Vatican official wants greater independence for local churches

Catholic World News ^ | December 11, 2003

[Land of the Irish]

A leading official of the Roman Curia has said that the Vatican should have "more respect for, and listen to, the local churches."

Although diocesan bishops sometimes complain that the Vatican is not sufficiently responsive to their needs, it is highly unusual for a Curial official to make the same argument. Cardinal Stephen Fumio Hamao, the president of the Pontifical Council for Migrants, made his comment in an interview with the Italian magazine, Famiglia Cristiana.

The Japanese cardinal said that the Roman Curia often behave as if their role was "to instruct, to teach, and to correct" local diocesan bishops. In fact, he argued, Vatican officials should understand that their role is "to listen, to help, and to encourage."

As an illustration of what he considers excessive Vatican interference with the work of local churches, the cardinal mentioned the issue of liturgical translations. "No one here knows the Japanese language," he said. "But a text in that language must obtain the approval of the Holy See before it can be used." He argued that local churches should have greater latitude for independent action in pastoral matters.

Cardinal Hamao told Famiglia Cristiana that he would favor convening a new council, in which Church leaders could discuss "the necessity of greater autonomy for the local churches." Synod meetings do not provide an adequate setting for that discussion, he observed, since the synod has only consultative powers.

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[Land of the Irish]

The Japanese cardinal said that the Roman Curia often behave as if their role was "to instruct, to teach, and to correct" local diocesan bishops. In fact, he argued, Vatican officials should understand that their role is "to listen, to help, and to encourage."

The real schism continues. I'll be surprised if this Cardinal is reprimanded.

[Land of the Irish]

Ping

[Unam Sanctam]

Decentralization must be resisted at all costs, since only the Holy See can ensure doctrinal orthodoxy and unity. Particularly appointment of bishops. The rampant heresy and fissipariousness of the Anglican communion and their awful "bishops" is a clarion call to the Catholic Church to avoid the same fate.

[attagirl]

Prayer and sacrifice.

Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved (no thanks to the wolves in sheep's clothing who are supposed to be helping us).

[Canticle_of_Deborah]

Pontifical Council for Migrants,

Why does this council exist? Is this a social justice thing?

[sinkspur]

"No one here knows the Japanese language," he said. "But a text in that language must obtain the approval of the Holy See before it can be used." He argued that local churches should have greater latitude for independent action in pastoral matters.

Of course they should, but the Curia has always had a noose around the neck of local churches. It's the nature of a bureaucracy.

[Salvation]

**Decentralization must be resisted at all costs, since only the Holy See can ensure doctrinal orthodoxy and unity.**

Bump!

[StAthanasiustheGreat]

Sounds like a number of Catholics I can think of. And He's a Cardinal, he should no better. Then again, I am saddened by the lack of action when Bishops like Adamac and Mahoney do their thing.

[Robert Drobot]

"....The rampant heresy and fissipariousness of the Anglican communion and their awful "bishops" is a clarion call to the Catholic Church to avoid the same fate...."

In point of fact we're already there. Notice His Holiness doesn't act to clean up the seminaries in America along with so many issues that have languished on the table throughout his term. He likely chose this doctrinal nincompoop while stacking the College of Cardinals in a blatant and unholy effort to control the selection of the next pope.

May the judgment of these two men by The Almighty be swift and merciful.

[Desdemona]

Uh, of late (since Bernardin has been out of the picture) His Holiness has been replacing bishops - as they retire or resign - with bishops who do clean up the seminaries. It's being done one diocese at a time. The longer, slower and more carefully it's done, the longer it will last. To just crack skulls is not going to do anything good other than give some people the satisfaction of seeing some bishops stomped on. It creates sympathy for the bishops involved.

JPII knows what he's doing and of late he's moved into place younger, more conservative bishops (like the new one here, Burke) in the cities like St. Louis, Denver, Milwaulkee, etc. From this group will come the next group of cardinals. JPII knows what he's about.

[k omalley]

Can't wait! Each parish can have complete freedom to experiment with the liturgy even more. Just imagine the possibilities! :>(

[JesseHousman]

More ridiculous chatter about "modernizing" (secularizing) the Church to make it more humanist...as if it wasn't already.

This must be resisted with vigor!

Some of these lackadaisical Catholics speak and act as though The Trinity should shape up and join earth's 21st century. Apparently they believe our Savior should wear Nikes!

[NeoCaveman]

A leading official of the Roman Curia has said that the Vatican should have "more respect for, and listen to, the local churches."

No. They shouldn't. We've had enough do it yourself masses and do it yourself morality from the AmChurch bishops. Rome needs to shepherd the faithful, not leave them to the wolves.

[johnb2004]

"The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church in such a way that one will see cardinals opposing cardinals, bishops against other bishops. The priests who venerate me will be scorned and opposed by their confreres (other priests). Churches and altars will be sacked. The Church will be full of those who accept compromises and the demon will press many priests and consecrated souls to leave the service of the Lord."

OUR LADY OF AKITA

[ArrogantBustard]

Curia has always had a noose around the neck of local churches.

Weakland. Gumbleton. Adamec. Sullivan. Mahoney. Bernardin. Plarczyk.

For a start. Any greater latitude and these morons would be declaring sodomy equal to marriage, abortion and contraception to be sacraments, and women to be eligible for the priestesshood.

[american colleen]

Of course they should, but the Curia has always had a noose around the neck of local churches. It's the nature of a bureaucracy.

If you really believe what you wrote, you are extremely short sighted. If local churches were allowed more independence in my area, many/most of them would be either marrying homosexuals, hiring priests who left the Church in order to marry, ordaining women and proclaiming homosexuality as another one of God's gifts. In other words, the Boston Catholic Church would be one with the Episcopalians, Universalist Unitarians and/or the ECLA. Unity and diversity are big up here and we don't want to offend anyone.

But then I could maybe travel to the New Hampshire Catholic Church and see if it would be any better up there. Or maybe go down to the Rhode Island Catholic Church and see what they have embraced.

[sinkspur]

There should be no latitude in the area of doctrine.

But, as this Japanese cardinal points out, trying to shoehorn Japanese translations through the machinery of the Vatican just makes no sense.

These bishops don't work for the Cardinals in the Curia. THEY work the bishops.

[polemikos]

Cardinal Stephen Fumio Hamao

One more for the ding list.

[johnb2004]

"trying to shoehorn Japanese translations through the machinery of the Vatican just makes no sense. "

Actually, it makes great sense. The bishops should have to check with the Vatican for EVERYTHING! They can't be trusted.

They are like rebellious adolescents. They claim to want more freedom because they know best. A quick peek at the last 40 years should make any serious Catholic shudder.

[sinkspur]

The bishops should have to check with the Vatican for EVERYTHING! They can't be trusted.

I disagree vehemently. Rome doesn't have the perspective it thinks it does on many of these local non-doctrinal issues.

They are like rebellious adolescents. They claim to want more freedom because they know best. A quick peek at the last 40 years should make any serious Catholic shudder.

Oh, and of course when a bishop goes to Rome, all of a sudden he's a mature, wise ecclesiastic who always has the right perspective. Apparently you believe that, and I know Rome believes that.

What's happened is that, if Rome is not responsive (and it often isn't), bishops make a local pastoral decision, then get ripped for it.

Even some conservative bishops are frustrated at the SLOWNESS of the Roman machinery. They move like molasses.