October 2011
PEOPLE OF GOD
Pastor Bonus – Part I By Rev. Kevin Niehoff, O.P., J.C.L. Adjutant Judicial Vicar
In November of 1982, Pope John Paul II promulgated the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus. The purpose of the document was for the organization of the Roman Curia, or those offices in Rome that head the pastoral ministry of the Roman Catholic Church. This organization is provided by Pope John Paul II for the orderly conduct of the business of the Roman Catholic Church. Pastor Bonus is divided into nine sections and has two appendices. I will try to give an overview the sections and the appendices. Section I is General Norms. As in all philosophical dialogue one beings with the universal principles and then works to the particular principles. The norms begin with defining the notion of the Roman Curia as “the complex of dicasteries and institutes which help the Roman Pontiff in the exercise of his supreme pastoral function for the good an service of the whole Church, and of particular Churches.” The norms then define the structure of the dicasteries and the procedures they use including defining the official language of the Roman Catholic Church as Latin. The document then defines the role of the Cardinals and the structure of their meetings. The norms go onto define the rationale behind the ad limina visits, the five year visits each Bishop must make and report on the status of their dioceses to the Roman Pontiff individually. Finally, the general norms define the Central Labor Office which “deals with the working conditions within the Roman Curia and related questions (which we refer to as Human Resources in the United
States); and, concludes by stating the way and means of transacting business is delegated to another document, Ordo servandus. Section II addresses the role of the Secretariat of State which is divided into two sections. One: defines the daily business of the Roman Pontiff; and, two: how the Roman Pontiff relates to other States (or countries). Remember that Vatican City is also a state unto itself and has relations with other heads of state throughout the world. Section III defines the congregations or dicasteries in the Roman Catholic Church. Because writing about the role of each congregation is a book in itself, I will list the dicasteries so you can get an idea of how the work of the Roman Pontiff is divided. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith The Congregation for the Oriental Churches The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments The Congregation for Bishops The Pontifical Commission for Latin America The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples The Congregation for the Clergy The Pontifical Commission for Preserving the Patrimony of Art and History The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and for Societies of Apostolic Life The Congregation for Seminaries and Educational Institutions I will continue with the other sections and the appendices in subsequent articles. Pastor Bonus is available on the Vatican website: www.vatican.va.
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Little Instructions for Aligning Your Life to God Ten Steps to Making God Our First and Most Important Priority By Leisa Anslinger
Instruction #9: Eucharist and Reconciliation “For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.” (1 Cor 11: 23-26) What better way to really put God first than to remain in Christ through regular and active participation in the Eucharist and in the Sacrament of Penance? While we might sometimes think to ourselves, “how do I put God first whom I cannot see or hear, when there is so much around me that cries out for my attention that I can see and hear?” Yet when we take just a few moments to reflect on it, we realize we can see and hear God’s presence and voice with clarity every time we participation in the Mass and in Reconciliation. We also remember that the sacraments celebrate our communion with Christ and with each other. As members of Christ’s Body, the Church, we bear responsibility for drawing others to our Lord or more deeply to our Lord, to evangelize. Pope John Paul II, in his letter at the turn of the century said this: “To make the Church the home and the school of communion: that is the great challenge facing us in the millennium which is now beginning, if we wish to be
faithful to God’s plan and respond to the world’s deepest yearnings. A spirituality of communion indicates above all the heart’s contemplation of the mystery of the Trinity dwelling in us, and whose light we must also be able to see shining on the face of the brothers and sisters around us. A spirituality of communion also means an ability to think of our brothers and sisters in faith within the profound unity of the Mystical Body, and therefore as “those who are a part of me”. This makes us able to share their joys and sufferings, to sense their desires and attend to their needs, to offer them deep and genuine friendship. (Novo Millennio Ineunte. #43) There is much in our society that tries to convince us that we do not need community in our lives. Yet, we know that the Christian life is lived within the community of faith. Community places demands upon us, and we might prefer to be singularly focused on our lives as individuals or within our family at home. Yet we also recognize that being a “lone ranger” is not the Christian way. Being a part of a community that knows each other as “those who are a part of me” will give us the support, the call to be accountable, and the sense of belonging that we need in order to prioritize our lives with God at the center. How will you take a step toward more authentic participation in Mass, in the life of your parish, in the Sacrament of Penance? How might you draw others to Christ through the Body of Christ, the Church? Next installment: Instruction #10: Learn from the saints. *Leisa Anslinger writes for Our Sunday Visitor and on her website: www. thegenerousheart.com.
Bishops Reissue 2007’s ‘Faithful Citizenship’ with New Introduction By Nancy Frazier O’Brien Catholic News Service
WASHINGTON (CNS) -- A new introduction to the U.S. bishops’ document on political responsibility reminds Catholics that some issues “involve the clear obligation to oppose intrinsic evils which can never be justified,” while others “require action to pursue justice and promote the common good.” The brief Introductory Note to the 2011 reissue of “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship” was signed by the president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and the chairmen of nine USCCB committees. It was approved by the bishops’ Administrative Committee at its mid-September meeting and made public Oct. 4. The introduction says that “Faithful Citizenship,” one in a series of documents that have been issued before
every presidential election for nearly 35 years, “has at times been misused to present an incomplete or distorted view of the demands of faith in politics” but “remains a faithful and challenging call to discipleship in the world of politics.” “It does not offer a voters guide, scorecard of issues or direction on how to vote,” the introduction adds. “It applies Catholic moral principles to a range of important issues and warns against misguided appeals to ‘conscience’ to ignore fundamental moral claims, to reduce Catholic moral concerns to one or two matters, or to justify choices simply to advance partisan, ideological or personal interests.” The introduction lists six “current and fundamental problems, some involving opposition to intrinsic evils and others raising serious moral questions:” -- Abortion “and other threats to the lives and dignity of others who are
vulnerable, sick or unwanted.” -- Conscience threats to Catholic ministries in health care, education and social services. -- “Intensifying efforts to redefine marriage” or to undermine it as “the permanent, faithful and fruitful union of one man and one woman.” -- An economic crisis that has increased national and global unemployment, poverty and hunger, requiring efforts to “protect those who are poor and vulnerable as well as future generations.” -- “The failure to repair a broken immigration system.” -- “Serious moral questions” raised by wars, terror and violence, “particularly the absence of justice, security and peace in the Holy Land and throughout the Middle East.” The introduction calls the U.S. Catholic Church “a community of faith with a long tradition of teaching and action on human
life and dignity, marriage and family, justice and peace, care for creation and the common good.” American Catholics “are also blessed with religious liberty which safeguards our right to bring our principles and moral convictions into the public arena,” it adds. “These constitutional freedoms need to be both exercised and protected, as some seek to mute the voices or limit the freedoms of religious believers and religious institutions,” it says. Urging Catholics to “share the message of faithful citizenship and to use this document in forming their own consciences, the Introductory Note adds that “this kind of political responsibility is a requirement of our faith and our duty as citizens.” It is signed by Archbishop Timothy See BISHOPS on page 8