Pope to Synod Committee: Encyclical on Faith coming out shortly; written with "four hands" with Benedict XVI

Once again offering off-the-cuff remarks (this time in his meeting with the members of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops), the Pope revealed two things.

As reported by Il Mondo:

"An encyclical" on faith "should come out shortly", "[written] by four hands, it is said: Pope Benedict, who delivered it to me, started it; it is a strong document"... "I have received this great work that he has done, and I have brought it forward."

"Four hands"? So... it pretty much confirms the report made by the Bishop of Molfetta following an ad limina visit, denied by the Holy See spokesman, a denial celebrated by disingenuous people...

Also today, Pope Francis accepted the resignation of 54-year-old Fernando Isern, Bishop of Pueblo (Colorado), according to canon 401 § 2, of the Code of Canon Law (reasons of health or other grave reason). Bp. Isern, a follower of former Miami Archbishop John Favarola, had been named Bishop of Pueblo by Benedict XVI in 2009.

Final 401 § 2 cases:

At least in this pontificate. Of course, there could be a few left for tomorrow, and even some signed but still to be published.

The Holy Father accepted today:

- the resignation to the pastoral government of the Archbishop of Liverpool, Patrick Altham Kelly, according to can. 401 § 2 of the Code of Canon Law [the second Archbishop in Britain in 48 hours];

- the resignation of the Auxiliary of Armagh, Bishop Gerard Clifford, according to canons 411 and 401 § 2 of the Code of Canon Law. [Source: Bollettino]

One in Scotland, one in England, one (partly) in Northern Ireland.

Yet another bishop toowoombed

Archbishop Róbert Bezák, C.SS.R., 52, of  Trnava, Slovakia, suffered today the same fate of Bishop emeritus Morris, of Toowoomba, Australia, and Bishop emeritus Micciché, of Trapani, Italy. From the Bollettino of the Holy See Press Office:

The Holy Father, Benedict XVI, has dismissed from the pastoral care of the archdiocese of Trnava (Slovakia) H. E. Róbert Bezák.

An apostolic visitation had been conducted in the Archdiocese from Jan. 22 to Feb. 1, 2012.

New nominations in the Holy See [Updated]

-Archbishop Joseph Augustine Di Noia, OP, former Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship, named Vice-President of the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei.

- Arthur Roche, Bishop of Leeds (now Archbishop), a representative of the fine post-conciliar liturgical establishment in Britain, named new Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship. Congratulations to all involved!

-Vincenzo Paglia, Bishop of Terni (now Archbishop), a grand master of the Sant'Egidio movement, named new President of the Pontifical Council for the Family.

- Jean-Louis Bruguès OP, Archbishop, Secretary of the Congregation for Catholic Education, named new Archivist and Librarian of the Holy Roman Church. 

- The Pope has also accepted the resignation of the Bishop of Merlo-Moreno, Argentina, Bishop Fernando Bargalló (previous post on the matter).

Source: Bollettino.

[Update:] 

NOTE FROM THE CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH 

Vatican City, 26 June 2012 (VIS) - Given below is the text of an English-language note issued today by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Fatih concerning the appointment of Archbishop Augustine Di Noia as vice president of the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei": 

"Pope Benedict XVI has named Archbishop Augustine Di Noia, O.P., to the post of vice president of the Pontifical Commission 'Ecclesia Dei'. The appointment of a high-ranking prelate to this position is a sign of the Holy Father’s pastoral solicitude for traditionalist Catholics in communion with the Holy See and his strong desire for the reconciliation of those traditionalist communities not in union with the See of Peter. The president of the commission is the Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Cardinal William J. Levada.

"The Pontifical Commission 'Ecclesia Dei' was established in 1988 by Blessed John Paul II to facilitate 'full ecclesial communion of priests, seminarians, religious communities or individuals until now linked in various ways to the Fraternity founded by Archbishop Lefebvre' and to promote the pastoral care of the faithful attached to the ancient Latin liturgical tradition of the Catholic Church. In 2009, the Pontifical Commission was structurally linked to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith to address the doctrinal issues in the ongoing dialogue between the Holy See and the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X.

"As a respected Dominican theologian, Archbishop Di Noia has devoted much attention to these doctrinal issues, as well as to the priority of the hermeneutic of continuity and reform in the right interpretation of Vatican Council II - a critically important area in the dialogue between the Holy See and the Priestly Fraternity. Under the guidance of Cardinal Levada, with the assistance of Msgr. Guido Pozzo, secretary of the Pontifical Commission, this dialogue has been ongoing over the past three years.

"Previously, Archbishop Di Noia served as secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments where, together with the prefect, Cardinal Antonio Canizares, he oversaw the reorganisation of the dicastery and the preparation of a new 'Regolamento' following the directions of Pope Benedict’s 'motu proprio' of 30 August 2011, 'Quaerit Semper'. Archbishop Di Noia’s experience and continued association with the Congregation for Divine Worship will facilitate the development of certain desired liturgical provisions in the celebration of the 1962 'Missale Romanum'.

"In addition, the broad respect that Archbishop Di Noia enjoys in the Jewish community will help in addressing some issues that have arisen in the area of Catholic-Jewish relations as the journey towards the reconciliation of traditionalist communities has progressed". [See also: Di Noia's interview to CNS today.]

Another 401 § 2?...

The Holy See really should consider clearly separating the two causes for early resignation foreseen in can 401 § 2 of the Code of Canon Law - disease or "other grave reason" (and here, other grave reason should be further classified in personal or doctrinal reasons), as a matter of justice, so that those who do resign for health reasons are not tainted by association with those who resign for other reasons...

The Holy Father, Benedict XVI, has accepted the resignation to pastoral government of the diocese of Liepāja (Latvia), presented by H.E. Bp. Wilhelms [Vilhelms] Lapelis, O.P., in conformity with can. 401 § 2 of the Code of Canon Law. [Bollettino]

In his own letter to his Diocese, the Bishop Emeritus, who is 50 years old, does not at all imply a disease, but says he is "pleased" with the Papal decision because he sees in it "the will of God". So we are just left wondering...

"Deposed" bishops

From Sandro Magister's June 15, 2012 article on bishops deposed according to Canon 401 §2  (Vatican Diary / The "who's who" of the deposed bishops):

Normally, this paragraph 2 of canon 401 concerns churchmen afflicted by physical or psychological "ill health," but there is no lack of cases of "other grave cause."

So recently, on June 7 came the early resignation of the auxiliary bishop of Canberra in Australia, Patrick Percival Power, 70, known for his progressive positions.

While on January 4 came the announcement of the resignation of the auxiliary of Los Angeles, Gabino Zavala, 61, because he is the father of two children. It is not known whether next year his name will still be listed in the Annuario Pontificio.

The crisis of the Church is a crisis of Bishops 4 - LA Aux. Bishop steps down after his two children show up

From today's Bollettino of the Holy See Press Office:

The Holy Father has accepted the resignation from the office of Auxiliary of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles (U.S.A.) presented by H.E.Bp. Gabino Zavala, Tit. Bishop of Tamascani, in conformity with Canons 411 and 401 §2 of the Code of Canon Law.

The reason for this 401 §2 (i.e. early) resignation? One we found only in the Italian press: the Bishop has two teenage children, it has been "found". A letter by the local Archbishop that is still to appear (at the time of posting, it had not yet been published) in the archdiocesan website will state that Zavala "is the father of two minor teenage children, who live with their mother in another state. ... The Archdiocese has reached out to the mother and children to provide spiritual care as well as funding to assist the children with college costs. The family’s identity is not known to the public, and I wish to respect their right to privacy." [1500 GMT: Note: this text was edited once the original English version of the letter appeared in the Archdiocesan website.]

Below, a picture of the Bishop with altar serves of the Campus Ministry Mount Saint Mary's College following the "Closing Liturgy" in a past edition of the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress. [Source.]

Update

Regarding our past post, "Troubles across the Río de la Plata - Bishop blackmailed by male lovers", the Pope has today accepted the resignation of the Bishop of Minas, Uruguay (can. 401, § 2).

Crisis in the Church in the Central African Republic

(I'm surprised that this isn't getting more attention. CAP)

The Catholic clergy of the Central African Republic launched a strike last May 27 to protest the removal of Bangui Archbishop Paulin Pomodimo -- who is only 54 years old and had been appointed as Archbishop in 2003 -- after the Vatican found him guilty of "a moral attitude which is not always in conformity with his commitments to follow Christ in chastity, poverty and obedience". Another bishop, François-Xavier Yombandje, had resigned last May 16, apparently for the same reason. Msgr. Yombandje had once been the President of the Central African Bishop's episcopal conference, while Archbishop Pomodimo had been the senior cleric in the whole country.

During the strike, all parishes were closed and all religious services and sacraments were suspended. The strike, initially intended to last indefinitely, was lifted on May 28; the spokesman of the country's diocesan clergy, Mathurin Paze Lekissan, asserted that their protest was aimed at the "lack of consultation" from the Vatican over the replacement of Archbishop Pomodimo. The strike itself came after a general gathering in Bangui cathedral of the indigenous clergy of the country had denounced the Holy See's "discrimination" against Archbishop Pomodimo.

The episcopal resignations came in the wake of a Vatican investigation into the Church in the Central African Republic, which confimed the widespread disregard for the vow of celibacy among the clergy of that nation. Reporting on the situation, a local newspaper claimed that in the majority of parishes in the country, the priests cohabit with women and often have children of their own.

The Central African Republic -- once a French colony -- is 21% Catholic, and is reputed to be a bastion of Catholicism in Africa. In the wake of the endless crisis in the Church in the West, Catholic publications have often taken to unreservedly praising Africa as the hope of the Church. Perhaps a reality check is needed.

Sources: Catholic Culture and Africa News. (Each linked site leads to other news articles on the same situation)