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Advent Group (UK) - Support Group for Priests & Religious since 1969

Hidden children of the church

Created: 15 June 2021 15 June 2021

Many congratulations to Vincent Doyle, founder of Coping International, who features regularly in The Tablet. A BBC radio documentary on the thousands of children fathered by catholic priests has won this year’s journalism prize at the Sandford St Martin Trust awards.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000gtnw

Twitt

Why so many Catholics might not pray for vocations any more

Created: 30 April 2021 30 April 2021
Pope Francis ordains new priests

There are two types of Catholic, I think: the select few who enthusiastically pray for Vocations – with a capital V – and everyone else, who at best pay lip-service to the intention. I’m not talking about individuals who have lost their faith but about something that is arguably more disturbing.

Of course, there are those in the Church who have become disillusioned, not least among the overstretched clergy; and it’s clear why some might feel defeated by the demands of their role, as the age profile of the clerical workforce creeps up, their numbers fall and yet the demands increase, simply in order to keep the system going – however unsustainable it may be.

But alongside the question of clergy morale there is this. I would wager that there’s scarcely a Catholic parent in the country who would take the initiative to encourage their son to become a priest, any more than they would encourage their daughter to join a religious order, even if in time they might become supportive of their child’s choice.

Read more: Why so many Catholics might not pray for vocations any more

Twitt

Congregation of Bishops announces symposium on vocations

Created: 13 April 2021 13 April 2021

Two weeks ahead of Vocations Sunday, which takes place on the Fourth Sunday of Easter, the Congregation of Bishops has released a statement announcing a conference on the theme.

The symposium, entitled “Towards a Fundamental Theology of the Priesthood”, is to take place in the Vatican City between 17 and 22 February next year and will discuss issues such as the role of women, the priesthood and multiculturalism.

Read more: Congregation of Bishops announces symposium on vocations

Twitt

A married priesthood not the real revolution in ‘ordained elders’ proposal

Created: 26 June 2020 26 June 2020

Link to La Croix article>>>

It is amazing what a synod can do for a person.

German Bishop Fritz Lobinger, a 90-year-old retired missionary bishop in South Africa, has suddenly become the talk of Rome.

Lobinger’s idea of ordaining “elders” to the priesthood to provide local communities regular access to the sacraments has been the root of discussions about “married priests” that have dominated headlines about the Synod on the Amazon, the three-week summit of bishops which began this week at the Vatican.

Read more: A married priesthood not the real revolution in ‘ordained elders’ proposal

Twitt

Guidelines on clerics with children

Created: 21 May 2020 21 May 2020

Download: Notes concerning the practice of the Congregation for the Clergy with regard to clerics with children - Congregation for Clergy

Notes concerning the practice of the Congregation for the Clergy with regard to clerics with children - Congregation for Clergy. (Published with permission from the Congregation for Clergy. Holy See.)

Nota relative alla prassi della Congregazione per il Clero a proposito dei chierici con prole.

I. Regarding “cases of priests under the age of 40 with children” it is proposed “they obtain the dispensation from clerical state without waiting for the age of 40, as provided for in the norms. Such a decision […] has, as its principle objective, the safeguarding of the good of the child.” (Stella, 2019)

II. Priority focus “does not refer only to economic support”, but also “the affection of parents, an adequate education […] all that pertains to an effective and responsible exercise of paternity.” (Stella, 2019)

III. “The presence of children […] was treated, de facto, as a practically automatic reason […] [for] dispensation. […] The loss of the clerical state is imposed because paternal responsibility creates permanent obligations that in the legislation of the Latin church does not provide for the exercise of priestly ministry.” However, “exceptions” include “the case of a new-born, the child of a priest, who in a particular situation enters into a family already consolidated, in which another parent assumes […] the role of the father.”*(Stella, 2019)

IV. In the situation where a priest who has “children who are already grown up, 20- 30 years old […], in these situations, the Dicastery does not oblige the Bishop to invite the priests to request the dispensation” from priesthood owing to paternity. “The Dicastery counsels a more flexible discernment within the rigorous practise and guidelines of the Congregation.”(Stella, 2019)

Addendum to Guidelines:

The Vatican clarified the third guideline relating to ‘consolidated families’ confirming that any such priest who remains in ministry who is the father of a new-born, the timing and the manner of conveying information relating to his paternity rests with the interested adults (biological parents/guardians). Regarding the situation whereupon a priest fathers’ a child but neither biological parent wish to marry, regarding the impossibility of a priest remaining in the priesthood, recommitting to celibacy and acknowledging his child (openly), the Holy See agreed that such a situation is not impossible, but that each case be examined on its own merits and its own particular circumstances, adding that many considerations must be taken into account, including the suitability of the priest for the priesthood. If a priest has fathered a child, one must consider two things: 1) the good of the child, all we have to do for that, keeping in mind any concrete situation, 2) the suitability of the priest for the priesthood and for exercising ministry.
The Holy See agreed that secrecy is not required in situations where children of priests exist but proper discernment as to when to tell the child (ensuring emotional stability of the child to receive said new so they are supported) beautifully citing the Gospel according to John 16:12, Coping fully concurs with this position. The Holy See has further commented upon the use of confidentiality agreements also noting the primacy of the good of the child, as per Irish Bishops 2015.

Coping remains grateful to the Congregation for Clergy for their unyielding congruent, transparent child-centred approach to the issue of the children of the ordained and encourages episcopal conferences and religious bodies to follow their Catholic example.

Confirmation from Congregation for Clergy.

Congregation for Clergy Confirmation of Accuracy regarding guidelines.

This addendum has been confirmed as an accurate position of the Holy See.

Twitt

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  1. BBC Radio 4 - Hidden Children of the Church

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Latest News

  • Hidden children of the church
  • Why so many Catholics might not pray for vocations any more
  • Congregation of Bishops announces symposium on vocations
  • A married priesthood not the real revolution in ‘ordained elders’ proposal
  • Guidelines on clerics with children

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