Church and communion.The Catechism informs us that "The 'power of the keys' ... connotes the authority to absolve ab·solve tr.v. ab·solved, ab·solv·ing, ab·solves 1. To pronounce clear of guilt or blame. 2. To relieve of a requirement or obligation. 3. a. To grant a remission of sin to. sins, to pronounce doctrinal judgements, and to make disciplinary decisions in the Church ..." (553). Quoting Lumen gentium Lumen Gentium, the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, is one of the principal documents of the Second Vatican Council. The Constitution was promulgated by Pope Paul VI on November 21, 1964, following approval by the assembled bishops by a vote of 2,151 to 5. , n. 2, it adds, "The office of binding and loosing which was given to Peter was also assigned to the college of apostles united to its head" (881). Every cleric, as a condition of being ordained or·dain tr.v. or·dained, or·dain·ing, or·dains 1. a. To invest with ministerial or priestly authority; confer holy orders on. b. To authorize as a rabbi. 2. or entrusted with specified office (from deacon to Cardinal), makes a solemn promise (Canon 833, in the Ottawa/Navarre Code of Canon Law canon law, in the Roman Catholic Church, the body of law based on the legislation of the councils (both ecumenical and local) and the popes, as well as the bishops (for diocesan matters). Annotated (Wilson & Lafleur Ltee, 1993, pp. 540-543). That promise includes "that in my words and actions I shall always preserve communion with the Catholic Church," and, "I shall follow and foster the discipline common to the whole Church, and I shall observe all ecclesiastical laws, especially those contained in the Code of Canon Law. I shall follow with Christian obedience what the sacred pastors as authentic doctors and teachers of the faith declare, and what they as rulers of the Church prescribe.... So help me God and these His holy Gospels, which I touch with my hand." By the entire promise, a man submits to the Power of the Keys. As he advances in the hierarchy, he is entrusted with increasing responsibility for it. Thus, "Any baptized bap·tize v. bap·tized, bap·tiz·ing, bap·tiz·es v.tr. 1. To admit into Christianity by means of baptism. 2. a. To cleanse or purify. b. To initiate. 3. person who is not prohibited by law can and must be admitted to Holy Communion" (Canon 912); and "Those who ... obstinately ob·sti·nate adj. 1. Stubbornly adhering to an attitude, opinion, or course of action; obdurate. 2. Difficult to manage, control, or subdue; refractory. 3. persist in Verb 1. persist in - do something repeatedly and showing no intention to stop; "We continued our research into the cause of the illness"; "The landlord persists in asking us to move" continue manifest grave sin are not to be admitted to Holy Communion (Ad sacram communionen ne admittantur ...)" (Canon 915: Note that the law addresses the one who admits, not the one who approaches). These are laws which require personal compliance with the Power of the Keys at every degree of hierarchical responsibility, from deacons, as ordinary ministers of the Holy Eucharist, from priests on up. Where the prohibited persistence is known, can any ordained man step aside his hierarchical responsibility and still keep his promise, made to Jesus Christ--personally and wholly present in the Eucharist--with his hand on the Gospels, to remain in submission to the Power of the Keys? Editor: For more on the subject, see section under Vatican in News in Brief. |
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