The Bishop's Weekly Column from the Parish Bulletin

OUR LADY OF FATIMA

CATHOLIC CHURCH

Leaking like a sieve and the showcase clamp-down

November 25, 2005

Who can forget the strange way in which the Catechism of the Catholic Church was issued in 1992 ? It was published in French at a press conference held by Cardinal Ratzinger in Paris of all places - and then we were told that since it was in French the text was a draft copy only and that the official version would be published later in Latin and at Rome. Why all the subterfuge ?

Fast forward to the last few months and the persistent leaks surrounding the yet to be published document about homosexuals in the seminaries. Over the last few months several sections of the document were leaked. First we heard there was to be a total ban, next it was leaked that a three year period of probation would be required (seemingly contradicting the first leak) then the entire document was published where both positions were printed and to cap it all off we were then told that the publication itself was a leak and that the official publication was yet to take place. Again - why all the subterfuge ?

Now this: Catholic World Report in the November edition has an article about another leak - one of the Cardinal electors (under condition of anonymity) has given the exact tally of the 4 ballots leading to the election of Cardinal Ratzinger as Pope in the April conclave earlier this year thereby "breaking" the solemn oath the leaker swore before the conclave began. What on earth is going on ?

It is obvious, to me at least, that the Vatican can no longer come right out and announce "company policy" as in the old days before the Council. Collegiality has meant that the bishops' conferences are more in control of the Church than Rome is. In order to advance its agenda Rome is forced to use a technique which most politicians use in order to signal political initiatives - the leak to the Press. Off the record statements enable politicians to gauge the acceptability of their plans which allows them to tweak official proposals before they are made.

The same is true of the three cases above. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (the brainchild of the former Cardinal Archbishop of Boston) was one of the most contentious pieces of Church policy in the last 15 years. It was virtually the work of every bishop of the world undergoing numerous reforms and modifications before its officially unofficial publication in Paris 1992. The leaked document on the admission of homosexuals to seminaries was also an example of Novus Ordo doublespeak. Both versions were leaked and then the final (contradictory) version came out, and this too was a leak.

But what about the Cardinal who spoke off the record about the conclave ? I believe this also was a calculated leak by the Vatican. The Cardinal (whoever he is) was probably authorized to make the leak in order to demonstrate to the Church the overwhelming support Ratzinger and conservatism in general garnered at the conclave. Ratzinger's candidacy surged forward from the start, the liberals never even had a chance. Ratzinger's closest rival, Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, Argentina was also a known conservative. The leak about the results serves merely to consolidate Ratzinger's position as head of the Church.

Another move to demonstrate this Pope's willingness to act has been shown by a highly symbolic power-play in Italy. Days ago the new Pope published a Motu proprio (a document that indicates the contents are the manifestation of the Pope's own will on a matter) ordering the Franciscans of Assisi to submit to the local bishop. For centuries the Franciscan enclaves have been self-determining and in recent years the shrine has played host to numerous controversial figures to the exasperation of the Ordinary of the diocese. The incoming bishop is a curial appointment being the secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship. Ironically this is the same official who drafted the document that Cardinal Arinze sent to the Pope saying the Tridentine Mass was abolished by Pope Paul VI. The old saying: "promovetur ut amoveatur" (promoted to get rid of) has probably been put into effect here. This is yet another example of the speed in which the new Pope moves to get all on board. When an Archbishop tells the Pope the Tridentine Mass was abolished the Pope has decided it was time to put him out to pasture. The Franciscans, by the way, speedily responded: "Jawohl mein Führer !"

+TF