Following is the text of an email that Catholics for Ministry are in the process of sending out to the signatories of the petition that went to the Australian Bishops last year. Tomorrow we will be publishing a more extended commentary from Dr Paul Collins that explains the process of how bishops are selected and the significance of this development today. Dr Collins informed me a little while ago that he has had a very friendly exchange of correspondence with the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Lazzarotto, following their communication of their concerns to him. …Editor

Covering letter to Petition signatories…

Dear Signatory,

We are writing to you as a signatory to the Petition to the Australian Bishops on the future of the Eucharistic and sacramental ministry in Australia, or as one who responded to the Catholics for Ministry homepage (www.catholicsforministry.com.au) contact address.

A document headed 'Questionnaire for Episcopal Candidates' came into our possession some four weeks ago. A copy of the Questionnaire is attached as a pdf document (See: www.catholica.com.au/breakingnews/Episcopal Questionnaire 08.pdf). This is the document that is sent out by the Papal Nuncio to carefully selected people (mainly bishops and priests) sounding out their views as to the suitability of specific priests for Episcopal office in Australia. You will notice it is headed 'sub secreto pontificio'. We have been assured that canonically this is a meaningless phrase. We have already informed the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto, that we have a copy of the Questionnaire. 

We pointed out to Archbishop Lazzarotto that we were dismayed and scandalized by the Questionnaire. It seems to us a totally inadequate way of choosing candidates for the episcopate.

Secondly, the Questionnaire's understanding of the role of bishops emphasizes 'loyalty to the doctrine and magisterium of the church'.  The key doctrines for it are the priesthood, the ordination of women, marriage, sexual ethics and social justice. So much is left out, including God, Christ and the Holy Spirit! There is no mention of the Scriptures and not a single quotation from the Word of God. The whole emphasis is on loyalty to the Pope, the Vatican and the Holy See.  Despite one mention of 'Vatican II', the Questionnaire's account of the role of bishops is entirely rooted in the First Vatican Council. There is no mention of the candidate's primary obligation to care for the diocese or to show loyalty or accountability to its priests and people. The Questionnaire offers no overview of the needs of the diocese and seeks no comment on a candidate's potential to achieve that. Apparently the most important criterion, emphasized in bold type in the Questionnaire, is 'adherence to the Statement of Conclusions, 1998.' As you will recall, this document caused widespread dismay throughout the Australian church when it became public after the bishops returned from the Pacific Synod in Rome.

Developing a better approach to the election of Bishops in Australia…

We are bringing this to your attention because we are trying to engage the Papal Nuncio and the Congregation for Bishops in Rome in a process that might lead to us all developing a better approach to the election of bishops in the Australian church. We realize that this will be a very difficult task, but we think that one way of engaging the Holy See might be to get Australian Catholics to develop an alternative to this document. We have begun the process of trying to do this within Catholics for Ministry, but we are a tiny group and we feel the need for broader consultation.  We have already approached a number of representative Catholic bodies  and we are now seeking advice from the wider Catholic community through you.

Specifically, what we are seeking from you and any contacts you have in Parish or Diocesan Pastoral Councils are suggestions concerning (1) the process through which bishops ought to be appointed in Australia, and (2) what issues ought to be canvassed and emphasized in the selection process.  We are deliberately leaving this fairly open so that you will feel free to suggest whatever you think is important and relevant.  We would welcome comments back to us by 12th December if at all possible.  In the case of Parish or Diocesan Pastoral Councils we are aware that they may need more time.  If so, let us please know.

Catholics for Ministry will draw this material together in the coming months and send it back to you for further comment. Substantially what we are trying to mount is a consultation that will have some influence on the Nuncio, and the Vatican because it is broad based. Please feel free to forward to the Nuncio anything you send to us. Our postal address and that of the Nuncio are at the bottom of this letter. If you wish to submit thoughts by email please send them to pco77760@bigpond.net.au.

Within the next week or so we will place the questionnaire on our website at www.catholicsforministry.com.au and inform the Catholic community what we are doing. Please feel free to distribute the Questionnaire and our letter among your friends and fellow parishioners.

Thank you and warm regards.

Yours sincerely,
Paul Collins and Frank Purcell
Catholics for Ministry
www.catholicscorministry.com.au

Link to Nuncio's Questionnaire:
www.catholica.com.au/breakingnews/Episcopal Questionnaire 08.pdf

Address of the Apostolic Nuncio:

Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzarotto,
Papal Nunciature,
PO Box 3633,
Manuka. ACT. 2603

Catholica will publish an extended commentary tomorrow from Dr Paul Collins that explains the process of how bishops are selected or elected in Australia, how it has changed over time, and which will put forward proposals for the process to better respond to the contemporary needs of Catholics in Australia.

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