Article about Women leadership of parishes

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The bishop states that this move is in accordance with canon law. I would be very curious to understand his reasoning.

Can. 539 When a parish becomes vacant or when a pastor is prevented from exercising his pastoral function in the parish by reason of captivity, exile or banishment, incapacity or ill health, or some other cause, the diocesan bishop is to designate as soon as possible a parochial administrator, that is, a priest who takes the place of the pastor according to the norm of can. 540.

It seems to be clear that a parochial administrator is to be a priest. Now, this woman is not called a parochial administrator, she is titled a “parish life coordinator”, but he equates her authority with that of a parochial administrator. Also, law says a priest is to be appointed as soon as possible with that authority.

Very confusing. I do not consider a good thing.
 
I read about this awhile ago, and this article doesn’t cover the fact that this woman that was appointed is also a self-proclaimed “Catholic feminist” and is associated with several dissident groups condemned by the Church. In her doctoral thesis she cites several theologians condemned by the Church and speaks with disdain of Eucharistic Adoration and other Catholic traditions and practices.
 
Yeah, I’d be interested in seeing the canonical argument for this. The canon you cite seems pretty clear. Some try and appeal to canon 517 § 2, but the following document–issued by multiple different congregations and dicasteries in the curia and approved by the Pope–provides the authentic interpretation of this canon, which seems at odds with what is being done here.

See Article 4 under the heading “Pastoral Provisions” here:
http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/c...ocuments/rc_con_interdic_doc_15081997_en.html

It doesn’t even seem like there is a lack of priests here, since the layperson is coordinating a team of priests.

Of course, I am no canon lawyer…
 
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In my experience, women hold the vast majority of parish leadership positions. So I’m not sure what the big deal is, that there is this continued push for more female leadership.
 
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Seems to me every parish I’ve been a part of is indeed run by women. From nuns, to a parish secretary, to just some old powerful busybodies…
 
It is hard to second guess a bishop from afar. If he has crossed a line, then the Pope can address this decision through the Nuncio or some other person.

I think moving parish administration to lay positions, men or women, might be prudent in areas where priests are stretched administering the Sacraments.
 
A priest and deacon have a lifetime relationship with the bishop, and the diocese, that a layman and woman do not have. At a time when the Church when the Church is being fractured by enemies both external and internal, we need every bond of unity we can find.

In my diocese the media made a huge deal when a lay WOMAN was appointed, even though there had never been a lay man before. People are pushing an agenda folks, they regard the priest shortage not as a problem but a welcome political opportunity.

In my rust belt diocese we have many parishes at 25 percent of their former size, a short distance from similar size parishes, with similar ethnic makeup.
 
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If one reads what the Bishop says

."…to work with the parish community to develop and foster its pastoral vision and mission,”

."…new ways to serve their parishes, and, in collaboration with the clergy, to create vibrant and thriving communities"

What is the big deal? In a way Pastoral Consels do that with the priest and he has the last word.
I would be grateful …
Unless I am missing something
I would stick to what the Bishop says and not speculate more than that.
 
If it’s acceptable to have, say 10 percent of Catholics in a diocese permanently without a pastor, what’s the real need for a pastor, for the other 90 percent?
This is like saying these laity are different from those laity or that a certain practice is very important (except on Tuesdays).

Why not for instance, have a priest pastor in charge of 2 parishes, with 2 lay pastoral ministers assisting?

Trust me, the media will keep finding more and more positives, more upsides with laity in charge. And the quiet implication will be the negatives of celibate clerical male pastors, anywhere, which will get louder over time.
 
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I think that one thing is what the Bishop is saying and another what is written in the rest of the article,Commenter.
The Bishop speaks about mission and vision of the parish and in cooperation with the priest.
That means that that parish needs to work upon their mission and vision . You may know that that is quite normal to have a mission and vision in a parish As it is Strategic Plans of the parish. Many parishes have a Pastoral Council that assist priests pastorally,with the different areas of a parish.
If we stick to what the Bishop is saying,there is really nothing too special.
The rest of the article does not strictly quote what the Bishop said.
I simply posted because I found that in cooperation with a priest and mission and vision for a parish reminded me, again ,of a Pastoral Council. So nothing much else to say,it isn t even my parish nor my Bishop. Peace
 
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Provisions in Canon law that allow exceptions intended to meet a temporary, or unusual situation, often in a remote mission or multi lingual need, get exploited to be the permanent, the preference. I would take a close look at what other loopholes are being exploited in that diocese.
 
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Because you left out where the Bishop specifically stated her responsibility is the same as a parochial administrator, ie she is in charge of the parish.
 
If you think of it,that is what the members of a Council do.Or can get to do if in a good team with the priest. Each in their own area and all together and the priest is kept informed,holds periodic meetings and has the last word. But in fact,in practical terms it is about the same here with this woman.
There is really little info ,and personally,I find it may probably be a relief for that parish since it appears they have to sort of work upon what other Parishes have already done.
I honestly do not find anything too strange but an Administrador to help the priest.
I do not known the parish,their particular circumstances ,nor anything beyond what the Bishop says,taftan.
 
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If this was the same as a parish council or a staff member being hired to assist the pastor, the appointment would not be made by a Bishop. I suppose we no longer need to have a shepherd caring for our souls. Forget having pastors, just psudeo executives running our parish like it’s a small business and throw in a few priests to administer the sacraments.
 
In fact ,it takes a lot of work off a priests shoulders so that he can do what you are saying,where he really cannot be replaced, not a lot of coordinating stuff that take up time and effort from a priest.
But again,there is no more info than what we read ,and it is obviously not our parish.
And yes,I agree that in this case the difference is that she has been appointed by the Bishop.
Correctional Ministries too,depend on a Bishop,or Archbishop,and there isn t anything so out of the box or special about it in practical terms. No bling,nothing but service.
 
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The parish will not have a pastor. That is very much out of the box and special, in a bad way.
 
It is a pitty ,yes. But it isn t uncommon to have a priest " on a skateboard" poor priests…moving about more than one parish in a day. So in a way,it could be of great help. Something ,somebody, stable to keep a parish going,coordinating and not closing it…
I know I sound like defending this, but quite honestly,again,there is little info about the reality of the parish .
 
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Here is an explanation from the diocese.

https://www.bridgeportdiocese.org/what-is-a-lay-parish-life-coordinator/

Part of the explanation of this:
Arrangements like these often leave some Catholics with the impression that the priests are working “for” or “under” a layperson (which would be a novelty in a parish setting, but not unusual in other ecclesiastical settings). However, there is a distinction in canon law, and in the teaching of the Church, between collaboration and a hierarchical relationship.
Click to expand...
This condition, Ecclesiae de mysterio affirms, must be followed with “strict adherence” in order to safeguard both the care of the faithful of the parish and the distinction of the roles between a lay collaborator and a priest.

“Directing, coordinating, moderating or governing the parish; these competencies, according to the canon, are the competencies of a priest alone,” the instruction explains.
Click to expand...
Maybe this will put some of the fear and speculation to rest.
 
Doesn’t sound to me like it is in accordance with Canon 517.2, as there is no priest who is assigned to oversee the pastoral care of the parish with the power and duties of a pastor.
 
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