Prelates Wish Pope To Share His Authority

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30278, 2 November 1963, Page 11

Prelates Wish Pope To Share His Authority

(N.Z Press Assn.—Copyright) VATICAN CITY, Nov. I

The Vatican Ecumenical Council arrived today at the half-way mark of its second session, closing the most decisive week of the year-old assembly. Within the space of only three days the 2200 patriarchs, cardinals, archbishops, bishops and other prelates showed in a test vote that the overwhelming majority, more than 96 per cent, lean to a concept of all bishops sharing with the Pope in authority over the entire Church. They decided that theology on the Virgin Mary belongs more properly within a document on the Church’s nature rather than standing apart as a separate Marian document. The prelates virtually completed action on a sevenchapter document that will bring vast changes in all erf Roman Catholic worship, from the Mass and the Sacraments to sacred music and art forms. t

No-one pretends that the council is all down-hill coasting from here. Many bishops were still preoccupied with the pace of council deliberations and anxious to increase efficiency without curtailing free expression on the council floor in St. Peter’s Basilica.

Pope Paul said when he opened the second phase of the council on September 29 that a clearer definition of what the Church is, would be the chief concern of the Council Fathers until recess on December 4.

In a new procedure this week to ease the council’s work, a test vote was taken on ' points at issue concerning episcopal-papal power in the theological schema “De Ecclesia” (Concerning the Church). .

The idea was to guide the council’s theological commission in drawing up schema

amendments from among almost 1500 suggestions voiced on the floor by bishops. The test vote showed that the council predominantly favoured the concept that bishops as a body are responsible with the Pope for the governing of the Church everywhere in the world. In the same vote they showed that they favour restoration of the earlychurch rank of deacons, on a permanent basis, to take on certain priestly functions, especially in priest-short mission lands.

On the Marian vote, the question was whether Mary should be treated—without detracting from honour to her —in a separate schema or within the schema on the Church's nature.

By a margin of 1114 to 1074 the Council Fathers decided that Marian theology should go Ihto the Church schema.

Liturgical experts said there was a good chance that a few amendments still to be voted in the public worship schema could be finished within two weeks, leaving the liturgy document ready for formal ratification and promulgation as a finished decree in a public session by Pope Paul VI and the prelates before recess.

When that stage comes, such revitalisation of worship as replacement of Latin with modem languages in the Mass and the Sacraments can be put into effect as soon as national bishops' conferences can see to it

These three developments in the last -week have moved the council along at a decisive clip lacking in the first session from October 11 to December 8 a year ago. when the Council Fathers were trying to feel out the strength of currents for Church renewal. The council wiU meet again on Tuesday after a four-day holiday week-end in It*.