For years now, LifeSiteNews.com has been taking on the Canadian Bishops' arm of Development of Peace for its support for abortion agencies in third-world countries and a radical social-justice agenda at the expense of Catholic truth.
The Holy Father has recently issued his motu proprio De Caritate Ministrada. He knows full well what Development and Peace has been up to and its U.S. counterpart, the Campaign for Human Development and others around the world.
God bless and keep Pope Benedict XVI; a Shepherd who guards his flock from those wolves in sheeps' clothing who would devour them.
APOSTOLIC LETTER
ISSUED 'MOTU PROPRIO'
OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF
BENEDICT XVI
ON THE SERVICE OF
CHARITY
Introduction
“
The Church’s deepest nature is expressed in her three-fold
responsibility: of proclaiming the word of God (
kerygma-martyria),
celebrating the sacraments (
leitourgia) and exercising the ministry of
charity (
diakonia). These duties presuppose each other and are
inseparable” (
Deus
Caritas Est, 25).
The service of charity is also a constitutive element of the
Church’s mission and an indispensable expression of her very being (cf.
ibid.);
all the faithful have the right and duty to devote themselves personally to
living the new commandment that Christ left us (cf.
Jn 15:12), and to
offering our contemporaries not only material assistance, but also refreshment
and care for their souls (cf.
Deus
Caritas Est, 28). The Church is also called as a whole to the exercise
of the
diakonia of charity, whether in the small communities of
particular Churches or on the level of the universal Church. This requires
organization “if it is to be an ordered service to the community” (cf.
ibid.,
20), an organization which entails a variety of institutional expressions.
With regard to this
diakonia of charity, in my Encyclical
Deus
Caritas Est I pointed out that “in conformity with the episcopal
structure of the Church, the Bishops, as successors of the Apostles, are charged
with primary responsibility for carrying out in the particular Churches” the
service of charity (No. 32); at the same time, however, I noted that “the
Code of Canon
Law, in the canons on the ministry of the Bishop, does not expressly
mention charity as a specific sector of episcopal activity” (
ibid.).
Although “the
Directory
for the Pastoral Ministry of Bishops explored more specifically the duty
of charity as a responsibility incumbent upon the whole Church and upon each
Bishop in his Diocese” (
ibid.), there was still a need to fill the
aforementioned lacuna and to give adequate expression in canonical legislation
to both the essential nature of the service of charity in the Church and its
constitutive relationship with the episcopal ministry, while outlining the legal
aspects of this ecclesial service, especially when carried out in an organized
way and with the explicit support of the Bishops.
In view of this, with the present Motu Proprio I intend to
provide an organic legislative framework for the better overall ordering of the
various organized ecclesial forms of the service of charity, which are closely
related to the diaconal nature of the Church and the episcopal ministry.
It is important, however, to keep in mind that “practical activity
will always be insufficient, unless it visibly expresses a love for man, a love
nourished by an encounter with Christ” (ibid., 34). In carrying out their
charitable activity, therefore, the various Catholic organizations should not
limit themselves merely to collecting and distributing funds, but should show
special concern for individuals in need and exercise a valuable educational
function within the Christian community, helping people to appreciate the
importance of sharing, respect and love in the spirit of the Gospel of Christ.
The Church’s charitable activity at all levels must avoid the risk of becoming
just another form of organized social assistance (cf. ibid., 31).
The organized charitable initiatives promoted by the faithful in
various places differ widely one from the other, and call for appropriate
management. In a particular way, the work of Caritas has expanded at the
parish, diocesan, national and international levels. Caritas is an
institution promoted by the ecclesiastical Hierarchy which has rightly earned
the esteem and trust of the faithful and of many other people around the world
for its generous and consistent witness of faith and its concrete ability to
respond to the needs of the poor. In addition to this broad initiative,
officially supported by the Church’s authority, many other initiatives have
arisen in different places from the free enterprise of the faithful, who
themselves wish to help in various ways to offer a concrete witness of charity
towards those in need. While differing in their origin and juridical status,
both are expressions of sensitivity and a desire to respond to the same pressing
need.
The Church as an institution is not extraneous to those organized
initiatives which represent a free expression of the concern of the baptized for
individuals and peoples in need. The Church’s Pastors should always welcome
these initiatives as a sign of the sharing of all the faithful in the mission of
the Church; they should respect the specific characteristics and administrative
autonomy which these initiatives enjoy, in accordance with their nature, as a
manifestation of the freedom of the baptized.
Alongside these, the Church’s authority has, on its own
initiative, promoted specific agencies which provide institutionally for
allocating donations made by the faithful, following suitable legal and
administrative methods which allow for a more effective response to concrete
needs.
Nevertheless, to the extent that such activities are promoted by
the Hierarchy itself, or are explicitly supported by the authority of the
Church’s Pastors, there is a need to ensure that they are managed in conformity
with the demands of the Church’s teaching and the intentions of the faithful,
and that they likewise respect the legitimate norms laid down by civil
authorities. In view of these requirements, it became necessary to establish in
the Church’s law certain essential norms inspired by the general criteria of
canonical discipline, which would make explicit in this sector of activity the
legal responsibilities assumed by the various subjects involved, specifying in
particular the position of authority and coordination belonging to the diocesan
Bishop. At the same time, the norms in question need to be broad enough to
embrace the significant diversity of the institutions of Catholic inspiration
which are engaged as such in this sector, whether those originating from the
Hierarchy or those born of the direct initiative of the faithful, received and
encouraged by the local Pastors. While it was necessary to lay down norms in
this regard, there was also a need to consider the requirements of justice and
the responsibility of Bishops before the faithful, with respect for the
legitimate autonomy of each institution.
Dispositive Part
Art. 1. - § 1. The faithful have the right to join in
associations and to establish agencies to carry out specific charitable
services, especially on behalf of the poor and suffering. To the extent that
these are linked to the charitable service of the Church’s Pastors and/or intend
to use for this purpose contributions made by the faithful, they must submit
their own Statutes for the approval of the competent ecclesiastical authority
and comply with the following norms.
§ 2. Similarly, it is also the right of the faithful to establish
foundations to fund concrete charitable initiatives, in accordance with the
norms of canons 1303 of the Code of Canon Law (CIC) and 1047 of the Code of
Canons of the Eastern Churches (CCEO). If foundations of this type correspond to
the characteristics set forth in § 1, they will also observe, congrua
congruis referendo, the provisions of the present law.
§ 3. In addition to observing the canonical legislation, the
collective charitable initiatives to which this Motu Proprio refers are
required to follow Catholic principles in their activity and they may not accept
commitments which could in any way affect the observance of those
principles.
§ 4. Agencies and foundations for charitable purposes promoted by
Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life are required to
comply with these norms, and they must follow the prescriptions of canons 312 §
2 CIC and 575 § 2 CCEO.
Art. 2. - § 1. The Statutes of each charitable agency
referred to in the preceding article must also contain, in addition to its
institutional offices and structures of governance in accordance with canon 95 §
1 CIC, the guiding principles and objectives of the initiative, the management
of funds, the profile of its workers, as well as the reports and information
which must be presented to the competent ecclesiastical authority.
§ 2. A charitable agency may use the name “Catholic” only with the
written consent of the competent authority, as laid down by canon 300 CIC.
§ 3. Agencies promoted by the faithful for charitable purposes can
have an Ecclesiastical Assistant appointed in accordance with the Statutes,
according to the norm of canons 324 § 2 and 317 CIC.
§ 4. At the same time, the ecclesiastical authority must bear in
mind its duty to regulate the exercise of the rights of the faithful in
accordance with canons 223 § 2 CIC and 26 § 2 CCEO, and thus to avoid the
proliferation of charitable initiatives to the detriment of their activity and
effectiveness with regard to their stated goals.
Art. 3. - § 1. With regard to the preceding articles, it is
understood that the competent authority at the respective levels is that
indicated by canons 312 CIC and 575 CCEO.
§ 2. For agencies not approved at the national level, even though
they operate in different Dioceses, the competent authority is understood to be
the diocesan Bishop of the place where the agency has its principal office. In
any event, the agency has the duty to inform the Bishops of other Dioceses where
it operates and to respect the guidelines for the activities of the various
charitable agencies present in those Dioceses.
Art. 4. § 1. The diocesan Bishop (cf. canon 134 § 3 CIC and
canon 987 CCEO) exercises his proper pastoral solicitude for the service of
charity in the particular Church entrusted to him as its Pastor, guide and the
one primarily responsible for that service.
§ 2. The diocesan Bishop encourages and supports the initiatives
and works of service to neighbour in his particular Church, and encourages in
the faithful the spirit of practical charity as an expression of the Christian
life and sharing in the mission of the Church, as indicated in canons 215 and
222 CIC and 25 and 18 CCEO.
§ 3. It is the responsibility of the diocesan Bishop to ensure
that in the activities and management of these agencies the norms of the
Church’s universal and particular law are respected, as well as the intentions
of the faithful who made donations or bequests for these specific purposes (cf.
canons 1300 CIC and 1044 CCEO).
Art. 5. - The diocesan Bishop is to ensure that the Church
enjoys the right to carry out charitable activities, and he is to take care that
the faithful and the institutions under his supervision comply with the
legitimate civil legislation in this area.
Art. 6. – It is the responsibility of the diocesan Bishop,
as indicated by canons 394 § 1 CIC and 203 § 1 CCEO, to coordinate within his
territory the different works of charitable service, both those promoted by the
Hierarchy itself and those arising from initiatives of the faithful, without
prejudice to their proper autonomy in accordance with their respective Statutes.
In particular, he is to take care that their activities keep alive the spirit of
the Gospel.
Art. 7. - § 1. The agencies referred to in Article 1 § 1
are required to select their personnel from among persons who share, or at least
respect, the Catholic identity of these works.
§ 2. To ensure an evangelical witness in the service of charity,
the diocesan Bishop is to take care that those who work in the Church’s
charitable apostolate, along with due professional competence, give an example
of Christian life and witness to a formation of heart which testifies to a faith
working through charity. To this end, he is also to provide for their
theological and pastoral formation, through specific curricula agreed upon by
the officers of various agencies and through suitable aids to the spiritual
life.
Art. 8. – Wherever necessary, due to the number and variety
of initiatives, the diocesan Bishop is to establish in the Church entrusted to
his care an Office to direct and coordinate the service of charity in his
name.
Art. 9. - § 1. The Bishop is to encourage in every parish
of his territory the creation of a local Caritas service or a similar
body, which will also promote in the whole community educational activities
aimed at fostering a spirit of sharing and authentic charity. When appropriate,
this service is to be established jointly by various parishes in the same
territory.
§ 2. It is the responsibility of the Bishop and the respective
parish priest to ensure that together with Caritas, other charitable
initiatives can coexist and develop within the parish under the general
coordination of the parish priest, taking into account, however, the
prescriptions of Article 2 § 4 above.
§ 3. It is the duty of the diocesan Bishop and the respective
parish priests to see that in this area the faithful are not led into error or
misunderstanding; hence they are to prevent publicity being given through parish
or diocesan structures to initiatives which, while presenting themselves as
charitable, propose choices or methods at odds with the Church’s teaching.
Art. 10. - § 1. It is the responsibility of the Bishop to
supervise the ecclesiastical goods of the charitable agencies subject to his
authority.
§ 2. It is the duty of the diocesan Bishop to ensure that the
proceeds of collections made in accordance with canons 1265 and 1266 CIC and
canons 1014 and 1015 CCEO are used for their stated purposes [cf. canons 1267
CIC, 1016 CCEO].
§ 3. In particular, the diocesan Bishop is to ensure that
charitable agencies dependent upon him do not receive financial support from
groups or institutions that pursue ends contrary to Church’s teaching.
Similarly, lest scandal be given to the faithful, the diocesan Bishop is to
ensure that these charitable agencies do not accept contributions for
initiatives whose ends, or the means used to pursue them, are not in conformity
with the Church’s teaching.
§ 4. In a particular way, the Bishop is to see that the management
of initiatives dependent on him offers a testimony of Christian simplicity of
life. To this end, he will ensure that salaries and operational expenses, while
respecting the demands of justice and a necessary level of professionalism, are
in due proportion to analogous expenses of his diocesan Curia.
§ 5. To permit the ecclesiastical authority mentioned in Article 3
§ 1 to exercise its duty of supervision, the agencies mentioned in Article 1 §
1, are required to submit to the competent Ordinary an annual financial report
in a way which he himself will indicate.
Art. 11. – The diocesan Bishop is obliged, if necessary, to
make known to the faithful the fact that the activity of a particular charitable
agency is no longer being carried out in conformity with the Church’s teaching,
and then to prohibit that agency from using the name “Catholic” and to take the
necessary measures should personal responsibilities emerge.
Art. 12. - § 1. The diocesan Bishop is to encourage the
national and international activity of the charitable agencies under his care,
especially cooperation with poorer ecclesiastical circumscriptions by analogy
with the prescriptions of canons 1274 § 3 CIC and 1021 § 3 CCEO.
§ 2. Pastoral concern for charitable works, depending on
circumstances of time and place, can be carried out jointly by various
neighbouring Bishops with regard to a number of Churches, in accordance with the
norm of law. When such joint activity is international in character, the
competent Dicastery of the Holy See is to be consulted in advance. For
charitable initiatives on the national level, it is fitting that the Bishop
consult the respective office of the Bishops’ Conference.
Art. 13. – The local ecclesiastical authority retains the
full right to give permission for initiatives undertaken by Catholic agencies in
areas of his jurisdiction, with due respect for canonical norms and the specific
identity of the individual agencies. It is also the duty of the Bishop to ensure
that the activities carried out in his Diocese are conducted in conformity with
ecclesiastical discipline, either prohibiting them or adopting any measures
needed in cases where that discipline is not respected.
Art. 14. – Where appropriate, the Bishop is to promote
charitable initiatives in cooperation with other Churches or Ecclesial
Communities, respecting the proper identity of each.
Art. 15. - § 1. The
Pontifical
Council Cor Unum has the task of promoting the application of this
legislation and ensuring that it is applied at all levels, without prejudice to
the competence of the Pontifical Council for the Laity with regard to
associations of the faithful as provided for in
Article
133 of the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus, the competence of the
Secretariat of State’s Section for Relations with States, and the general
competences of other Dicasteries and Institutes of the Roman Curia. In
particular, the Pontifical Council
Cor Unum is to take care that the
charitable service of Catholic institutions at the international level is always
to be carried out in communion with the various local Churches.
§ 2. The Pontifical Council Cor Unum is also competent for
the canonical establishment of charitable agencies at the international level;
it thus takes on the responsibilities of discipline and promotion entailed by
law.
I order that everything I have laid down in this Apostolic Letter
issued Motu Proprio be fully observed, notwithstanding anything to the
contrary, even if worthy of particular mention, and I decree that it be
promulgated by publication in the daily newspaper L’Osservatore Romano
and enter into force on 10 December 2012.
Given in Rome, at Saint Peter’s, on 11 November, in the year
2012, the eighth of my Pontificate.
BENEDICTUS PP. XVI
© Copyright
2012 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana
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