally as well."

"A priest does not simply 'work' as a priest," he exclaimed. "He 'is' a priest! ... A parish priest is a priest whom everyone encounters naturally in their life. He is one who lives immersed among the people, in neighborhoods, among the everyday problems of all kinds of people," in all environments.

The cardinal prefect concluded by affirming that the Instruction "could help so that the ministry of the pastor as leader of the community and his specific function of pastoral governing do not disappear or become unnatural in the midst of other structures that would like to, or in fact do, take their place, even if they may be valid and respectable structures."

For his part, Archbishop Ternyak emphasized that all priests must study the reference texts and authorized guides in depth for their life and their ministry. He also said that they should include them in programs of permanent formation.

The purpose of the document, he added, is "to define the role of 'sacramental leader' of the parish priest. It does not intend to undervalue in any way the active role of the lay faithful in the parish community."

"This document," he concluded, "is also a tribute to the many parish priests in the whole world who carry out their ministry faithfully and silently, despite difficulties, misunderstandings and humiliation."

OP;PRIEST; PARISH;...;CASTRILLON; TERNYAK;VIS;20021018;Word: 630;

ADDRESS TO COUNCIL PLENARY FOCUSSES ON FAMILY, COUPLES IN CRISIS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 18, 2002 (VIS) - Pope John Paul this morning addressed the participants of the 15th Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council for the Family which is currently underway in Rome on the theme "Pastoral Ministry for the Family and Couples in Difficulty."

The Pope highlighted the need for prayer, the Sacraments and spiritual guidance in the life of couples, saying this is all the more important "when lifestyles proliferate ... that place into doubt the value of matrimony, even believing it to be impossible for spouses to give themselves reciprocally in joyous fidelity. ... A badly understood sexual education also harms family life."

"How important it is," said John Paul II, whose 1981 document, "Familiaris Consortio," was the inspiration for the theme of the plenary, "to promote family support for couples, especially young ones, with the help of families that are spiritually and morally sound! This is a fruitful and necessary apostolate, especially at this historic moment."

The Pope's closing remarks were dedicated to the importance of dialogue within families, between parents and children, especially in the formative years. If parents do not find the time to talk with their children, he said, the children "will seek models and lifestyles elsewhere, that often are false and harmful for the dignity of man and for true love. Banalyzing sex in a society saturated with eroticism, and the lack of reference to ethical principles, can ruin the lives of children, adolescents and young people."

AC;FAMILIES;...;...;VIS;20021018;Word: 250;

AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, OCT 18, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in separate audiences:

- Archbishop Pierre Christophe, apostolic nuncio in Uganda.
- Archbishop Alain Paul Lebeaupin, apostolic nuncio in Ecuador.
- Bishop Affonso Felippe Gregory of Imperatriz, Brazil on his "ad limina" visit.
- Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
- Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.

AP; AL;...;...;...;VIS;20021018;Word: 70;

HOLY SEE REPLIES TO NORMS WRITTEN BY U.S. BISHOPS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 18, 2002 (VIS) - Made public today was a Letter from Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, prefect of the Congregation for Bishops, to Bishop Wilton Gregory, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, in answer to the "Essential Norms for Diocesan/Eparchial Policies Dealing with Allegations of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Priests, Deacons or Other Church Personnel" ("Norms") written by the American bishops.

The American bishops asked for a "recognitio" of this document, which had been approved at the plenary meeting of the USCCB in Dallas on June 13-15.

Following are excerpts from Cardinal Re's Letter, dated October 14, 2002:
"The Holy See, above all, would like to convey full solidarity with the Bishops of the United States in their firm condemnation of sexual misdeeds against minors and is deeply concerned about the distressing situation that has arisen in recent months in the Church in the United States. Likewise, the Holy See wishes to encourage the efforts of the Episcopal Conference in assisting the Bishops to address these difficult problems.

"The sexual abuse of minors is particularly abhorrent. Deeply moved by the sufferings of the victims and their families, the Holy See supports the American Bishops in their endeavor to respond firmly to the sexual misdeeds of the very small number of those who minister or labor in the service of the Church. But such a very small number cannot overshadow 'the immense spiritual, human and social good that the vast majority of priests and religious in the United States have done and are still doing' (Pope John Paul II, Address to the Cardinals and to the Presidency of the Episcopal Conference of the United States, April 23, 2002).

"The Apostolic See likewise acknowledges the efforts which the Bishops of the United States have made through the 'Norms' and the guidelines contained in the Bishops' Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People ('Charter') to protect minors and to avoid future recurrences of these abuses. Such efforts should also help to preserve or restore the trust of the faithful in their pastors.

"Despite these efforts, the application of the policies adopted at the Plenary Assembly in Dallas can be the source of confusion and ambiguity, because the Norms and Charter contain provisions which in some aspects are difficult to reconcile with the universal law of the Church."

"For these reasons, it has been judged appropriate that before the 'recognitio' can be granted, a further reflection on and revision of the Norms and the Charter are necessary. In order to facilitate this work, the Holy See proposes that a Mixed Commission be established, composed of four bishops chosen from the Episcopal Conference of the United States, and four representatives from those Dicasteries of the Holy See which have direct competence in the matter: the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the Congregation for Bishops, the Congregation for Clergy, and the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts."

Bishop Gregory, in a reply to the cardinal prefect, dated October 15, said, in part: "The Bishops of the United States are profoundly grateful to the Holy See, both for the fraternal solicitude that has been shown to the Church in the United States at this difficult time and for the gracious consideration that has been given to our request.

"In view of the issues that Your Eminence raises in your letter to me regarding the best way for us to pursue effectively the 'recognitio' of our proposed Norms, I am happy to accept, on behalf of our Episcopal Conference, the suggestion of the Apostolic See that a Mixed Commission be established in order to reflect further on and consider revision of certain aspects of the Charter accepted by the Bishops in Dallas and the Norms proposed to the Holy See for 'recognitio'."

CPE;NORMS; SEXUAL ABUSE;...;RE; GREGORY;VIS;20021018;Word: 640;

OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, OCT 18, 2002 (VIS) - The Holy Father:

- Appointed Msgr. Tommaso Ghirelli, episcopal vicar of the diocese of Bologna, Italy, as bishop of Imola (area 820, population 140,000, Catholics 135,000, priests 133, permanent deacons 9, religious 177), Italy. The bishop-elect was born in Forli, Italy in 1944 and was ordained a priest in 1969. The Holy Father accepted the resignation from the pastoral care of the same diocese presented by Bishop Guiseppe Fabiani, upon having reached the age limit.

- Appointed Msgr. Cataldo Naro, lecturer of Church History in the Faculty of Theology at St. John the Baptist in Sicily, as archbishop of Monreale (area 1,509, population 190,000, Catholics 185,000, priests 150, religious 343), Italy. The archbishop-elect was born in San Cataldo, Italy in 1951 and was ordained a priest in 1974.

NER; RE;...;...;GHIRELLI; FABIANI; NARO;VIS;20021018;Word: 130;