Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Catholic News

Home

Home
Catholic
Religion News
Cardinal advisors discuss Curia reform, protection of minors

Cardinal advisors discuss Curia reform, protection of minors

Last updated on: December 12, 2014 at 7:15 am by CNA Daily News

Cardinal advisors discuss Curia reform, protection of minors 2014-12-12T07:15:00+00:00 CNA Daily News

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Vatican City, Dec 12, 2014 / 12:15 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Efforts to reform the Roman Curia have moved forward with the latest round of Vatican meetings and will continue next year, said Fr. Federico Lombardi, director of the Holy See Press Office.

“Curia reform is an ongoing process, there are no formal decisions,” Fr. Lombardi told members of the media at the end of the Dec. 9-11 meeting of the Council of Cardinals at the Vatican.

He explained that after final reform proposals are presented, “there will be the need of a team of Canon Law and juridical experts to write down a final draft.”

The Council of Cardinals was instituted by Pope Francis shortly after his election, to aid him in governing the Church and to revise “Pastor Bonus,” the apostolic constitution governing the Curia.

As a result of the previous meetings of the council, Pope Francis has already established both a Secretariat and Council for the Economy, continued reform of the ‘Vatican bank’, and instituted a Commission for the Protection of Minors.

In the most recent round of meetings, the nine cardinals on the council discussed drafts of Curia reforms, suggestions from the Council for the Economy to move forward with its work, and the ongoing shaping of the Commission for Protection of Minors, Fr. Lombardi reported.

Bishop Marcello Semeraro of Albano, Secretary of the Council of Cardinals, had presented the reform proposals at the head of Vatican dicasteries’ periodic meeting, which took place Nov. 24.

The draft proposed establishing two new congregations, which would absorb tasks and functions of several current pontifical councils: the Congregation for Justice and Peace, which would include the Pontifical Councils for Justice and Peace, Migrants, Cor Unum, Health Care, and the Pontifical Academy for Life; and the Congregation for Laity, which would include the Pontifical Councils for the Family and the Laity.

Fr. Lombardi stressed that “the chief of dicasteries made several observations” during the Nov. 24 meeting, and so “the Council of Cardinals spent the whole first day of (this) meeting to consider the observations,” which consisted of “a very rich series of remarks.”

Regarding the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, Fr. Lombardi said that the body’s president, Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston, reported to the cardinals on how the group’s work is proceeding.

The commission has been given an official headquarters in the Vatican, and it will now hire the personnel to carry on its work, with the efforts of Secretary Msgr. Robert W. Oliver to shape the commission and its statutes.

The body is currently composed of eight members, but membership will soon be enlarged to improve geographic representation.

“The number of members of the Commission should be increased to 18 people, and it is reasonable that the composition will be completed by Feb. 6, when they will have their plenary session,” said Fr. Lombardi.

Joseph Zahra, deputy coordinator of the Council for the Economy, took part in one session of the Council of Cardinals’ meetings to report about the council’s general recommendations in carrying forward the reshaping of Vatican dicasteries and of the economic and financial bodies, Fr. Lombardi recounted.

The Vatican spokesman noted that the Council for the Economy met Dec. 2, and that “the modus operandi is that of having a gathering of the members of the Council for the Economy some days before the meeting of the Council of Cardinals.”

He also reported that there is a “restricted commission of three cardinals” that is working to draft the statutes of the Council for the Economy, which “should be soon ready.”

The next round of meetings for the Council of Cardinals was also announced.

On Feb. 6-8, there will be a plenary assembly of the Commission for the Protection of Minors, presided by Cardinal Sean O’Malley, followed on Feb. 9-11 by the seventh meeting of the Council of Cardinals.

Then, on Feb. 12-13, the Pope will convoke an ordinary consistory to share views and opinions on the ongoing process of Curia reform. Following this, there will be an extraordinary consistory Feb. 14-15, during which the Pope is expected to create new cardinals.

Vatican

Previous Post

December 12, 2014

Pope Francis likely discussed economic inequality with IMF director

Next Post

December 12, 2014 Sister Cristina gives Pope Francis a copy of her music album

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Americas Asia - Pacific Europe Middle East - Africa Uncategorized US Vatican

Select a Month November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which book contains a prophecy about locust swarms devastating the land?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Joel Hosea Micah Obadiah