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RCAB News – from a report
to the Pilot, the Boston archdiocese newspaper.
The following is provided by David Castaldi
To All Members Of The Boston Archdiocese,
On August 11, 2005, Boston newspapers reported that the Vatican’s Congregation
for the Clergy has taken the position that the Archdiocese erred in claiming
the assets of suppressed parishes. The Rev. Mark O’Connell, an Archdiocesan
Canon Lawyer, is familiar with the suppression decrees and the discussions
between Archbishop Seán O’Malley and Vatican officials. Fr. O’Connell
and the Archbishop are meeting with pastors and finance councils of the affected
parishes.
Fr. O’Connell recently provided an overview of the issues concerning
the suppression decrees to The Parish Reconfiguration Fund Oversight Committee
(PRFOC). Key points of discussion are summarized below:
- The Congregation for the Clergy has not yet issued a ruling. A draft
of a possible ruling has been circulated between Vatican and Archdiocesan
officials.
- Future rulings are expected to uphold Archbishop O’Malley’s
suppression of closed parishes and the procedure he used for the suppressions.
- The Congregation for the Clergy has reviewed the facts of the cases sent
to them in Rome. In response to cases of territorial parishes, in which the
decree of suppression designates the territory of the suppressed parish to
go to another parish, they have determined that there is an issue in the
way the decrees are drafted. Although the suppression could be upheld, the
assets
from these parishes would go to the receiving parishes, rather than the Archdiocese
of Boston.
- The Congregation for the Clergy recognizes the original
intent of the decrees and offered Archbishop O’Malley a suggestion to bring about the intended
results. The Archbishop is meeting with the pastors and their finance councils
personally and through Fr. O’Connell, to request they designate their
suppressed parish assets be sent to the Archdiocese. The Archbishop asserts
that he has been clear since the beginning that suppressed assets will be sent
to the Archdiocese “to be redistributed for the greater mission of
the Archdiocese.”
- The Archbishop committed to the pastors that he will fund any expenses
directly related to the receiving of new parishioners.
- The Parish Reconfiguration Fund Committee does not know if the Congregation
of the Clergy will accept a late appeal from parishes that did not appeal
their closure. The Congregation of the Clergy has wide discretion as
to whether it
will continue to accept the late appeals of concerned parishes.
- Ethnic parishes are not included in the ongoing discussions because
the Congregation for the Clergy has indicated these decrees are properly
executed.
- The Archdiocese is modifying all new and existing decrees dating
from May 2005, to rectify the issue.
The Parish Reconfiguration Fund Oversight Committee does not have any information
that would suggest that the Congregation for the Clergy will overturn any closure
decision. Discussions continue between the Archdiocese and the affected pastors
to resolve the matter concerning the assets.
Respectfully submitted,
The Parish Reconfiguration Fund Oversight Committee:
David L. Castaldi, Chair, Central Region
Maureen Corcoran, Central Region
Joseph F. Finn, Jr., Archdiocesan Finance Council, West Region
Nan-Marie Jaeger, South Region
Norman Sabbey, West Region
Kathleen Rabe, North Region
Timothy J. Schiavoni, Merrimack Valley Region
The Parish Reconfiguration Fund Oversight Committee (PRFOC) is composed of
independent, volunteer Catholics charged with the responsibility of providing
oversight and advice on the financial aspects of parish reconfiguration.
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