A motu proprio by Benedict XVI to regulate the charitable activity of Catholics. Being of an ecclesial character it must have the same connotation and ultimate responsibility. The bishop is responsible for promoting and monitoring charitable activities. Need to avoid reducing social commitment to pure charity, without mission and witness.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "The Churches most profound nature" is expressed in a triple duty: the proclamation of the Word, the celebration of the sacraments and the service of charity. These are facts that can not be separated and that being an ecclesial service fall within the responsibilities of the bishop. In short, Christian charity has an ecclesial character and thus must have the very same connotation as well as the ultimate responsibility.

It is a framework that is not explicitly spelled out by the Code of Canon Law and one which Benedict XVI has regulated with the Apostolic Letter Motu Proprio "De Caritas ministranda", which will come into force on December 10. With this document, in a sense, Benedict XVI is keeping a promise, first set out in Deus Caritas Est, when he noted a lacuna within canon law on the responsibility of the bishop also with regard to the service of charity. "The bishops - states note 32 of the encyclical - as successors of the Apostles, have the primary responsibility for implementation 'of the service of charity."

The fact that the service of charity falls under the "nature" of the Church and can not be separated from the other tasks that it has, has as a direct consequence that " The Church's charitable activity at all levels must avoid the risk of becoming just another form of organized social assistance" but must always "should show special concern for individuals in need and exercise a valuable educational function within the Christian community, helping people to appreciate the importance of sharing, respect and love in the spirit of the Gospel of Christ. " "To ensure an evangelical witness in the service of charity, the diocesan Bishop is to take care that those who work in the Church's charitable apostolate, along with due professional competence, give an example of Christian life and witness to a formation of heart which testifies to a faith working through charity. To this end, he is also to provide for their theological and pastoral formation (art. 7). "

In this logic, the fifteen articles of the Motu proprio regulate charitable activity, beginning with the affirmation that "the faithful have the right to join in associations and to establish agencies to carry out specific charitable services, especially on behalf of the poor and suffering. (Art. 1).

The bishop "encourages and supports the initiatives and works of service to neighbour in his particular Church, and encourages in the faithful the spirit of practical charity as an expression of the Christian life and sharing in the mission of the Church (Article 4)." In this context, he may give or deny his consent "to ensure that in the activities and management of these agencies the norms of the Church's universal and particular law are respected, as well as the intentions of the faithful who made donations or bequests for these specific purposes and that the Church enjoys the right to carry out charitable activities, and he is to take care that the faithful and the institutions under his supervision comply with the legitimate civil legislation in this area. " Part of this area, is the need "to ensure that charitable agencies dependent upon him do not receive financial support from groups or institutions that pursue ends contrary to Church's teaching. Similarly, lest scandal be given to the faithful, the diocesan Bishop is to ensure that these charitable agencies do not accept contributions for initiatives whose ends, or the means used to pursue them, are not in conformity with the Church's teaching (Article 10)".  This supervision extends the framework of legality, according to criteria of transparency and good economic management.

Finally, the Motu Proprio is entrusted to the Pontifical Council Cor Unum "to promote the application of this legislation and ensuring that it is applied at all levels, without prejudice to the competence of the Pontifical Council for the Laity with regard to associations of the faithful as provided for in Article 133 of the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus, the competence of the Secretariat of State's Section for Relations with States, and the general competences of other Dicasteries and Institutes of the Roman Curia." "In particular, the Pontifical Council Cor Unum is to take care that the charitable service of Catholic institutions at the international level is always to be carried out in communion with the various local Churches." The Pontifical Council "Cor Unum" is also charged with "the canonical establishment of charitable agencies at the international level; it thus takes on the responsibilities of discipline and promotion entailed by law."

 

 

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