The Diocese of Saint-Jean-Longueuil, in the Montreal region, is divided into four great "pastoral regions": the "Anglophone" region, which covers the whole diocese and oversees English-speaking communities; and the geographical "Centre", "Sud-Ouest", and "Longueuil Nord" regions. Each of these "Pastoral regions" is guided by a "Regional Animator" -- in all cases, laywomen. This is just an extreme sign of a common practice throughout Quebec (as in most dioceses in North America), in all levels of Church government, especially in parish churches.
Today, in his speech to the bishops of Quebec, who, in the past couple of weeks, have been making their "Ad Limina" visits to the Pope and to the Roman Dicasteries, the Pope had some strong words regarding the irreplaceable position of priests in the government of the Church:
Today, in his speech to the bishops of Quebec, who, in the past couple of weeks, have been making their "Ad Limina" visits to the Pope and to the Roman Dicasteries, the Pope had some strong words regarding the irreplaceable position of priests in the government of the Church:
Meanwhile, the reduction of the number of priests, which makes at times impossible the celebration of Sunday Mass in certain locations, puts in doubt in a disturbing way the place of sacramentality in the life of the Church.
The needs of pastoral organization should not compromise the authenticity of the ecclesiology which is expressed. The central position of the priest who, in persona Christi capitis, teaches, sanctifies, and governs the community, cannot be minimized.
The ministerial priesthood is indispensable for the existence of an ecclesial community. The importance of the position of lay people, whose generosity in the service of the Christian communities I salute, can never hide the absolutely irreplaceable ministry of priests for the life of the Church. Therefore, the ministry of the priest cannot be entrusted to others without truly hurting the authenticity of the Church's own self.
Furthermore, how may young men wish to become priests if the position of the ordained ministry is not clearly defined and recognized?
The outrageous letter of the Canadian Religious Conference, openly defending anti-Catholic principles and practices, is probably related to another of the pope's warnings in his speech:
I therefore invite consecrated people, male and female, to grow in their ecclesial sentiment and in their need to work in an always closer relationship with their Pastors, welcoming and spreading the doctrine of the Church in its integrity and in its integrality.
Finally, the Holy Father recalled the most important speech of his pontificate, the epoch-making Christmas Speech to the Curia, of December 22, 2005:
Ecclesial communion, founded on the very person of Jesus Christ, demands fidelity to the doctrine of the Church, notably by a just interpretation of the Vatican II Council, that is, as I have had the occasion to say, "the 'hermeneutic of reform', of renewal in the continuity of the one subject-Church which the Lord has given to us" (Speech to the Roman Curia, December 22, 2005) In fact, if we thus read and receive the Council, "it can be and can become increasingly powerful for the ever necessary renewal of the Church." (ibid.)
