With the release of the apostolic constitution “Episcopalis communio” on Sept. 18, His Holiness, Pope Francis, has ordered a change to the way that the Catholic Church understands the authority and work of assemblies of bishops.
Editorials
One, Holy, Catholic
According to some pundits, sexual abuse by clerics and other Church workers and sexual harassment and misconduct by clerics and other Church workers of adults, is a uniquely American problem. This is patently false.
A Grievous Wound
Both Attorney Generals in New York and New Jersey announced last week that they would investigate sexual abuse in all the dioceses in New York and New Jersey.
Stand with Peter
The fierce debate that is being waged in the Church about whether Pope Francis enabled a wayward cardinal to continue to be part of church life has less to do about specific instances and more to do with the direction that the Church is heading. There is all-out war going on in ecclesiastical ranks between liberals who love where Pope Francis is taking the Church and conservatives who consider his thinking to be anathema.
A Visible Center of Unity
This past week, Our Holy Father, Pope Francis, made his journey to the World Meetings of Families, sponsored by the Vatican dicastery responsible for ministry to families, laity and life, headed by Cardinal Kevin Farrell. The Diocese of Brooklyn was blessed by a representation of priests and parishioners.
Rely on Virtues
Many of our Bishops in the United States have reflected wisely and well on the situation facing the Church in the United States concerning the sexual abuse of minors by members of the clergy. The Pennsylvania Grand Jury report detailing incidents is just the latest in a sad and shameful story.
Death Penalty
With the doctrinal reformulation concerning the death penalty to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis has clarified the Catholic Church’s teaching on the death penalty. Acting in continuity with and developing from the teaching already in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, this clarification should come as no surprise to anyone.
Chaste and Charitable
In the wake of scandals that have affected the priesthood and episcopacy that have been so much in view in recent weeks, our attention should once again turn to the role of celibacy and chastity. It is essential for us to come again to a proper understanding of celibacy in the life of the priest and the Church.
Centrality of Parish
The true parish is based on relationship – between God and humanity, bishop and pastor, pastor and his staff and the parishioners, all leading to the parish family, that enlivens and strengthens the domestic church, that is, the family at home. … When we say “the Church,” do not think of just the Pope and bishops. They are the leaders, but the laypeople are 99.9 percent of the Church.
Wisdom of Saints
A recent article in the Italian newspaper La Stampa states that Blessed Pope Paul VI sent the Synodal Fathers an invitation to let the pope know what they thought about birth regulation. Most bishops did not respond, and only seven were opposed to the use of artificial contraception.