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| Pope Puts Leftist Franciscans On A Leash |
| 2005-11-21 |
| Pope Benedict XVI has curbed the independence of Franciscan friars running the famed St. Francis Basilica in Assisi, decreeing they must now get permission for their activities from the local bishop. Benedict's decision, announced Saturday, came after the outgoing bishop complained he had virtually no power over "autonomous enclaves" the Franciscans exercised over the basilica, its adjoining convent and a nearby church. The basilica is known for its frescoes attributed to Giotto and is a major pilgrimage and tourist destination. "The local church is a family that lives around the bishop," the outgoing bishop, Monsignor Sergio Goretti, told the ANSA news agency. "In Assisi, it was absurd that there existed true and proper autonomous enclaves over which the bishop had no power." He complained that he regularly found out about monks' initiatives from the newspapers, and that their work caused him problems. In his decree, Benedict declared that the local bishop now would have full jurisdiction over the Franciscans' pastoral work. He said the friars must now ask for and receive permission for their initiatives from their bishop -- or if it has wider implications, from the Italian bishops' conference. The Franciscans regularly host international peace conferences in the hillside town of Assisi -- such as one last month on converting nuclear weapons for peaceful purposes. They also welcome controversial leaders, including Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Tariq Aziz, who visited after meeting with Pope John Paul II on the eve of the Iraq war. Benedict urged the monks to follow his norms "in the spirit of sincere communion" with their new bishop, Monsignor Domenico Sorrentino, currently the No. 2 at the Vatican's office for liturgy and sacraments. Benedict also said he was appointing a cardinal to further cement ties between Assisi and the pope. In a statement, the Franciscans expressed "joy and hope" over Sorrentino's appointment, but declined to comment specifically on the jurisdictional changes. "In his message, we are happy to find a clear reference to the Franciscan values of Assisi, which for us is reason for joy and hope," the statement said. The pope's decree covers the basilica and its convent as well as a smaller basilica, St. Mary of the Angels, in a nearby valley. St. Francis, who founded the Franciscan order, died in the chapel of St. Mary's in 1226. Remember that before he was Pope, he was in charge of The Holy Office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which handles all doctrinal arguments, and used to be called the Inquisition. So he knows who all the troublemakers are. Pope John Paul II on June 28, 1988: "the duty proper to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is to promote and safeguard the doctrine on the faith and morals throughout the Catholic world: for this reason everything which in any way touches such matter falls within its competence." I can imagine times getting a lot harder for some of these individuals around the world. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #5 damn Anglicans have infiltrated the RC church! |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-11-21 19:10 |
| #4 Oh |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-11-21 17:29 |
| #3 Monty Python |
| Posted by: Jomogum Clunter9361 2005-11-21 16:35 |
| #2 N Guard that was from Horse Feathers not Princess Bride. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-11-21 16:15 |
| #1 Oh-Kay, I'll bite, since it seems to be quotes from The Princess Bride day. "Nobody expects the |
| Posted by: N guard 2005-11-21 14:07 |