Cardinal Calls on G8 Leaders to Keep Their Promises

Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor, the President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales, has led an international delegation of bishops from Africa, Asia and Europe to 10 Downing Street to remind Tony Blair of Britain’s commitment to the G8 pledges made at Gleneagles in 2005.

As Germany prepares to host the “Group of Eight”, the bishops are taking part in a tour calling on the new German government to get the G8 nations back on track to meet their commitment to double aid to Africa* - increasing it by $25 billion-a-year by 2010.

The Cardinal chaired the meeting on 30 April attended by eight senior church figures - including Archbishop Onaiyekan of Abuja, Nigeria; and Archbishop Monsengwo of Kisangani, Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Cardinal highlighted the important role the Church has to play in reminding the G8 leaders of their moral duty to keep their promises:

““I thanked the Prime Minister and the government for the good work already done in drawing the world’s attention to the plight of those in need, particularly in Africa. I urged him to continue his leadership in this respect at the forthcoming G8 Summit in Germany.”

The Catholic Bishops are lobbying national leaders in London, Berlin and Rome as part of an international Catholic campaign called: “The World Can’t Wait: Make Aid Work”.

The tour will conclude with a meeting with Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican.

Curé d'Orange devient évêque de Montauban

LE PÈRE BERNARD GINOUX EST NOMMÉ ÉVÊQUE DE MONTAUBAN

Communiqué de Presse de l'Archevêque d'Avignon:

Je vous informe que le pape Benoît XVI a nommé évêque de Montauban – siège vacant à la suite du transfert de Monseigneur Bernard HOUSSET à l’évêché de La Rochelle et Saintes – le Père Bernard GINOUX jusqu’à présent curé d’Orange.

Monseigneur Bernard GINOUX est né le 14 octobre 1947 à Châteaurenard en Provence.

Après des études au Collège Saint-Joseph d’Avignon puis à la Faculté
d’Aix-en-Provence, Monseigneur Bernard GINOUX a obtenu une maîtrise de
Lettres classiques en 1969, puis un CAPES de Lettres modernes en 1974. Il a
enseigné au lycée Saint-Joseph de Carpentras, de 1970 à 1980.

Ensuite, il est entré au séminaire interdiocésain d’Avignon (1980-1982) puis au Séminaire Français de Rome (1982-1986). Il a obtenu en 1986 une licence canonique en théologie morale à l’Université Grégorienne de Rome.

Il a été ordonné prêtre le 29 juin 1986 en la Cathédrale St-Siffrein à
Carpentras.

1986 – 1990 Vicaire à la paroisse d’Orange/Aumônier du monde scolaire et de la pastorale des jeunes
1990 - 1993 Aumônier diocésain de l’enseignement public
1993 - 2001 Aumônier diocésain des hôpitaux/Délégué diocésain à la pastorale de la santé
1997 - 2001 Délégué diocésain à la pastorale familiale
2001 - 2007 Curé du secteur inter paroissial d’Orange
2002 - 2006 Membre du Conseil épiscopal, doyen
Depuis 2006 Prêtre accompagnateur de la pastorale familiale

Nous sommes heureux d’assurer Monseigneur Bernard GINOUX de notre amitié et de notre prière fraternelle.

+ Jean-Pierre CATTENOZ

P.S. L’ordination épiscopale de Mgr Ginoux aura lieu dans la cathédrale de Montauban le dimanche 2 septembre dans l’après-midi.

Summary in English: Having lived in Provence for 5 years, not far from Châteaurenard and Avignon, I am very pleased to note that Bernard GINOUX, a son of Châteaurenard and priest of the diocese of Avignon, has been appointed Bishop of Montauban, north of Toulouse in France.

Taufanerkennung durch 11 Kirchen im Magdeburger Dom

Zum ersten Mal unterzeichneten am 29. April die Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland (EKD), die Deutsche Bischofskonferenz, orthodoxe und altorientalische Kirchen sowie Freikirchen auf der Ebene der Bundesrepublik Deutschland eine förmliche Erklärung über die wechselseitige Anerkennung der Taufe. Die Unterzeichnung der Vereinbarung fand im Rahmen eines ökumenischen Gottesdienstes im Magdeburger Dom statt. Dort waren leitende Vertreter der 11 beteiligten Kirchen anwesend, darunter der Ratsvorsitzende der EKD, Bischof Wolfgang Huber, und der Vorsitzende der Deutschen Bischofskonferenz, Karl Kardinal Lehmann.


Der Text der Taufanerkennung

Die christliche Taufe Jesus Christus ist unser Heil. Durch ihn hat Gott die Gottesferne des Sünders überwunden (Römer 5,10), um uns zu Söhnen und Töchtern Gottes zu machen. Als Teilhabe am Geheimnis von Christi Tod und Auferstehung bedeutet die Taufe Neugeburt in Jesus Christus. Wer dieses Sakrament empfängt und im Glauben Gottes Liebe bejaht, wird mit Christus und zugleich mit seinem Volk aller Zeiten und Orte vereint. Als ein Zeichen der Einheit aller Christen verbindet die Taufe mit Jesus Christus, dem Fundament dieser Einheit. Trotz Unterschieden im Verständnis von Kirche besteht zwischen uns ein Grundeinverständnis über die Taufe.

Deshalb erkennen wir jede nach dem Auftrag Jesu im Namen des Vaters und des Sohnes und des Heiligen Geistes mit der Zeichenhandlung des Untertauchens im Wasser bzw. des Übergießens mit Wasser vollzogene Taufe an und freuen uns über jeden Menschen, der getauft wird. Diese wechselseitige Anerkennung der Taufe ist Ausdruck des in Jesus Christus gründenden Bandes der Einheit (Epheser 4,4-6). Die so vollzogene Taufe ist einmalig und unwiederholbar. Wir bekennen mit dem Dokument von Lima:

Unsere eine Taufe in Christus ist „ein Ruf an die Kirchen, ihre Trennungen zu überwinden und ihre Gemeinschaft sichtbar zu manifestieren“ (Konvergenzerklärungen der Kommission für Glaube und Kirchenverfassung des Ökumenischen Rates der Kirchen, Taufe, Nr. 6).

Folgende Kirchen haben diesem gemeinsamen Text zugestimmt:

- Äthiopisch-Orthodoxe Kirche
- AG Anglikanisch-Episkopaler Gemeinden in Deutschland
- Armenisch-Apostolische Orthodoxe Kirche in Deutschland
- Evangelisch-altreformierte Kirche in Niedersachsen
- Evangelische Brüder-Unität – Herrnhuter Brüdergemeine
- Evangelische Kirche in Deutschland
- Evangelisch-methodistische Kirche
- Katholisches Bistum der Alt-Katholiken in Deutschland
- Orthodoxe Kirche in Deutschland
- Römisch-Katholische Kirche
- Selbständige Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirche

Summary in English: On April 29th eleven churches in Germany (including all major churches except those of the Baptist tradition) mutually recognised baptisms performed in any of their churches. This took place during an ecumenical celebration in the protestant cathedral of Magdeburg in the presence of senior dignitaries of all the participating churches.

More bishops in Italy and a successor in Płock, Poland

Diocesi di Verona

Il Santo Padre ha accettato la rinuncia al governo pastorale della diocesi di Verona (Italia), presentata da S.E. Mons. Flavio Carraro, O.F.M. Cap., in conformità al can. 401 § 1 del Codice di Diritto Canonico.

Il Papa ha nominato Vescovo di Verona (Italia) S.E. Mons. Giuseppe Zenti, trasferendolo dalla sede di Vittorio Veneto.

Nato a San Martino Buon Albergo (Verona) il 7 marzo 1947, è entrato in quinta elementare nel "pre-seminario" e ha percorso tutto il curriculum di formazione e di studio prima nel Seminario minore di Verona, quindi in teologia sino all'Ordinazione presbiterale conferitagli dal Vescovo Mons. Giuseppe Carraro il 26 giugno 1971.

Ha trascorso i primi tre anni da sacerdote collaborando nella parrocchia del paese natale, frequentando al tempo stesso l'Università degli studi di Padova dove nel 1975 si è laureato in lettere classiche con una tesi su "Le Sedi apostoliche in Sant'Agostino".

Per dicianove anni, dal 1974 al 1993, ha svolto il proprio ministero nel Seminario minore di San Massimo (VR), sia come insegnante di materie letterarie alle medie e al ginnasio-liceo "Gian Matteo Giberti", sia come vicerettore. Nominato nel 1989 pro-rettore del Seminario, è stato anche preside.

Per nove anni ha svolto il ministero di parroco, dapprima a Santa Maria Immacolata in Borgo Milano (1993-1997), quindi nella parrocchia di Legnago Duomo (1997-2002).

Il 25 gennaio 2002 il Vescovo di Verona lo ha nominato Vicario Generale della Diocesi.

Mercoledì 3 dicembre 2003 il Santo Padre Giovanni Paolo II lo ha eletto Vescovo della Diocesi di Vittorio Veneto.


Diocesi di Volterra

Il Papa ha nominato Vescovo di Volterra (Italia) il Rev.do Mons. Alberto Silvani, del clero della diocesi di Massa Carrara-Pontremoli, finora Parroco di "S. Pietro Apostolo" in Avenza.

Il Rev.do Mons. Alberto Silvani è nato a Virgoletta di Villafranca in Lunigiana (Massa Carrara) il 6 settembre 1946. Ha ricevuto la formazione al sacerdozio nel Seminario vescovile di Parma, e conseguito la licenza in teologia presso la Pontificia Università Gregoriana di Roma e la laurea in Lettere e Filosofia presso l’Università Statale di Genova. È stato ordinato Presbitero a Pontremoli il 3 ottobre 1970.

Dopo l’ordinazione sacerdotale ha ricoperto i seguenti ministeri ed uffici: dal 1971 al 1972 Vice Rettore del Collegio vescovile di Pontremoli e Docente di materie letterarie nel Ginnasio-Liceo; Parroco di Gassano dal 1972 al 1987; dal 1987 al 2005 Vicario Generale della diocesi di Pontremoli; dal 1987 al 1992 anche Parroco a Corlaga e Treschietto e dal 1996 al 2005 Rettore del Seminario Diocesano Maggiore.

Attualmente è Canonico Decano della Con-Cattedrale di Pontremoli; Prelato d’Onore di Sua Santità; Preside del Liceo Vescovile di Pontremoli e Parroco della parrocchia di "S. Pietro Apostolo" in Avenza. (sitio della parrocchia di S. Pietro: http://nuke.sanpietroavenza.org)

Diecezja Płocka (Diocese of Płock, Poland)

Ojciec Święty Benedykt XVI w dniu 2 maja 2007 r., w liturgiczne wspomnienie św. Zygmunta, króla i męczennika, patrona miasta Płocka, mianował Biskupa Piotra Liberę, dotychczasowego Sekretarza Generalnego Konferencji Episkopatu Polski i Biskupa Pomocniczego Archidiecezji Katowickiej, Biskupem Płockim.

Bardzo serdecznie proszę duchowieństwo, członków życia konsekrowanego, alumnów, wszystkie wspólnoty, ruchy i stowarzyszenia wiernych oraz cały lud Boży Diecezji Płockiej o gorącą modlitwę za naszego Pasterza, wypraszając dla Niego za wstawiennictwem Maryi - Pani Mazowieckiej, potrzebne łaski od Chrystusa, Wiecznego Kapłana, na owocne pasterzowanie w Kościele Płockim.

Kanoniczne objęcie rządów Diecezją Płocką przez nowego Biskupa Płockiego oraz Jego Uroczysty Ingres do Katedry Płockiej odbędzie się dnia 31 maja 2007 r., w liturgiczne wspomnienie Nawiedzenia Najświętszej Maryi Panny.

Summary in English: The bishop of Vittorio Veneto, Mgr. Giuseppe Zenti, has been appointed bishop of Verona. He thus returns to his home diocese where he was seminary teacher, parish priest and vicar general.

A new bishop has been named for the diocese of Volterra, another former teacher, parish priest and vicar general, Mgr. Alberto Silvani.

The third secretary general or under-secretary of a European bishop's conference in as many months to be appointed bishop ordinary, Piotr Libera, former auxiliary in Kattowitz, has inherited the see of Płock, Poland, vacated by the now notorious Stanisław Wielgus, who shortly before his installation as Archbishop of Warsaw, suddenly resigned amid rumours about his involvement with the communist state security.

Women deacons?

An anonymous visitor to this blog draws our attention to the following article about the diaconate for women. I should like to think that this could become reality.

For Catholics, women’s ordination may be here sooner than you think

By PHYLLIS ZAGANO

Yes, I know all about the chances of snowballs surviving in the netherworld, but I still think Pope Benedict XVI is moving toward ordaining Catholic women.

Three times in the last year or so, the pope’s comments leaned in that direction. The telltale words are “governance” and “ministry.” Each is technically reserved to the ordained.

In the flood of ideas coming from the scholar-pope, the theme of charity stands out. Would a pope turning 80 on April 16 ordain women to minister in charity?

A year ago, a Rome priest publicly asked Benedict if women could be included formally in Church governance and ministry. Surprisingly, Benedict said yes. He said so again on German television last August.

Then, on Valentine’s Day, he threw a bouquet to women, recognizing their discipleship in the early church. Before 20,000 people in the Vatican’s General Audience Hall, Benedict recalled that Lazarus’ sisters, Mary and Martha, as well as Mary Magdalene, were close disciples of Jesus. He reminded the crowd that Thomas Aquinas called Mary Magdalene the “apostle to the apostles.” She did, after all, announce Jesus’ Resurrection.

The pope acknowledged St. Paul’s conflicting sentiments: In Christ there is neither male nor female, yet women should keep silent in church. Conflicting? Yes. Decided? No. That, Benedict said, should be left to biblical scholars.

And biblical scholars know well what women did in the early church.

Benedict did not use the word “diaconate” (the ministry of deacons), but he leans in that direction, coinciding with the historical record of women’s ministry. Women once were deacons. That is a historical fact.

Does history matter? Well, Benedict is a theologian with an eye for history. He knows that what the church once did, it can do again. He, too, knows about the piles of historical documentation of women deacons.

When Benedict talks about women, he always begins by deflecting the idea of women priests, pointing out that Jesus chose male apostles from among his men and women disciples. Such is the Catholic Church’s fundamental argument against women priests.

But that has nothing to do with women deacons. In fact, Benedict has now — three times — reiterated that women were actively engaged in Jesus’ ministry. And “ministry” is the key word when we’re talking about deacons.

Ministry is what deacons do: They minister in and through the word, the liturgy and charity. Deacons preach. Deacons participate in the Mass. Deacons manage the Church’s charity, or at least they used to.

Deacons watched over the stores and treasures of the early church. They cared for the poor and the orphaned, for the homeless and the widows with church funds, properties, and possessions. They even paid the salaries of the priests.

That may not be the case today, but it begs the question: why not? As Catholicism is increasingly bereft of priests it is concurrently flooded with deacons — there are over 15,000 in the United States alone. These are capable men, able to run a parish plant, manage Catholic charities, or oversee the cemeteries or the various aid societies of a parish or a diocese. They can free priests to do priestly — rather than diaconal — ministry.

If Catholicism were to return to its older tradition, that would add women to the mix. Then women could oversee church money and properties on behalf of the pastor or the bishop. What if women watched where the money went? Perhaps then there might be more money around for the poor and maybe fewer financial scandals.

And what if women deacons ministering in charity could preach each Sunday? Would not the church hear more about the way the gospel functions in the real world, here and now, in the 21st century?

It’s just a thought, but it might be Benedict’s idea too.

Religion News Service Phyllis Zagano is senior research-associate-in-residence in the religion department of Hofstra University and author of Holy Saturday: An Argument for the Restoration of the Female Diaconate in the Catholic Church.