Pope Extending Bishops’ Powers

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31090, 20 June 1966, Page 13

Pope Extending Bishops’ Powers

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) VATICAN CITY. June 19. Pope Paul VI has detailed a vast expansion of the administrative powers of Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church throughout the world.

In a far-reaching decree, Pope Paul allows the Bishops to make exceptions to general laws of the church without referring such questions to the Vatican.

The Pope reserved for himself alone the right to make changes on a limited number of questions concerning mar-

riage, celibacy and the lives of priests and nuns. But, by keeping the number of such reservations small, the Pope left to the Bishops a broad area of administrative power they may exercise in their dioceses without Vatican control. The decree, effective on August 15, implements a key section of the Vatican Ecumenical Council’s document on the pastoral duties of bishops. The document provides for an historic enlargement of bishops’ powers in church affairs. The section recognises the rights of bishops to make exceptions to general church laws wherever needed for the good of their communicants “unless the supreme authority of the church makes express reservations.”

Pope Paul listed only 20 reservations. Vatican spokes-

men said that in view of the many general laws in existence, the 20 reservations expressed by the Pope meant a great expansion of power for the bishops. The church’s general laws are regulations that have grown up over the centuries. They do not involve basic questions of morals and faith. On celibacy, Pope Paul decreed that he alone could decide whether to lift the rule for priests or deacons who renounce their vocation. He gave bishops the right to decide individual cases involving sub-deacons. Pope Paul reserved for himself whether to allow priests to practise professions such as medicine, hold public office or work in commercial endeavours.

He gave bishops the right to permit changes in garments and the external way of life of nuns and members of religious orders. But he kept for himself the power to alter their vows and internal regulations.

Reconciliation Made.—The former Miss Christine Keeler, the key figure in the Ministerial scandal that rocked the British Government three years ago, has been reunited with her husband, it was reported today. She married an engineer, Mr James Levermore, in secret last October. The couple parted after three months.—London, June 19.