New "Foreign Minister" in the Vatican? --- Continuing Reassignments by the Pope

Vatican Foreign Minister Dominque Mamberti

(Vatican) Pope Francis is preparing for the renovation of the Vatican "foreign ministry". The former "foreign minister" of the Holy See, the French Curial Archbishop Dominique Mamberti  will probably  be dismissed. While the overall reform of the Roman Curia is still written in the stars, Pope Francis is making more heads of Benedict XVI's  Curia roll. A few days ago  the Curial Cardinal Prefect Cañizares, then the secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy, was hit. Another of his Prefects, Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, had to vacate his seat a year ago.

In mid-September,  the C8-Kardinalsrat , formed by Pope Francis as an advisory body for the reform of the Curia and the management of the world Church will meet. In the beginning of July  it's been the fifth meeting of a C9-Council, since  Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin  then was also added to the C8-Council. A formal act of the membership of the Cardinal Secretary of State in this body, has not yet taken place, as the Vatican expert Sandro Magister mentions.

It will be at the sixth meeting of this committee. The seventh meeting follows from 9-11 December and the eighth meeting on 9-11 February 2015.  The work of the Cardinal Council  still seems to be in the preliminary phase. "There are no designs for a new apostolic constitution," said Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi at the end of the fifth meeting, "It takes time."

 "Little Ratzinger" Promoted to Valencia

Benedict XVI. and the "Little Ratzinger" Cardinal Antonio Cañizares

The "ruling bishop of Rome" (Sandro Magister)  already related soon after his election  that he did not intend to wait for the reform of the Curia to make personnel decisions.  It had been expected for months when on August 28th, the removal of the Spanish Cardinal Cañizares Llovera of the Roman Curia took place.  Cardinal Cañizares was   Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship under Benedict XVI. and became a supporter of the "reform of the liturgical reform". He had a close relationship to the Church understanding of the German Pope, which he shared with Cardinal Mauro Piacenza. Too close for  Pope Francis.  He  "promoted" the "little Ratzinger", as the Cardinal is known for his bodily stature, who is content but not necessarily aptly, called back to his home and named him Archbishop of Valencia, after all, "one of the most vibrant Dioceses of the Iberian Peninsula," says Sandro Magister.

What responsibilities will remain the Congregation for Divine Worship?

Officially, Francis Pope had the transfer not imposed, but only responded to the wishes of the Cardinal to want to accept "the smell of the sheep". Cardinal Cañizares that, if they did, "dear Madrid would have preferred Valencia, is a different story," said Master.

A successor to Prefect Cañizares  of the important Congregation of Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has not yet been appointed. For Sandro Magister  it appears as "unlikely" that Pope Francis will seek a "break" with   Benedict XVI. in his choice of successor. Rather it would is much more to be what responsibilities the Pope leaves the Congregation,  transferring them to the Episcopal Conferences, such as responsibility for the review and revision of the liturgical books.

The Secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy is Also Promoted Back to Spain

Celso Morga Iruzubieta: Secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy is Coadjutor Archbishop in Spain

According to Spanish media reports, the return of another high prelate to Spain is imminent, who currently holds a leading position in the Roman Curia. It is Curial Archbishop Celso Morga Iruzubieta. The priest of Opus Dei has been since 2010 the Secretary of the Congregation for  Clergy . Now he is to be Coadjutor Archbishop in the Archdiocese of Merida Badajoz in Extremadura.

This completes the repluisti Pope Francis, the "repudiation" of one of the most important offices of the Roman Curia. The Congregation for the Clergy is concerned among other things with  disputes between priests and bishops, with the dispensing of the priestly duties (except the delicta graviora ), with the sale of church property over a certain value. By the will of Benedict XVI.  it was give charge of the seminaries. Above all, it is also about the image of priesthood and thus  the self-image of the priest. The successful prevention of the appointment of the saintly Curé of Ars Patron of Priests, which Benedict XVI. wanted to make, is still vividly remembered.

The removal of the Number Two of the Congregation follows that of the number one, Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, which Pope Francis had already carried out in September 2013. Both were by Pope Benedict XVI. been appointed. Cardinal Piacenza still comes from the Genoese school of Cardinal Giuseppe Siri. On him the diplomat Beniamino Stella followed. For the seminars appointed Francis one additional Assistant Secretary, the Sino-Mexican Curia Archbishop Jorge Carlos Patron Wong. In addition, over the past year such a strong exchange of employees in this Pontifical Council was held that Roman observers speak of an unprecedented precedent.

"Foreign Minister" Mamberti Before Dismissal

The new curial organization chart of Pope Francis stands at the edge of another reshuffle. Curial Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, head of the Section for Relations with States in the Secretariat of State and thus "foreign minister" of the Holy See is to be replaced. The reasons for the action are not known. It can at best be speculated about as a change of course in the relations with the states and international bodies.

"It will be interesting to see whether the Pope in this case will follow the unwritten law that the Vatican's 'foreign minister' is awarded  at the end of his service with the dignity of Cardinal," said Sandro Magister. The predecessors Mambertis were  given this honor,  from Giovanni Lajolo, Jean-Louis Tauran, Angelo Sodano, Achille Silvestrini, Agostino Casaroli to Antonio Samore, etc.

Vengeful Bergoglio

Jean-Louis Bruguès, archivist and Librarian of the Holy Catholic Church, but not Cardinal

Or is Pope Francis denying Mamberti  the cardinal's purple, as he is - in spite of unwritten law - the Archivist and Librarian of Holy Roman Church, rejected Curial Archbishop Jean-Louis Bruguès? The French Dominican Bruguès had, as Secretary of the Congregation for Education (2007-2012), skirmishes with the rector of the Catholic University of Buenos Aires, and was discharged  Victor Manuel Fernández. Fernández is considered a "foster son" of Jorge Mario Bergoglios,  and he was -  just as soon as Bergolio was elected pope - quite unusually, immediately promoted him to  Archbishop, while he avenged  himself on Father Bruguès for his criticism of Fernández.

Pope Francis justifies his appointments  in the Diplomatic Corps of the Vatican on renewal. For this reason, it seems very likely that the successor of Mambertis will come from the ranks of diplomats. It is likely he will also be  valued by Cardinal Secretary of State Parolin nuncio.

With the exception of the two French Archbishops Mamberti and Cardinal Tauran and  Poland's Wlodzimierz Czacki at the end of the 19th century,  all were the "foreign minister" of the Vatican in Italy. Just  as both the Cardinal Secretary of State and his substitute, the Sarde (Sardinian) Curial Archbishop Giovanni Angelo Becciu, come from Italy, it seems unlikely that the third high position in the State Secretariat is to be staffed by an Italian. "Unlikely, but not impossible," said Sandro Magister.

Text: Settimo Cielo / Giuseppe Nardi
image: Settimo Cielo / Wikicommons
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com
Link to Katholisches....
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Papal Praise For Kasper and Progressive Anathema Against Doctrine of the Faith

Haw-Haw, I Love This Guy!

What is brewing in the preparation of the Synod of Bishops on behind the scenes together? Is the convening of the Synod of Bishops only a  pretext to cap the sacrament of marriage? Are the remarried divorcees only the first step to a "new morality"? Was this topic remarried divorcees a secret ballot surrender  in the case Jorge Mario Bergoglios? The answer to these questions is not available. It is possible, however, to summarize the events of the past month and a half.

(Rome) A few days ago, Pope Francis joined the office of the Under Secretary of the Synod of Bishops  for the first time with the Episcopal dignity. In an accompanying letter to the Secretary of the Synod of Bishops, Cardinal Lorenzo Baldisseri, the Pope who wants to strengthen "collegiality" in the Church as "signs of the times". An intention, which is clearly expressed to the bishop by the imposition of cardinal status on the secretary  and the appointment of the Under Secretary. This is also a step towards the preparation of the first Synod of Bishops of this pontificate, which will take place in early October and will be looked to in the Church with mixed feelings. It's about the fear that a synodal coup could, if not in this first part of the Synod of Bishops, then in the second part, which is scheduled for autumn 2015, bypass parts of Catholic teaching on marriage and undermine the sacrament of marriage. The formula was supplied by the German theologian and Cardinal Walter Kasper. It is understandable given: Changing the formal doctrine untouched by a new practice. Specifically on the Kaspers program is the approval of remarried divorcees to the sacraments. Since the individual lives in a permanent state of public sin that remarried divorcees are excluded from receiving communion. If it goes according  to the Episcopal Conferences of Germany and Switzerland to the reception of communion will be possible under one or the other new formulae.

The Old Demon of Gallicanism is Not Dead (Not Just in France)

(Rome) A recurring problem in the Catholic Church is the question of the autonomy of the local churches from Rome.  A problem that has recently returned in astonishing ways.

The latest controversial case is the case Fabienne Brugere.The speech of the philosopher  for 19 March before the French Bishops' Conference has been canceled.

Gallican Bishops of France's Mind Games?

The cancellation sparked fierce debate in France. Stephanie Le Bars, wrote in her blog for Le Monde , the case "proves that strong disagreements prevail within the Catholic Church  which are broken up by the discussion of "marriage for all".  As a "marriage for all" is only the law legalizing  "gay marriage" in France,  from which   the counter-movement "Manif pour tous"  takes its name.

The decision of the Bishops' Conference to allow the philosopher Fabienne Brugere to speak  at a training session was criticized in Catholic circles. Brugere who already had guest professorships in Hamburg and Munich, is considered a representative of bridge-building, is seeking to mediate the Bishops' Conference with the government. The Bishops' Conference meekly opposed  the introduction of "gay marriage". However, an active minority supported the resistance and forced the majority of the bishops to take a stand.

Search for a Accomodations of the Bishops with the Government

No sooner had "gay marriage" but been approved by Parliament, when most bishops withdrew from the resistance and has  looked back since then to form of arrangements with the government majority, although this rarely prosecuted as another a radically anti-Catholic course. The invitation to Brugere should assist in "Arrangements".

But on the other hand rose up in protest of the Church. The projection is therefore attributed to "certain Catholic circles", where the labels who are good and who is evil taken up quickly by the secular media. Father Louis-Marie Guitton expressed, however, on the website of the traditionally friendly Diocese of Frejus-Toulon, that the French Bishops' Conference is being flirtatious with a new Gallicanism: "As Pope Francis is in favor of a real subsidiarity in the Church, it  is to be feared that the old demons of Gallicanism is not all dead. The 'offices', 'presentations' and commissions of  the Bishops' Conference are not the French Church.'"

2000 dispute between Cardinal Ratzinger and Cardinal Kasper on the understanding of the church

Can the Episcopal Conferences be autonomous or must the bishops  always be in complete agreement with each other and be more so with the Pope as "successors of the Apostles"?  The question is not new. In early 2000 there was a famous debate between the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and Cardinal Walter Kasper. The future Pope Benedict XVI. defended the understanding of the Church as the universal Church. The world Church he described as "a reality that is always  comes ontologically and chronologically before any particular church". An understanding of the church, which was critized  by the then secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, Cardinal Kasper.  Kasper turned the understanding of the Church on its head. Not a world Church with a clear center, which is divided into a number of local churches, but many local churches, which only form a single whole. Where does  the primacy come in, that of Rome or the local churches?

If Diocese or  the Sum of Dioceses Form a Local State Church?

The specific question goes even further: How important are national churches in the form of episcopal conferences?Where already are "national churches" defined by  the current state borders meaning a subordination of spiritual things under the mundane concerns of  states. In other words, with this breakdown, the decision is in favor of practical things and not the doctrine of faith. Who is the local church? Is it, according to the understanding of the Church of Benedict XVI. the single diocese with their bishop, who exercises the responsibility and sole decision-making authority in his field? Or are the dioceses of only a minor appendage of the Episcopal Conferences that have taken over the rights of the dioceses as an autonomous institution?

Between Canon Law and Reality

Considered canon law, things are as Benedict XVI. defined. The diocesan bishop and not the chairman of a bishops' conference is a sacramental reality in the church. But in reality, the Bishops' Conferences are often taken the place of rights and obligations of the individual bishops with their apparatus. The majority decisions in the Bishops' Conference are  formed according to  a consensus. This means, first above all that possible minorities should not be considered. Because the Bishop of Chur Vitus Huonder does not want to submit  otherwise to the dictates of the majority of the Bishops' Conference, he published his reply to the questionnaire of Rome to moral teaching of the Church about remarried divorcees and homosexuals independently, as  he is required by Church law . That earned him a lot of criticism because he thwarted the intention to report a unit review for the whole of Switzerland to Rome. An opinion that has little in common with that of Bishop Huonders. Huonder was with his "go it alone"  spoiler vote  undermined a uniform position that hardly tolerates dissent and intends to carry through the "unity vote" of the Episcopal Conference to pressure  Rome.

Another aspect of the episcopal conferences is the opportunity it provides bishops to hide behind it. However, does the Bishops' Conference relieve  a bishop of his responsibility?

Cardinal Baldisseri: Strengthening the Bishops' Conferences

The divergence of the Church away from Peter, the center of  unity,  towards a spin-off of the local churches, poses a serious threat to the unity of faith and doctrine. Pope Francis seems with Monsignor Lorenzo Baldisseri the Secretary of the Synod of Bishops, and who was also made cardinal at the end February, to forego the risk to shake the fragile unity of the Church. The price for such a development is clear, but where are the benefits?

The decision of Pope Francis, to allow Cardinal Walter Kasper at the Consistory  to speak  and  explain his controversial theories about remarried divorcees, at least  is read from the perspective of a German as "Gallican".

"Process of Decentralization" Towards National Churches

Cardinal Baldisseri said in an interview by Jean Mercier: "The process of decentralization takes place in a medium in which   the episcopal conferences and other regional and continental episcopal conferences are given  significance." The discussion about "subsidiarity" and "decentralization", therefore, does not mean that between Rome and the dioceses meet as local churches, but between Rome and the bishops' conferences as "national churches".

In the Apostolic Letter Evangellii Gaudium Pope Francis says the Second Vatican Council had compared the Episcopal Conferences with the ancient patriarchates. How could this contribute in multiple and fruitful ways, so that the Bishops' Conferences, could be realize the collegial sense concretely.

The line of approach has been struck in this direction by the C8-Kardinalsrat of Pope Francis. It's a risky path.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: Messa in Latino

Cardinal Maradiaga: "One May Also Criticize This Pope, But With Love"

(Rome) since Monday morning the C8 Cardinal Council will be meeting for the third time. Cardinal Maradiaga, the coordinator of the Council has also said in advance that one may criticize "this Pope, but with love."

Pope Francis appointed  eight Cardinals in April 2013  to consult with them in regarding the reform of the Curia and the leadership of the Church. Their meeting  will last until Wednesday evening. On Thursday  a four-day meeting of the entire College of Cardinals begins. The first two days as a regular, then as an extraordinary consistory with the inclusion to the College of newly appointed cardinals by the Pope.

Ahead of the meeting  C8 Cardinal Maradiaga has confirmed what was already suspected: "We will listen to the commission for Vatican Bank IO and economic affairs" (see separate report Vatican intensive: C8 Council and Consistory for "Hot" Topic of the Family ).

Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga, Archbishop of Tegucigalpa in Honduras is the coordinator of the C8 Council.  According to the media, he has recently been referred to as "Vice-Pope" because he has been particularly self-assured as the coordinator since the election of Pope Francis and his appointment.

"The work of our Commission have begun in October. It is a serious job to be accomplished, which is why one must have patience. It is a work that will bring its fruits, but a hasty society must have patience. The things of the Lord will take time," said the cardinal  in an interview for Tgcom24 . "Even the Pope has said that we should live according to the words of the New Testament. Therefore, we have to work with discretion. This means that it is necessary to listen, to pray, to converse and then decide. We are in this process," said Maradiaga.

The Honduran cardinal was asked whether one should criticize "this pope"  because of  some issue. "I remember a lot of Pope Paul VI. He took the view that one can criticize the Church, but like a child criticizes his mother. In the same way, I thnk you can criticize this pope, but with love," said Cardinal Maradiaga. 

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: AsiaNews

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Edit: We couldn't find this article translated at Asianews.it yet, so here it is, but with a note.  Not to be contentious, but we noticed that Paul VI may not have minded criticism of the Church so much, however intemperate and unrealistic it was, but he hated being criticized, even gently:

Then the Holy Father said to me, further:

"It is true, is it not, that you condemn me?" 

I had the strong impression that it all came back rather to his person, that he was personally hurt: 

"You condemn me, so what ought I to do? Must I hand in my resignation and let you take my place?" 

"Oh!" I put my head in my hands. 

"Holy Father, do not say such things. No, no, no, no!" I then said: 

"Holy Father, let me continue. You have the solution of the problem in your hands. You need say only one word to the bishops: receive fraternally, with understanding and charity all those groups of traditionalists, all those who wish to keep the prayer of former days, the sacraments as before, the catechism as before. Receive them, give them places of worship, settle with them so that they can pray and remain in relation with you, in intimate relation with their bishops. You need say only one word to the bishops and everything will return to order and at that moment we shall have no more problems. Things will return to order. As for the seminary, I myself shall have no difficulty in going to the bishops and asking them to implant my priests in their dioceses: things will be done normally. I myself am very willing to renew relations with a commission you could name from the Congregation of Religious to come to the seminary. But clearly we shall keep and wish to continue the practice of Tradition. We should be allowed to maintain that practice. But I want to return to normal and official relations with the Holy See and with the Congregations. Beyond that I want nothing.”

Link to Katholisches....

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Cardinal C8 to Advise Pope Over Curia Reform

Edit: Cardinal Christoph von Schönborn reforming the Church, one balloon at a time.

Topics are twelve Vatican Councils - Subsequent Cardinal surveys to make Consistory "less European"

Vatican City (kath.net / KAP) The Vatican has begun a three-day meeting of the Cardinal Council for the reform of the Curia on Monday. The eight cardinals of the so-called C8 Council, among them the Archbishop of Munich Reinhard Marx [And +++Sean], are consulting together with Pope Francis about a realignment of ecclesiastical government headquarters. The focus this time are the twelve Pontifical Councils.

As the meeting  of the College of Cardinals closes its general meeting on Thursday, Pope Francis' most important advisors will address the course of the reform efforts. In the plenary session, attended by Cardinal Christoph Schonborn , the Pope wants to present his previous initiatives and reform ideas.

 On Saturday Francis will confer office   19 church leaders  from his first consistory to the College of Cardinals, including 16 bishops under 80 years, who may therefore be able to also participate in a papal election. Among the electorate is the prefect of the CDF, Gerhard Ludwig Müller.

 The effect of the future appointments mean that the  Church Senate is to become "less European" and it is geared more to Latin America.   Nearly one-third (6 of 19) of the New comes from the Americas south of the Rio Grande.

 In the two previous conferences the C8  focused on the work of the Synod of Bishops and the nine congregations. The C8 Council had already been used by Pope Francis a month after his election, to advise him on Church authorities and to make recommendations for a reform of the Curia to him.

Copyright 2014 Catholic Press Agency, Vienna, Austria

Is the Vatican Going to Erect a New Congregation for Laity? Idea of Cardinal Maradiaga. Also of Pope Francis?

(Rome) The Coordinator of Pope Francis's C8 Cardinal Council wishes to establish a congregation of the Roman Curia for the laity: "There is the Congregation for Bishops, one for the priests and for the religious. But there is not one for the laity who are the most numerous."

The statement comes from Archbishop Cardinal Oscar Rodriguez Maradiaga of Honduras Tegucugalpa. He was made Coordinator of the 8 member council by Pope Francis, which advises the Pope on the reform of the Curia and the leadership of the Church. Cardinal Maradiaga previously called for the reform of the Roman Curia in a statement and is considered among the eight cardinals who desires the most far-reaching changes. Now he again took position and indeed in Logrono in Spain, where he was staying for a visit.

The Central American cardinal declared that "the departments in the Vatican will be adjusted". There has been "only a Pontifical Council for the Laity, but a Congregation for Bishops, another for the priests, another for the religious, but there is none for the laity, who are the most numerous." According to Cardinal Maradiaga a path of reform of the Curia should lead to appreciation of the laity, that their own congregation should be built. In this Congregation various Pontifical Councils could be incorporated, the Council for the Family to the Council for Health Pastoral Care.

Pope Francis considers "clericalism" to be a disease of the Church. A position that his predecessors represented and attempting to oppose the jostle of married men, homosexuals and women entering the sanctuary and in which he attempted to highlight the mission of Christians and their place. Absolutely with some successes, except in the progressive camp, where there is an urge to clericalism throughout the whole Church. Through the clericalization of everything, the declericalization of the Church will be accomplished. Women priests have issued a rejection of Pope Francis.

Following Cardinal Maradiaga's direction, provided they give the opinion of the Pope again and not just the personal opinion of the Cardinal, then the establishment of a lay congregation could be a possible way.

Pope Francis has confirmed the chairman and the secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Laity in office until the regular end of their term. President is Cardinal Stanislaw Rylko, Secretary Bishop Josef Clemens, have both been in office since 2003. However, this term already ends with the year.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
 Image: Sacri Palazzi
Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to katholisches...
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