The Dominican Order censures three of its theologians in the Netherlands
Cathcon translation of L'ordre dominicain recadre trois de ses théologiens aux Pays-Bas"La Croix" reveals the contents of the report sent by the Dominican Order in response to the booklet written by three of them in the Netherlands, suggesting that communities elect their parish priests.
Yes, the shortage of priests creates a crisis among Catholics in a country like the Netherlands, where Masses can no longer be celebrated everywhere. But if solutions are to be considered, such as the ordination of married men, they cannot be taken outside the Communion of the Church, and especially not in opposition to the bishop of the place.
That is, in essence, was the response sent Wednesday, January 23 by the Dominican Order to its the three members who are theologians and who published last June a booklet entitled Kerk in Ambt ("Church and Ministry"), which was sent to many parishes, and which now circulates throughout the country. This is the response which La Croix has read in the whole text.
The Dutch booklet did not beat about the bush. In about thirty pages, citing Vatican II, it sets out the possibility, in the absence of a priest, that a person should be appointed to preside at Mass: "It does not matter whether a man or a woman, or a homosexual or a heterosexual, a married person or a single person, "said Kerk in Ambt:" to pronounce these words (of the institution of the Eucharist) is not a prerogative reserved to the priest. These words are the expression of faith of the entire community. "This booklet had received approval from superiors of the Dutch province of the Dominicans.
Not disciplinary, but severe criticism.
The response among the Dutch faithful led the Cardinal Adrianus Simonis, Primate of the Netherlands as Archbishop Utrecht (he has since retired), to have recourse to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. In an unusual step, the former Holy Office decided to argue for subsidiarity. They divested themselves of the case, leaving the Order of Preachers to respond to the case.
The response of the Order takes the form of a text by the French Dominican Hervé Legrand, introduced by the Master of the Order which reiterates . "We did not want to give a disciplinary answer and we place, as the original document, on a theological level," says Father Mario Couto, of the Dominican Curia in Rome. However, to avoid a canonical penalty, the Dutch Dominicans have pledged to disseminate this response to wherever they sent their brochure, - to at least 1400 parishes. Not disciplinary then, but severe criticism.
Because the Legrand report highlights weaknesses in the Dutch text on the form as well as fundamental faults, failing to make distinctions between the observations, proposals and the recommended action. Indeed, the Dutch text makes demands for action, and as the report of Father Legrand notes, "a Provincial of a religious order has, as such, neither jurisdiction nor responsibility for providing guidance to parishes throughout the country." Nevertheless, writes the French theologian, that does not deny the right to debate, on the contrary: "It is legitimate to propose a debate to explore any serious problem which is poorly resolved.
An excessive opposition which dishonours the Hierarchy
The Dominican Order acknowledged that the situation was serious: in some dioceses of the Netherlands, half of the celebrations take place in the absence of a priest. The booklet, the report adds, to its credit, put his finger on a situation which to say the least is chaotic, "where the discussions are focused on the problems of power."
Nevertheless, the initiative of the Dutch Dominicans cannot be accepted. The report contains weaknesses such as an excessive contrast between ordinary Catholics and the Hierarchy, which totally dishonours the Hierarchy, including the bishops. Similarly, in binding together the cases of all married men, homosexuals and women, Kerk en Ambt is concerned about a mixture of issues which makes all the more unlikely a resolution of the core issue.
On the substance, Father Legrand notes a number of claims which contradict Catholic doctrine. One can, he says, show that parishioners participate in the election of ordained ministers: "It was a common practice in the Germanic countries at least until the Reformation." But the election is not sufficient for ordination -since the beginning of the Church, there is a constant link between Eucharistic communion and ecclesial communion, the first could not be celebrated without the second. As a result, by affirming that the Eucharist can be celebrated by even a Christian unordained by the bishop, Kerk en Ambt was advocating nothing less than schismatic conduct. The report, endorsed by the Master of the Order, said that Vatican II did not say anything to that effect.
Celibacy of priests, "there must be a debate"
The conclusion is clear: "Nobody will be surprised that the Master of the Order, not informed beforehand, has to respond responsibly to such a public initiative and clearly disowns this text.
But the text of Hervé Legrand does not stop there. Refusing to avoid the substantive issue, the lack of priests, he recalled that "the current status of priests is not the only one possible". The law of celibacy is a discipline and not a dogmatic issue, "and pastors could therefore modulate the law of celibacy today if it proved to be the main cause of the shortage of priests." The question of celibacy of priests, raised by Bishops at the Synod on the Eucharist, in October 2005, was then closed. "In the Church as in the Order," said Father Couto, it is a debate. With this response, we recognize that the situation is difficult and that even if the findings of Kerk en Ambt must be rejected, there are acceptable solutions, which have been raised several times, such as the ordination of married men.
One way, the report concludes," to raise publicly concern at seeing so many members of God's people continue to roam as "a flock without a shepherd."”
Because the Legrand report highlights weaknesses in the Dutch text on the form as well as fundamental faults, failing to make distinctions between the observations, proposals and the recommended action. Indeed, the Dutch text makes demands for action, and as the report of Father Legrand notes, "a Provincial of a religious order has, as such, neither jurisdiction nor responsibility for providing guidance to parishes throughout the country." Nevertheless, writes the French theologian, that does not deny the right to debate, on the contrary: "It is legitimate to propose a debate to explore any serious problem which is poorly resolved.
An excessive opposition which dishonours the Hierarchy
The Dominican Order acknowledged that the situation was serious: in some dioceses of the Netherlands, half of the celebrations take place in the absence of a priest. The booklet, the report adds, to its credit, put his finger on a situation which to say the least is chaotic, "where the discussions are focused on the problems of power."
Nevertheless, the initiative of the Dutch Dominicans cannot be accepted. The report contains weaknesses such as an excessive contrast between ordinary Catholics and the Hierarchy, which totally dishonours the Hierarchy, including the bishops. Similarly, in binding together the cases of all married men, homosexuals and women, Kerk en Ambt is concerned about a mixture of issues which makes all the more unlikely a resolution of the core issue.
On the substance, Father Legrand notes a number of claims which contradict Catholic doctrine. One can, he says, show that parishioners participate in the election of ordained ministers: "It was a common practice in the Germanic countries at least until the Reformation." But the election is not sufficient for ordination -since the beginning of the Church, there is a constant link between Eucharistic communion and ecclesial communion, the first could not be celebrated without the second. As a result, by affirming that the Eucharist can be celebrated by even a Christian unordained by the bishop, Kerk en Ambt was advocating nothing less than schismatic conduct. The report, endorsed by the Master of the Order, said that Vatican II did not say anything to that effect.
Celibacy of priests, "there must be a debate"
The conclusion is clear: "Nobody will be surprised that the Master of the Order, not informed beforehand, has to respond responsibly to such a public initiative and clearly disowns this text.
But the text of Hervé Legrand does not stop there. Refusing to avoid the substantive issue, the lack of priests, he recalled that "the current status of priests is not the only one possible". The law of celibacy is a discipline and not a dogmatic issue, "and pastors could therefore modulate the law of celibacy today if it proved to be the main cause of the shortage of priests." The question of celibacy of priests, raised by Bishops at the Synod on the Eucharist, in October 2005, was then closed. "In the Church as in the Order," said Father Couto, it is a debate. With this response, we recognize that the situation is difficult and that even if the findings of Kerk en Ambt must be rejected, there are acceptable solutions, which have been raised several times, such as the ordination of married men.
One way, the report concludes," to raise publicly concern at seeing so many members of God's people continue to roam as "a flock without a shepherd."”
Kerk en Ambt English version
Kerk en Ambt Dutch version
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Comments
The situation is clear.
Only a validly consecrated bishop can ordain priests.
Only a validly ordained priest can celebrate Mass.
Only a validly ordained priest can confect the Sacrament of the Eucharist.
Therefore, proposals for elected but unordained "priests" cannot solve the problem of the shortage of priests.
You would have invalid "priests", invalid Masses, and invalid sacraments.
What would be the point of that ?