POPE PROMULGATES FIVE DOCUMENTS

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30895, 30 October 1965, Page 26

POPE PROMULGATES FIVE DOCUMENTS

VATICAN CITY, Oct. 29. Pope Paul VI yesterday promulgated five Vatican Council documents which bind the Roman Catholic Church to reform its structure and look more kindly on Jews, Moslems and other non-Christians. Stamped with the seal of the Pope’s formal approval, the documents were irsued to the world as official church doctrine. They concern: Church Government A weighty decree “concerning! the pastoral office of bishops in the church” opens the way to reforms of church government. The decree says that the Roman Curia's departments should be better adapted to modern needs, and gives bihsops a share in “collegial responsibility" with the Pope. The Jews and other nonChristisns. —This declaration exonerates the Jews from collective guilt for the death of Christ and says the Church “reproves, as foreign to the mind of Christ, any discrimtnatioin against men or harassment of them because

of their race, colour, condition in life or religion.” Religious Orders.—The decree says run-down monasteries and communities should merge with others. The habits of monks and nuns must be “simple and modest, poor and at the same time becoming,” and must also meet health requirements. Christian Education.—A decree says civil authorities should make available public subsidies so that parents can choose schools for their children according to their conscience. Prudent sex education is recommended in schools. Training of Student Priests. This decree suggests howstudent priests can be given better intellectual and spiritual training to canyout the Vatican's new policies. The Pope promulgated the texts in St. Peter’s Basilica at a public ceremony, saying that the documents would have repercussions throughout the world and for the future. The Roman Catholic bishops attending the council earlier voted their formal approval in a ballot counted by computers housed in the chape! of the Basilica. The Latin texts had already been approved in ordinary working sessions of the council. The council, the first for nearly a century, has so far issued 10 documents since the late Pope John opened it in 1962. Six more documents awaiting final approval include a ’ religious liberty declaration ;and a decree on modern problems ranging from nuclear 'war to family planning.