• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Effie Caldarola
          • John Garvey
          • Father Ed Dougherty, M.M.
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
  • CR Radio
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Bishop Juan Ignacio Arrieta, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, attends a news conference at the Vatican May 9, 2019. Bishop Arrieta told Catholic News Service that in May 2016 Pope Francis already had ruled invalid the establishment of diocesan-right orders established by bishops without consulting the Holy See. (CNS Photo/Robert Duncan)

Vatican approval necessary for diocesan religious orders, pope says

November 4, 2020
By Cindy Wooden
Catholic News Service
Filed Under: Feature, News, Vatican, World News

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Bishops who want to establish a religious order in their dioceses must first obtain the written permission of the Holy See, Pope Francis said.

Amending canon law, the pope said it no longer is enough for a bishop to consult the Vatican before approving the creation of a new order in his diocese.

“By its nature, every institute of consecrated life or society of apostolic life, even if it arose in the context of a particular church, is — as a gift to the church — not an isolated or marginal reality, but is deeply part” of the universal church, the pope said in “Authenticum Charismatis” (“The Authenticity of a Charism”), released Nov. 4 at the Vatican.

The document changes canon 579 of the Code of Canon Law to read: “Diocesan bishops, each in his own territory, can erect institutes of consecrated life by formal decree, with prior permission in writing from the Apostolic See.”

Bishop Juan Ignacio Arrieta, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, told Catholic News Service Nov. 4 that in May 2016 Pope Francis already had ruled invalid the establishment of diocesan-right orders established by bishops without consulting the Holy See.

But, he said, the problem was that “even if the Congregation (for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life) said no, the bishops could say they consulted the Apostolic See.”

Most Catholics are familiar with large, international religious orders of women or of men; answering directly to the Vatican, they are called congregations of “pontifical right.”

The local congregations, approved by a diocesan bishop, are called congregations of “diocesan right.” While many of them are located in Africa, other dioceses around the world have such orders.

“What was happening was that these institutes that bishops created for their diocese began to grow and to look at working in other dioceses as well,” Bishop Arrieta said.

Even if the growing orders are not ready to apply to become pontifical-right institutes, their presence beyond their original diocesan borders requires oversight, he said.

Bishop Arrieta said it is hoped the new procedure also will go further in assuring the diocesan congregation’s continued health and stability once the founding bishop has retired and that it will give the Vatican an opportunity to suggest ways to ensure the proper exercise of authority and freedom within the communities.

Some recent diocesan-right foundations have had serious issues with the sexual abuse and psychological domination of members. One example is the French Community of St. John, which was founded by the late Father Marie-Dominique Philippe. After his death, the prior of the community said credible accusations had been made against Father Philippe. Pope Benedict XVI dissolved the community’s branch of contemplative nuns in 2013.

Pope Francis’ document amending canon law said that Catholics have a right to know from their bishops that a serious discernment has taken place regarding “the authenticity of the charisms” of new orders and “the reliability of those who present themselves as founders.”

Local bishops, he said, are right to welcome new expressions of the Holy Spirit calling people to consecrated life, but “at the same time, care must be taken to avoid carelessly setting up institutions that are useless or lacking in sufficient vigor.”

More Vatican News

Pope advances sainthood causes of six candidates

Avoid polarizing debate, promote healthy scientific discussion, pope says

Vatican envoy warns UN General Assembly racism mutating and ‘reemerging’ globally

AI and the meaning of life: Tech industry turns to religious leaders

Pope calls European bishops to be prophetic voices for peace

Pope asks Catholics to renew consecration of world to Mary every March 25

Copyright © 2020 Catholic News Service/U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Cindy Wooden

Catholic News Service is a leading agency for religious news. Its mission is to report fully, fairly and freely on the involvement of the church in the world today.

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Pathfinders: Five Archdiocese of Baltimore women who made history
  • RADIO INTERVIEW: Dining with the Saints
  • Fire guts historic Catholic school in parish connected to St. John Neumann
  • Sister Elizabeth Ellen Kane, O.S.F., dies at 81
  • Legendary communist-era priest, Father Blachnicki, was murdered, Polish authorities confirm

| Latest Local News |

Catholic Charities’ William J. McCarthy Jr. named Loyola’s Business Leader of the Year

Sister Joan Cooper, O.S.F., dies at 94

Pathfinders: Five Archdiocese of Baltimore women who made history

| Latest World News |

Human composting, alkaline hydrolysis not acceptable for burial, say U.S. bishops

Pope advances sainthood causes of six candidates

Retired Milwaukee priest barred from hearing confessions over support of Delaware ‘repeal of seal’ law

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • Human composting, alkaline hydrolysis not acceptable for burial, say U.S. bishops
  • Pope advances sainthood causes of six candidates
  • Retired Milwaukee priest barred from hearing confessions over support of Delaware ‘repeal of seal’ law
  • Suspect pleads not guilty in murder of LA Auxiliary Bishop O’Connell
  • Avoid polarizing debate, promote healthy scientific discussion, pope says
  • CRS, USAID help Ethiopia ‘at a time of great need’ amid devastating drought
  • A ‘nation of immigrants’ should identify with migrants’ plight and human dignity, says Boston cardinal
  • An invitation from God
  • Vatican envoy warns UN General Assembly racism mutating and ‘reemerging’ globally

Search

Membership

Catholic Press Association of the United States and Canada

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2023 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED