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Vol. 50 No. 36
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1969
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SETS FORTH REASONS
Pope Refuses
Audience For
Clergy Group
CARDINALS MEET AT SYNOD - Top, Terence Cardinal Cooke of New York chats with
Norman Cardinal Gilroy of Sydney, Australia as the Extraordinary Synod of Bishops opened in
Vatican City. Below, Gordon Cardinal Gray (left) shakes hands with John Cardinal Dearden of
Detroit, president of the National Conference of Bishops, while Maximilian Cardinal de
Furstenberg looks on. (Nc Photos)
IN MAGAZIM INTERVIEW
Archbishop McDonough
Says Celibacy To Stay
* ROME (NC) - Pope Paul
VI has regretfully turned
down a request for an
audience from leaders of the
European Assembly of
Priests.
The leaders of the
assembly, which has been
meeting in Rome near the
meeting place of the Synod
of Bishops and is striving to
strip the clergy of all vestiges
of “caste,” took the Pope’s
refusal gracefully. They
commented that he had
offered “very serious motives
for his decision.”
In fact, the Pope gave four
reasons.
He said that the tension
existing between some priests
in the assembly and their
bishops would put him in
conflict with his brother
bishops if, without consulting
them, he received their
priests.
He further noted that
some of the working drafts
before the assembly called
forth serious reservations.
• His third reason was that
many persons would interpret
a papal audience as papal
approval.
His final reason was that
many Catholics and especially
many bishops do not think
the assembly and the
movement behind it are
respresentative.
However, Pope Paul said
that he appreciated the
confidence in him that the
priests had expressed in their
letter asking for the audience.
And he called attention to his
own public statements on the
value of criticism in the
Church, and his willingness to
heed it.
The Pope’s response was
conveyed by word of mouth.
His emissary to the
assembly’s secretariat was
Father Roberto Tucci, S.J.,
editor of Civilta Cattolica
(the Rome Jesuits’ review)
and Italian-language press
officer at the Synod of
Bishops.
The secretariat of the
assembly commented: “We
Three members of the
Diocese of Savannah attended
the annual meeting of the
National Conference of
Catholic Charities, at
Houston, Sept. 28-Oct. 2.
They were: Father William
Dowling, who is in charge of
the Social Apostolate of the
Diocese; Father Eugene
Brocktrop, director of the
Columbus branch of the
Social Apostolate? and Sister
Mary Alvin, superior of Saint
Mary’s Home in Savannah.
The general theme of the
convention was that our
nation must go from
separtism and alienation to a
realize that far from limiting
himself to a simple
acknowledgement of
receiving our letter, the Pope
decided to have his reply
brought to us promptly and
personally, by such a highly
qualified emissary.”
Meanwhile, officers of the
assembly also formally
dissociated the assembly from
a manifestation in St. Peter’s
Square that took place on
Sunday, Oct. 12. “Those few
of us who were present went
on their own account,” the
assembly’s secretariat stated.
Commenting on leaflets
and broadsides that have been
circulated against the
assembly, the secretariat said:
“The leaflets distributed in
Rome by conservative groups
are evidently aimed at putting
our assembly in flagrant
contradiction with the
Church’s government, and to
discredit our assembly in the
public eye. But we are not
seeking contradiction, we are
seeking dialogue.”
Vigorously rejecting
various designations such as
“dissidents,” “rebel priests,”
and “outraged reformists,”
the secretariat of the
assembly stated: “We affirm
with force that provocation,
rebellion and public-
demonstrations do not
interest us, unless any effort
at Church renewal is
considered as revolt.”
(The demonstration in St.
Peter’s Square was carried out
by about 20 parishioners
from the Isolotto quarter of
the Florence who are
opposing the removal of their
pastor, Father Enzo Mazzi.
About five priests from the
European Assembly of Priests
took part.
(That same day two
French members of the
European Assembly of
priests, Fathers Robert
Davezies and Jean-Marie
Trillard, concelebrated Mass
in the square before the
parish church of Isolotto, in
apparent defiance of a recent
order that permission for
outdoor Masses “is reserved
to the ecclesiastical
hierarchy.”)
(Continued on Page 7)
Experts in all fields of
social work and from every
diocese' in the nation
participated in the four day
series of sessions. All kinds of
Christian service were
discussed; but the kind of
service which seemed, in the
minds of many, to offer the
most hope was the service of
social action.
Social action is needed to
bring about the political and
economic changes in the
structures of our society
which are necessary in order
to eliminate the poverty
which is devasting the lives of
so many human beings.
There is little chance that
the Roman Catholic Church
will have a married priesthood
“within our lifetime,”
according to Archbishop
Thomas McDonough of
Louisville, in a copyrighted
interview in the October ST.
ANTHONY MESSENGER,
national Catholic family
magazine.
“I would not even use the
word HOPE (for a married
priesthood),” said Archbishop
McDonough; “right now there
appears to be no hope.” He
said this is not merely a
personal opinion but is based
on the statements of the Holy
See and various Bishops’
conferences.
Archbishop McDonough
stated that celibacy is the
major problem in the
resignation of Catholic priests.
He also admitted the
possibility of schism in the
Catholic Church, in cases
where “resigned” priests
continue to say Mass and
administer the Sacraments.
However, he declared that this
is one more problem in which
the Church must seek the
guidance of the Holy Spirit.
He is also of the opinion “that
when it is realized the Church
has no intention of changing
the law of celibacy, the subject
will not be pursued.”
Concerning the training of
young priests, Archbishop
McDonough believes “we have
too many seminaries.” He
suggested consolidated and
regional seminaries that would
make the best use of available
teachers and scholars. The
Archbishop also endorsed the
programs in which seminarians
take courses at regular colleges
and universities. In this way a
seminarian could pursue his
special interests and develop
his particular talents, perhaps
even getting a master’s degree
before ordination. However,
said the Archbishop, “the
primary responsibility for
every student is that he is first
of all able to carry the
seminary curriculum, namely,
those subjects and programs
that are required for the
priesthood.”
On other matters of Church
administration, Archbishop
McDonough stated that
dioceses should make a public
accounting of their financial
status, “because I, as Bishop,
am a steward, and I have a
certain accountability to the
people.” He believes that more
and more dioceses will make
such public statements, and “a
fortiori he believes that
every parish should make an
annual financial statement.
Archbishop McDonough
was unwilling to side with
those who would put a
moritorium on any further
construction of Catholic
churches. If the people in a
certain area want a church and
they have the means to
provide one, he said, “the
diocesan administration
should not oppose it.”
However since these Catholics
“belong to the whole Church,
they must help the whole
body of the Church,” and
Archbishop McDonough
suggested a process of
“twinning” in which a
wealthier parish would adopt a
parish in the inner-city or
some other poorer section.
Asked about the role of the
(Continued on Page 7)
INSIDE STORY
Cardinal On Authority p 9* 3
Editorials ^9* 4
Church’s 'West Point’ Pg. 5
Joint Retreat Pg« 8
PLURALISM SOUGHT
Diocese Sends 3
To Charity Meet
By: Rev. William P. Dowling
Social Apostolate Co-Ordinator
harmonious pluralism, and
the way to do this is through
Christian service.
S Y NOD DEB A TE BEGINS
Bishops Call For
Clearer Concept
Of ‘Collegiality’
VATICAN CITY (NC) — The first working day of the second Synod of Bishops
opened with 11 cardinals speaking out on the relationship between the college of
bishops and its head, the bishop of Rome, the Pope.
Tne meeting (Oct. 13), which inaugurated the synod’s discussions following a
ceremonial opening (Oct. 11), began on a theological level. But it also got down to
particulars such as the statement of John Cardinal Heenan of Westminister, England,
who said:
“Today the opinion is diffused worldwide that the episcopal college is aiming to
contest the power of the Supreme Pontiff, or at least the power of the Roman
Curia,” the central offices through which the pope guides the Universal Church.
The English cardinal said it
does not help the Church to
criticize it in the press and on
television. If we believe the
supreme authority is
exercised in a regrettable
way, then the synod is the
place to say it.
The tone of the opening
speeches, as reported by the
synod press office, seemed to
reflect a great concern for a
careful and thorough study of
the problems which the
Church faces today,
particularly the need for a
clear or at least clearer
expression of collegiality and
the role of the college of
bishops and national bishops’
conferences throughout the
world in relation to the
Church’s central government.
Julius Cardinal Doepfner
of Munich, Germany,
objected to the doctrinal
points in the agenda, finding
them vague on the
communion of bishops. He
said collegiality does not
consist of the help it can give
to the pope-a point made in
the agenda document, which
has been attacked for making
the college of bishops seem
too much the servant and
helper of the pope. Collegial
actions are rooted in the very
nature of the college of
bishops, said the German
cardinal.
Bernard Cardinal Alfrink
of Utrecht, the Netherlands,
joined Cardinal Doepfner in
criticizing the agenda
document, which he found
“too juridical.” He did,
however, like the report of
Cardinal Seper and suggested
it be used as a basis of debate
rather than the agenda.
Leon Cardinal Suenes of
M alines-Brussels, Belgium,
one of the most outspoken
demanders for a new look in
the Church, told the second
working session (Oct. 14) of
the Synod of Bishops that
everyone agrees
wholeheartedly with the
primacy of the Pope, but that
there are some who treat it as
an “absolute monarchy.”
The Belgian cardinal said
that all agree with the
concept of the collegiality of
bishops as expressed in the
motto “with Peter and under
Peter.” However, he said,
questions arise when the two
doctrines of papal primacy
and collegiality have to be
applied.
Cardinal Suenens was not
alone in his concern for the
lack of clarity, both
theological and in practical
application, which seems to
exist in this area-one of the
main subjects for debate by
the synod.
In fact, the consensus of
the 19 speeches delivered
during the day stressed the
need for more and better
development of the theology
behind the concept of
collegiality as it was
developed and reemphasized
during the Second Vatican
Council.
The second working
session was full of surprises.
Among others was the
presence once again of Pope
Paul VI. The Pope presided
over the opening sessions Oct.
11, then attended the full
session Oct. 13 and then
again on the following day.
The Pope’s presence was
greeted in the synod hall as a
gesture of his respect for the
collegial unity of the pope
and his brother bishops and
had been suggested
frequently by various Church
leaders long before the synod
met. During the first synod,
Pope Paul attended meetings
only very infrequently.
Another surprise was the
announcement that Latin
would no longer be required
for speeches. Instead, the
synod fathers are now
permitted to talk in English,
French, Italian, German,
Spanish or Portuguese. Three
synod fathers immediately
took advantage of the change
and spoke in French.
It was also announced that
the Synod Fathers would
begin meeting separately with
each of the heads of the top
administrative offices of the
Roman Curia (the Church’s
central administrative body)
beginning that same day. The
first meeting was to be with
(Continued on Page 7)
HEADLINE
HOPSCOTCH \.t
NATION
Bishop Sheen Resigns
WASHINGTON (NC) — Pope Paul VI has accepted the
resignation of the Most Rev. Fulton J. Sheen, 74, from the
office of bishop of Rochester, N.Y., and has transferred him to
the titular See of Newport which, pro hac vice (for this
appointment), has been elected to archiepiscopal status. Msgr.
Joseph L. Hogan, pastor of St. Margaret Mary church,
Rochester, N.Y., has been appointed bishop of Rochester in
succession to Bishop Sheen. Auxiliary Bishop Joseph
Breitenbeck of Detroit has been named bishop of Grand Rapids,
Mich. The actions of the Holy Father were announced here by
Archbishop Luigi Raimondi, Apostolic Delegate in the United
States.
AUSTRALIA
Australia Priests
SYDNEY, Australia (NC) — A wide range of topics that
concern today’s priests-including celibacy-will be discussed at a
national convention of Australian priests to be held early in
1970. Plans for the convention were disclosed at a press
conference following a two-day meeting of 85 priests held in
Coogee, near here. The subject of the meeting was “Life of the
Church Today.” There was no formal statement issued, but at
the press conference spokesmen told newsmen that the meeting
had chosen subjects for the 1970 convention agenda that
covered seven areas of concern to priests.
EUROPE
Prays For Ireland
VATICAN CITY (NC) — After praying for the success of the
special meeting of the Synod of Bishops, Pope Paul VI
expressed concern over the latest bloodshed between
Protestants and British troops in Northern Ireland. “We have
other intentions that we wish to note,” the Pope said in putting
aside the subject of the synod during a Sunday talk (Oct. 12)
from the window of his study overlooking St. Peter’s Square.
“The other intention is for peace, a truly just and civil peace in
Ireland, where we are told that violent and bloody incidents
occurred last night,” the Pope said in his reference to riots that
broke out in Protestant areas of Beflast.
Vocations Crisis
MADRID, Spain (NC) — The new provincial of the
Redemptorists in Spain has said that unless religious orders
effect “a true renewal,” the crisis of vocations will kill them.
Father Antonio Hortelano, C.SS.R., who is leaving his convent
headquarters here to move into an apartment in a middle-class
neighborhood with a team of his priests, said, however, that he
is “an optimist regarding Church renewal.” “We need to foster
poverty within the Church by giving to our possessions a sense
of community service,” he said. “We are not bent on sidesteping
spiritual values, and I tell our elder brethren not to be afraid.
But a lot of things must be changed, with courage and urgency.”