"In view of this, with the present Motu Proprio I intend to provide an organic
legislative framework for the better overall ordering of the various organized
ecclesial forms of the service of charity, which are closely related to the
diaconal nature of
the Church and the episcopal ministry.
"It is important, however, to keep in mind that 'practical activity will
always be insufficient, unless it visibly expresses a love for man, a love
nourished by an encounter with Christ'. In carrying out their charitable
activity, therefore, the various
Subject: VISnews121203
From: Vatican Information Service - Eng - txt
Catholic organisations should not limit themselves merely to collecting and
distributing funds, but should show special concern for individuals in need
and exercise a valuable educational function within the Christian community,
helping people to
appreciate the importance of sharing, respect and love in the spirit of the
Gospel of Christ. The Church's charitable activity at all levels must avoid
the risk of becoming just another form of organised social assistance.
"The organised charitable initiatives promoted by the faithful in various
places differ widely one from the other, and call for appropriate management.
In a particular way, the work of Caritas has expanded at the parish, diocesan,
national and
international levels. Caritas is an institution promoted by the ecclesiastical
Hierarchy which has rightly earned the esteem and trust of the faithful and of
many other people around the world for its generous and consistent witness of
faith and its
concrete ability to respond to the needs of the poor. In addition to this
broad initiative, officially supported by the Church's authority, many other
initiatives have arisen in different places from the free enterprise of the
faithful, who themselves
wish to help in various ways to offer a concrete witness of charity towards
those in need. While differing in their origin and juridical status, both are
expressions of sensitivity and a desire to respond to the same pressing need.
"The Church as an institution is not extraneous to those organised initiatives
which represent a free expression of the concern of the baptised for
individuals and peoples in need. The Church's Pastors should always welcome
these initiatives as a sign
of the sharing of all the faithful in the mission of the Church; they should
respect the specific characteristics and administrative autonomy which these
initiatives enjoy, in accordance with their nature, as a manifestation of the
freedom of the
baptised.
"Alongside these, the Church's authority has, on its own initiative, promoted
specific agencies which provide institutionally for allocating donations made
by the faithful, following suitable legal and administrative methods which
allow for a more
effective response to concrete needs.
"Nevertheless, to the extent that such activities are promoted by the
Hierarchy itself, or are explicitly supported by the authority of the Church's
Pastors, there is a need to ensure that they are managed in conformity with
the demands of the
Church’s teaching and the intentions of the faithful, and that they
likewise respect the legitimate norms laid down by civil authorities. In view
of these requirements, it became necessary to establish in the Church’s
law certain essential
norms inspired by the general criteria of canonical discipline, which would
make explicit in this sector of activity the legal responsibilities assumed by
the various subjects involved, specifying in particular the position of
authority and coordination
belonging to the diocesan Bishop. At the same time, the norms in question need
to be broad enough to embrace the significant diversity of the institutions of
Catholic inspiration which are engaged as such in this sector, whether those
origi
nating
from the Hierarchy or those born of the direct initiative of the faithful,
received and encouraged by the local Pastors. While it was necessary to lay
down norms in this regard, there was also a need to consider the requirements
of justice and the
responsibility of Bishops before the faithful, with respect for the legitimate
autonomy of each institution.
Dispositive Part
"Consequently, upon the proposal of the Cardinal President of the Pontifical
Council Cor Unum, and after consultation with the Pontifical Council for
Legislative Texts, I establish and decree the following:
"Art. 1. - § 1. The faithful have the right to join in associations and
to establish agencies to carry out specific charitable services, especially on
behalf of the poor and suffering. To the extent that these are linked to the
charitable service
of the Church's Pastors and/or intend to use for this purpose contributions
made by the faithful, they must submit their own Statutes for the approval of
the competent ecclesiastical authority and comply with the following norms.
§ 2. Similarly, it is also the right of the faithful to establish
foundations to fund concrete charitable initiatives, in accordance with the
norms of canons 1303 of the Code of Canon Law (CIC) and 1047 of the Code of
Canons of the Eastern Churches
(CCEO). If foundations of this type correspond to the characteristics set
forth in § 1, they will also observe, congrua congruis referendo, the
provisions of the present law.
§ 3. In addition to observing the canonical legislation, the collective
charitable initiatives to which this Motu Proprio refers are required to
follow Catholic principles in their activity and they may not accept
commitments which could in any way
affect the observance of those principles.
§ 4. Agencies and foundations for charitable purposes promoted by
Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life are required to
comply with these norms, and they must follow the prescriptions of canons 312
§ 2 CIC and 575
§ 2 CCEO.
"Art. 2. - § 1. The Statutes of each charitable agency referred to in the
preceding article must also contain, in addition to its institutional offices
and structures of governance in accordance with canon 95 § 1 CIC, the
guiding principles
and objectives of the initiative, the management of funds, the profile of its
workers, as well as the reports and information which must be presented to the
competent ecclesiastical authority.
§ 2. A charitable agency may use the name 'Catholic' only with the
written consent of the competent authority, as laid down by canon 300 CIC.
§ 3. Agencies promoted by the faithful for charitable purposes can have
an Ecclesiastical Assistant appointed in accordance with the Statutes,
according to the norm of canons 324 § 2 and 317 CIC.
§ 4. At the same time, the ecclesiastical authority must bear in mind its
duty to regulate the exercise of the rights of the faithful in accordance with
canons 223 § 2 CIC and 26 § 3 CCEO, and thus to avoid the
proliferation of charitable
initiatives to the detriment of their activity and effectiveness with regard
to their stated goals.
"Art. 3. - § 1. With regard to the preceding articles, it is understood
that the competent authority at the respective levels is that indicated by
canons 312 CIC and 575 CCEO.
§ 2. For agencies not approved at the national level, even though they
operate in different Dioceses, the competent authority is understood to be the
diocesan Bishop of the place where the agency has its principal office. In any
event, the agency
has the duty to inform the Bishops of other Dioceses where it operates and to
respect the guidelines for the activities of the various charitable agencies
present in those Dioceses.
"Art. 4. § 1. The diocesan Bishop exercises his proper pastoral
solicitude for the service of charity in the particular Church entrusted to
him as its Pastor, guide and the one primarily responsible for that service.
§ 2. The diocesan Bishop encourages and supports the initiatives and
works of service to neighbour in his particular Church, and encourages in the
faithful the spirit of practical charity as an expression of the Christian
life and sharing in the
mission of the Church, as indicated in canons 215 and 222 CIC and 25 and 18
CCEO.
§ 3. It is the responsibility of the diocesan Bishop to ensure that in
the activities and management of these agencies the norms of the Church's
universal and particular law are respected, as well as the intentions of the
faithful who made
donations or bequests for these specific purposes.
"Art. 5. - The diocesan Bishop is to ensure that the Church enjoys the right
to carry out charitable activities, and he is to take care that the faithful
and the institutions under his supervision comply with the legitimate civil
legislation in this
area.
"Art. 6. – It is the responsibility of the diocesan Bishop, as indicated
by canons 394 § 1 CIC and 203 § 1 CCEO, to coordinate within his
territory the different works of charitable service, both those promoted by
the Hierarchy itself
and those arising from initiatives of the faithful, without prejudice to their
proper autonomy in accordance with their respective Statutes. In particular,
he is to take care that their activities keep alive the spirit of the Gospel.
"Art. 7. - § 1. The agencies referred to in Article 1 § 1 are
required to select their personnel from among persons who share, or at least
respect, the Catholic identity of these works.
§ 2. To ensure an evangelical witness in the service of charity, the
diocesan Bishop is to take care that those who work in the Church's charitable
apostolate, along with due professional competence, give an example of
Christian life and witness to
a formation of heart which testifies to a faith working through charity. To
this end, he is also to provide for their theological and pastoral formation,
through specific curricula agreed upon by the officers of various agencies and
through suitable
aids to the spiritual life.
"Art. 8. – Wherever necessary, due to the number and variety of
initiatives, the diocesan Bishop is to establish in the Church entrusted to
his care an Office to direct and coordinate the service of charity in his name.
"Art. 9. - § 1. The Bishop is to encourage in every parish of his
territory the creation of a local Caritas service or a similar body, which
will also promote in the whole community educational activities aimed at
fostering a spirit of sharing and
authentic charity. When appropriate, this service is to be established jointly
by various parishes in the same territory.
§ 2. It is the responsibility of the Bishop and the respective parish
priest to ensure that together with Caritas, other charitable initiatives can
coexist and develop within the parish under the general coordination of the
parish priest, taking
into account, however, the prescriptions of Article 2 § 4 above.
§ 3. It is the duty of the diocesan Bishop and the respective parish
priests to see that in this area the faithful are not led into error or
misunderstanding; hence they are to prevent publicity being given through
parish or diocesan structures to
initiatives which, while presenting themselves as charitable, propose choices
or methods at odds with the Church's teaching.
"Art. 10. - § 1. It is the responsibility of the Bishop to supervise the
ecclesiastical goods of the charitable agencies subject to his authority.
§ 2. It is the duty of the diocesan Bishop to ensure that the proceeds of
collections made in accordance with canons 1265 and 1266 CIC and canons 1014
and 1015 CCEO are used for their stated purposes.
§ 3. In particular, the diocesan Bishop is to ensure that charitable
agencies dependent upon him do not receive financial support from groups or
institutions that pursue ends contrary to Church's teaching. Similarly, lest
scandal be given to the
faithful, the diocesan Bishop is to ensure that these charitable agencies do
not accept contributions for initiatives whose ends, or the means used to
pursue them, are not in conformity with the Church's teaching.
§ 4. In a particular way, the Bishop is to see that the management of
initiatives dependent on him offers a testimony of Christian simplicity of
life. To this end, he will ensure that salaries and operational expenses,
while respecting the demands
of justice and a necessary level of professionalism, are in due proportion to
analogous expenses of his diocesan Curia.
§ 5. To permit the ecclesiastical authority mentioned in Article 3 §
1 to exercise its duty of supervision, the agencies mentioned in Article 1
§ 1, are required to submit to the competent Ordinary an annual financial
report in a way
which he himself will indicate.
"Art. 11. – The diocesan Bishop is obliged, if necessary, to make known
to the faithful the fact that the activity of a particular charitable agency
is no longer being carried out in conformity with the Church’s teaching,
and then to
prohibit that agency from using the name 'Catholic' and to take the necessary
measures should personal responsibilities emerge.
"Art. 12. - § 1. The diocesan Bishop is to encourage the national and
international activity of the charitable agencies under his care, especially
cooperation with poorer ecclesiastical circumscriptions by analogy with the
prescriptions of canons
1274 § 3 CIC and 1021 § 3 CCEO.
§ 2. Pastoral concern for charitable works, depending on circumstances of
time and place, can be carried out jointly by various neighbouring Bishops
with regard to a number of Churches, in accordance with the norm of law. When
such joint activity
is international in character, the competent Dicastery of the Holy See is to
be consulted in advance. For charitable initiatives on the national level, it
is fitting that the Bishop consult the respective office of the Bishops’
Conference.
"Art. 13. – The local ecclesiastical authority retains the full right to
give permission for initiatives undertaken by Catholic agencies in areas of
his jurisdiction, with due respect for canonical norms and the specific
identity of the individual
agencies. It is also the duty of the Bishop to ensure that the activities
carried out in his Diocese are conducted in conformity with ecclesiastical
discipline, either prohibiting them or adopting any measures needed in cases
where that discipline is
not respected.
"Art. 14. – Where appropriate, the Bishop is to promote charitable
initiatives in cooperation with other Churches or Ecclesial Communities,
respecting the proper identity of each.
"Art. 15. - § 1. The Pontifical Council Cor Unum has the task of
promoting the application of this legislation and ensuring that it is applied
at all levels, without prejudice to the competence of the Pontifical Council
for the Laity with regard to
associations of the faithful as provided for in Article 133 of the Apostolic
Constitution Pastor Bonus, the competence of the Secretariat of State’s
Section for Relations with States, and the general competences of other
Dicasteries and Institutes
of the Roman Curia. In particular, the Pontifical Council Cor Unum is to take
care that the charitable service of Catholic institutions at the international
level is always to be carried out in communion with the various local Churches.
§ 2. The Pontifical Council Cor Unum is also competent for the canonical
establishment of charitable agencies at the international level; it thus takes
on the responsibilities of discipline and promotion entailed by law.
"I order that everything I have laid down in this Apostolic Letter issued Motu
Proprio be fully observed, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, even if
worthy of particular mention, and I decree that it be promulgated by
publication in the daily
newspaper L’Osservatore Romano and enter into force on 10 December 2012".
___________________________________________________________
SENTENCE OF THE VATICAN TRIBUNAL IN THE CLAUDIO SCIARPELLETTI TRIAL
Vatican City, 1 December 2012 (VIS) - This morning the Tribunal of Vatican
City State issued its sentence in the trial against Claudio Sciarpelletti,
charged with complicity in the "Vatileaks" case:
"The Tribunal rules that the defendant Claudio Sciarpelletti is guilty of the
offence of assisting in the elusion of the investigations by the Authorities
and therefore sentences him to prison for four months.
"Pursuant to Article 26 of the Law of 21 June 1969, in view of the accused's
service record and lack of previous convictions, the Tribunal reduces the
sentence to imprisonment for two (2) months; pursuant to Article 9 of the Law
of 21 June 1969; orders
the suspension of the sentence for a period of five years, according to the
conditions of law; in the light of Article 427 of the Penal Code, orders the
suspension of mention of the sentence on the record of previous offences until
such time as the
accused commits further offence; pursuant to Articles 39 of the Penal Code and
429 of the Code of Penal Procedure, orders Claudio Sciarpelletti to defray the
costs of the trial and reimburses him the sum of one thousand euros he had
deposited as bail".
The sentence was deposited on 1 December 2012 and signed by Giuseppe Dalla
Torre, president; Paolo Papanti-Pelletier, reporting judge; Venerando Marano,
judge; and Raffaele Ottaviano, substitute registrar.
___________________________________________________________
THE HOLY FATHER'S SPECIAL ENVOYS
Vatican City, 1 December 2012 (VIS) - Today it was made public that the Pope
has appointed Cardinal Franc Rode C.M., prefect emeritus for the Congregation
for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life, as
his special envoy
to the closing celebrations of the 550th anniversary of the archdiocese of
Ljubjuana, Slovenia, which will be held on Sunday 9 December. The cardinal
will be accompanied by two prelates from the archdiocese of Ljubjuana, Msgr.
Anton Slabe, member of the
Cathedral Chapter, and head of the eleventh Archdiaconate of the Archdiocese
and judge at the metropolitan ecclesiastical tribunal, and Msgr. Stanislaw
Zidar, head of the Commission for archdiocesan pastoral care of parish
councils.
Today it was also made public that the Pope has nominated Cardinal Guadencio
B. Rosales, archbishop emeritus of Manila (Philippines) as his special envoy
to the tenth Plenary Assembly of the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences
(FABC), which will
take place in the diocesan pastoral centre of Xuan Loc, Vietnam, from 11 to 16
December and will close with a ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City cathedral. The
mission accompanying the cardinal will be composed of Msgr. Peter Nguyen Van
Tai, Vietnamese, head
of Radio Veritas Asia based in Quezon City, Philippines, and Fr. Antonio
Maralit, Philippino, parish priest of San Francisco de Sales in the
archdiocese of Lipa, Philippines.
___________________________________________________________
AUDIENCES
Vatican City, 3 December 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father today received in
audience eight prelates from the Episcopal Conference of France on their "ad
limina" visit:
- Archbishop Robert Le Gall O.S.B., of Toulouse.
- Archbishop Jean Legrez O.P., of Albi.
- Archbishop Maurice Gardes of Auch.
- Bishop Norbert Jose Henri Turini of Cahors.
- Bishop Bernard Ginoux of Montauban.
- Bishop Philippe Mousset of Pamiers.
- Bishop Francois Fonlupt of Rodez.
- Bishop Nicolas Brouwet of Tarbes et Lourdes.
On Saturday 1 December 2012, the Holy Father received in audience eight
prelates from the Episcopal Conference of France on their "ad limina" visit:
- Archbishop Georges Pontier of Marseilles.
- Archbishop Christophe Dufour of Aix.
- Bishop Olivier de Germay of Ajaccio.
- Archbishop Jean-Pierre Cattenoz of Avignon.
- Bishop Francois-Xavier Loizeau of Digne.
- Bishop Dominique Rey of Frejus-Toulon.
- Bishop Jean-Michel di Falco Leandri of Gap.
- Bishop Louis Sankale of Nice.
___________________________________________________________
OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS
Vatican City, 1 December 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father:
- Appointed Bishop Luigi Negri, bishop of San Marino-Montefeltro, as
archbishop of Ferrara-Comacchio, (area 3,138, population 276,000, Catholics
272,000, priests 173, permanent deacons 12, religious 282), Italy. He succeeds
Archbishop Paolo Rabitti,
whose resignation from the pastoral care of the same archdiocese the Holy
Father accepted, upon having reached the age limit.
- Accepted the resignation from the archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia,
presented by Archbishop John Lee Hiong Fun-Yit Yaw upon having reached the age
limit. He is succeeded by Coadjutor Archbishop John Wong Soo Kau.
- Appointed Fr. Jean-Paul Vesco, O.P., provincial superior of the Dominicans
in France, as bishop of Oran (area 77,353, population 8,304,000, Catholics
800, priests 10, religious 47), Algeria. He succeeds Bishop Alphonse Georger,
whose resignation from
the pastoral care of the same diocese the Holy Father accepted, upon having
reached the age limit. The bishop-elect was born in Lyon, France in 1962 and
ordained a priest in 1996. He was appointed vicar general of the diocese of
Oran in 2005. He was
elected superior of the Community of Dominicans in Tlemcen in 2007, and
provincial superior in France in 2011.
- Appointed Msgr. Antoni Stankiewicz as member of the Supreme Tribunal of the
Apostolic Signatura.
- Appointed Bishop Charles J. Scicluna of Malta as member of the Congregation
for the Doctrine of the Faith.
___________________________________________________________
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VISnews121203
VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE YEAR XXII - N° 218DATE 03-12-2012
Summary: - MAN IS CONSIDERED IN BIOLOGICAL
TERMS OR AS "HUMAN
CAPITAL" - THE POPE ADDRESSES THE VENERABLE ENGLISH COLLEGE OF ROME - THE POPE ON TWITTER: VOICE OF UNITY AND LEADERSHIP FOR THE CHURCH -
ADVENT: THE COMING OF THE LORD CONTINUES - FIRST VESPERS OF ADVENT WITH
ROME
UNIVERSITIES - THE POPE PRAISES THE VALUES OF ITINERANT PERFORMERS
- MOTU PROPRIO ON THE SERVICE OF CHARITY - SENTENCE OF THE VATICAN
TRIBUNAL IN THE CLAUDIO SCIARPELLETTI TRIAL - THE HOLY FATHER'S SPECIAL
ENVOYS -
AUDIENCES - OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS ___________________________________________________________
MAN IS CONSIDERED IN BIOLOGICAL TERMS OR AS "HUMAN CAPITAL"
Vatican City, 3 December 2012 (VIS) - The Holy Father today gave an address
to the Plenary Assembly of the Pontifical Council of Justice and Peace.
"Man is nowadays considered in predominantly biological terms or as 'human
capital', a 'resource', part of a dominant productive or financial mechanism.
Although we continue to proclaim the dignity of the person, new ideologies -
the hedonistic and
egotistic claim to sexual and reproductive rights, or unregulated financial
capitalism that abuses politics and derails the true economy - contribute to a
concept of the worker and his or her labour as 'minor' commodities and
undermine the natural
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* Origin: NetMgr+ @ Sursum Corda! BBS Meridian MS USA (1:396/45)
