Folia Canonica 2. (1999)

PROCEEDINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE. - Vladimir Filo: Homily as a Specific Duty of Ordained Persons

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VLADIMIR FILO

example the extraordinary administrator is sent to administer the Holy Communion without sufficient reason. This is nevertheless only one part - the liturgical - of the life of the Church. This change in the responsibilities and duties can also be seen in other fields of the life of the Church.

THE INSTRUCTION OF THE EIGHT DICASTERIES OF THE ROMAN CURIA

Though the Council’s instructions are very clear, it seems as if they brought some recklessness in the life of the Church, especially when it is about the observation of these instructions. Or rather some began to interpret it accordingly. Meanwhile the situation became so serious that it was essential to issue an instruction1 concerning the observation of the laws already existent. The eight dicasteries of the Roman Curia2 3 after four years of work issued the Instructio de quibusdam quaestionibus circa fidelium laicorum cooperationem sacerdotum ministerium spectantem3 that was approved “in forma specifica” and ordered to be promulgated by the Pope on 13 August 1997. Of the message of the Instruction, we read: “The scope of this present document is simply to provide a clear, authoritative response to the many pressing requests which have come to our Dicasteries from bishops, priests and laity seeking clarification in the light of specific cases of new forms of “pastoral activity” of the non-ordained on both parochial and diocesan levels. Though being born in very difficult and emergency situations and even initiated by those who sought to be genuinely helpful in the pastoral moment, certain practices have often been developed which have had very serious negative consequences and have caused the correct understanding of true ecclesial communion to be damaged.”4 It emphasises on principle that the duty of ordained persons cannot be substituted by the non-or- dained, and the non-ordained can only collaborate with them. They might be invited but only in accordance with the prescriptions of the law.5

1 Instructions (instructiones) according to c. 34, §1 “clarify the prescriptions of laws and elaborate on and determine an approach to be followed in implementing them, are given for the use of those persons whose concern it is to see that the laws are implemented and oblige such persons in the execution of the laws”.

2 S. Congregation for the Clergy, Pontifical Council for the Laity, S. Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, S. Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, S. Congregation for Bishops, S. Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, S. Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of Legislative Texts.

3 Instruction on certain questions regarding the collaboration of the non-ordained faithful in the sacred ministry of priest, Vatican City 1997.

4 Instruction (cf. nt. 3.), 9-10.

5 Cf. Instruction (cf. nt. 3.), Theological Principles, nn. 3-4, 13-15.