-Here is the presentation of the general guidelines on priestly discipline and rule of life given by John Cardinal Njue, Chairman, Kenya Episcopal Conference (KEC) at the Holy Family Minor Basilica on June 30, 2010.
PRESENTATION AND LAUNCHING OF THE GENERAL GUIDELINES ON PRIESTLY DISCIPLINE AND RULE OF LIFE
Your Excellency Apostolic Nuncio of His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI to Kenya, You r Graces, My Lord bishops, my dear priest, the religious men an women present, my dear Christians and all the people of God. Today we have assembled here together to celebrate this solemn Mass to mark the election of Benedict Xvi, to the supreme Pontificate, and the conclusion of the Year of the Priests inaugurated by the Holy Father Benedict XVI on June 19, 2009.
The Bishops, in their last plenary Assembly chose this day, 30th of June as the national closing day of the year of the priest so that together we would pray for the priests within this time when we are also celebrating the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul, a feast that has been set aside to pray in a special way by the Holy Father. We are also within the days of prayer that began on 20th of June 2010 that are very essential for our country as we implore God’s help and guidance on the matter of the pr opposed constitution.
There is no doubt that the many prayers offered for the priest in all our churches have borne many fruits. When announcing the commencement of the Year for Priest, The Holy Father hoped, foremost for the fruit of Holiness. He wanted the priests to be prayed for so that they would be holy; men of God; men who speak to people about God and of God to people. Men who are faithful to their duties, jealous of their vocation and donation; and living the joy of the gift of their priesthood all the time.
Wishing to give some practical ways that would assist live the fullness of their priestly calling, the Conference of Bishops of Kenya has come up with and approved a set of norms and rules - in accordance with the churches’ Code of Canon Law - that are meant as guidelines to assist the priests to deepen their commitment and at the same time avoid some pitfalls that lessen their life of witnessing to Christ and put in danger their vocation. In addition to these General Guidelines on Priestly Discipline and Rule of Life, other sets of guidelines have been drawn specifically for the bishops in order to assist them deal with disciplinary issues touching on the clergy.
I am very pleased to present the General guidelines on Priestly Discipline and Rule of Life to the priests, represented by those present here today. I call upon them to read these guidelines carefully and put them into practice so that their ministry and their lives may bear many fruits of salvation.
I hope that each diocese will create the opportunity to enlighten the priests on these guidelines that cover many aspects of the priestly life. It is also important for ordinaries to explain to the priests the consequences that follow when there is misconduct and when these rules are broken, especially the abuses directed against minors and the most vulnerable members of the society.
Our prayers and hearts reach out to those who may have been victims of abuses of this nature. We ask God to heal their wounds and strengthen them in their faith.
Under no circumstances should the grave matter of sexual abuse of children be abated in one way or another. Each diocese is required to come up with child protection policies that will have direct involvement and collaboration with civil societies in criminal cases such as rape and paedophilia as stipulated by both canonical and civil legislation.
As a church we cannot tolerate any act that harms and violates the rights, the dignity and integrity of any person perpetuated by any, member of the clergy. A cleric accused of any moral impropriety of sexual nature, especially the abuse of minors will attract the appropriate penalties as stipulated in Canon Law not excluding dismissal from clerical state after due process has been followed. Hence there is need to investigate the allegation so as to establish the truth of the matter. Therefore while understanding the gravity of the matter, aware that many times these allegations may be false, justice demands that the innocence of the accused be maintained until the facts emerge.
Similarly it is a matter of justice that an individual cleric is responsible for his own actions. The misdeeds of a cleric should not be used as an excuse to attack the entire church or the superiors of that cleric. It is against natural justice to deliberately highlight the sins of an individual in order to destroy the image of the church. Let the issue be dealt case by case and the one found guilty be punished in accordance with the law.
For those unfortunate clerics unable to live the life of celibacy and has made decision to live the priesthood, he should also in fairness acknowledge that fact that it was his own decision since nobody is forced to become a catholic priest.
Dear priests, I encourage you to uphold the dignity of the gift of the priesthood. After this year of reflection of our ministry, we realize with greater clarity that we have to be light to the nations. We must uphold in our conduct all those things that God and the faithful expect of us. We must also be the voice of God to His people and the voice of the voiceless especially in defence of the sanctity of life and the dignity of the human person.
I therefore appeal to all clergy to observe the required discipline and cultivate the necessary will power to reject all that is contrary to their priestly calling.
Signed by John Cardinal Njue, Chairman, Kenya Episcopal Conference, Holy Family Minor Basilica June 30, 2010. |
Turning his attention to a lesser-known saint, Benedict XVI offered another model to priests seeking holiness.
The Pope dedicated the address during yesterday's general audience to a 19th-century Italian saint: Father Joseph Cafasso.
The saint is perhaps most remembered for his association with St. John Bosco: Joseph acted as John's spiritual director for a quarter of a century.
Though the Holy Father used St. Joseph's example to emphasize the importance of spiritual direction, he also made this point: "Cafasso never tried to form a disciple in Don Bosco 'in his image and likeness' and Don Bosco did not copy Cafasso. He imitated him, certainly, in human and priestly virtues -- describing him as a 'model of priestly life' -- but according to his own attitudes and his own peculiar vocation."
The Holy Father indicated in this a "sign of the wisdom of the spiritual teacher and of the intelligence of the disciple."
However, Benedict XVI recommended spiritual directors for everyone, however, not just priests.
Referring to the relationship between Sts. Cafasso and Bosco, he said, "Dear friends, this is a beautiful teaching for all those who are involved in the formation and education of young generations and also a strong reminder of the importance of having a spiritual guide in one's life, who helps us to know what God wants from us."
The Pontiff above all emphasized St. Joseph Cafasso's role as a formator, teacher and guide for priests who would model him in holiness.
Referring to his work with those just starting the path of the priesthood, the Pope noted, "The type of priest that Cafasso found in the academy and that he himself contributed to reinforce -- especially as rector -- was that of the true pastor with a rich interior life and a profound zeal in pastoral ministry: faithful to prayer, committed to preaching and catechesis, dedicated to the celebration of the Eucharist and to the ministry of confession, according to the model embodied by St. Charles Borromeo, by St. Francis de Sales and promoted by the Council of Trent."
The saint thus started a chain of holiness, the Holy Father noted, sculpting this image in young priests so that "in turn, they would become formators of other priests, religious and laymen."
He added: "His secret was simple: to be a man of God; to do, in little daily actions, 'that which can turn to the greater glory of God and to the advantage of souls.' He loved the Lord totally, he was animated by a well-rooted faith, sustained by profound and prolonged prayer, he lived a sincere charity toward all. He knew moral theology, but he likewise knew the situations and the hearts of people and looked after their best interests, as the Good Shepherd."
The Bishop of Rome concluded his reflection expressing his hope that St. Joseph Cafasso might be a "call to all to intensify the way toward the perfection of the Christian life, holiness; in particular, may he remind priests of the importance of dedicating time to the sacrament of reconciliation and to spiritual direction, and remind all of the attention we must give to the neediest."
Source: Zenit
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