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VATICAN INFORMATION SERVICE

TWENTIETH YEAR - N. 201
ENGLISH
FRIDAY, 12 NOVEMBER 2010

SUMMARY:

- Pope Meets with Heads of Dicasteries of Roman Curia
- Communique at Beginning of Apostolic Visitation in Ireland
- Audiences
- Other Pontifical Acts

___________________________________________________________

POPE MEETS WITH HEADS OF DICASTERIES OF ROMAN CURIA

VATICAN CITY, 12 NOV 2010 (VIS) - Today at 10 a.m., in the Bologna Hall of
the Vatican Apostolic Palace, Benedict XVI presided at a meeting of heads of
dicasteries of the Roman Curia.
.../                                                                    VIS
20101112 (50)

COMMUNIQUE AT BEGINNING OF APOSTOLIC VISITATION IN IRELAND

VATICAN CITY, 12 NOV 2010 (VIS) - The Holy See Press Office today published
the following English-language communique at the beginning of the Apostolic
Visitation in Ireland.

  "On 19 March 2010, following a meeting with the bishops of Ireland, His
Holiness Pope Benedict XVI issued a Pastoral Letter to the Catholics in
Ireland. The Letter expressed his deep sorrow and regret regarding abuse
perpetrated by priests and religious and the way in which such cases had
been responded to in the past. It also called for an Apostolic Visitation of
certain dioceses in Ireland, as well as seminaries and religious
congregations. Pastoral in nature, the Visitation 'is intended to assist the
local Church on her path of renewal' and is a sign of the Holy Father's
desire, as the Successor of Peter, to offer his pastoral solicitude to the
Church in Ireland'.

  "In the months following the publication of the letter, preparatory
meetings were held with the appointed Visitators, representatives from the
Holy See, the Irish episcopate and the Conference of Religious Superiors of
Ireland (CORI) in order to lay out a clear plan for the Visitation.

  "The Visitation will identify whether the mutual relationship of the
various components of the local Church, seminaries and religious communities
is now in place, in order to sustain them on the path of profound spiritual
renewal already being pursued by the Church in Ireland. It also has the goal
of verifying the effectiveness of the present processes used in responding
to cases of abuse and of the current forms of assistance provided to the
victims. It will not be an investigation into individual cases of abuse nor
a trial to judge past events. The Visitators will have to identify the
explicit problems which may require some assistance from the Holy See.

  The Visitation will in no way interfere with the ordinary activity of
local magistrates, nor with the activity of the 'Commissions of
Investigation' established by the Irish parliament nor with the work of any
legislative authority which has competence in the area of prevention of
abuse of minors. The Visitation does not seek to replace the legitimate
authority of the local bishops or religious superiors, who maintain
responsibility in the handling of cases of abuse.

  "It is important to remember that the Visitators are not expected to
receive allegations of new or old cases of abuse. If any were to arise, such
allegations must be reported to the respective ordinaries or major superiors
who have the duty to inform the competent civil and ecclesiastical
authorities, in conformity with the current civil and ecclesiastical laws".

Regarding the Visitation of the Four Metropolitan Archdioceses

  "As previously announced, the Visitators of the four Irish metropolitan
archdioceses will be: Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor for Armagh; Cardinal
Sean P. O'Malley O.F.M. Cap. for Dublin; Archbishop Thomas C. Collins for
Cashel and Emly; Archbishop Terrence T. Prendergast S.J. for Tuam. The
Visitators may bring with them some people, approved by the Congregation for
Bishops, who can serve as assistants.

  "In respect of and in conformity with local civil law, the Visitators will
make themselves available to meet with those who have been deeply wounded by
abuse and who wish to be met and heard, beginning with the victims
themselves and their families.
 They will be received in the same fatherly
manner in which the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI has on several occasions
greeted and listened to those who have suffered the terrible crime of abuse.

  "The Visitators will monitor how well the guidelines of 'Safeguarding
Children, Standards and Guidance Document for the Catholic Church in
Ireland', commissioned and produced in February 2009 by the National Board
for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church, are functioning and how
they may be better implemented and improved.

  "The Visitators may also meet with the other bishops of the province, and
they should listen to, besides the local ordinary, the vicar general, the
episcopal vicars, the judges of the ecclesiastical tribunal, the chancellor
and other officials of the Curia, members of the presbyteral councils,
members of the College of Consultors and of pastoral councils and, above
all, those responsible for the office of protection and prevention of abuse
at the diocesan and parish level. Finally, Pastors and other priests, the
lay faithful and individual men and women who wish to be received by the
visiting prelates may request this in writing. The Visitators will meet
people individually or as a family.

  "If possible, it is recommended that each archdiocese, embracing the
penitential sentiments expressed by the Holy Father in his Letter, organise
a penitential service or some other similar gathering in the presence of the
Visitator with the approval of the local ordinary. This will correspond with
the penitential activities already promoted by the Irish Episcopal
Conference, which include prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

  "With the aim of ensuring confidentiality, all those who wish to write to
the Visitators should address letters to them by name using the mailing
address of the apostolic nunciature.

  "In order to facilitate access for those who would like to meet with them,
the address of the respective Visitator will be communicated by the
archdiocese. In co-ordination with each Visitator, their availability, the
days they are already occupied and those still available for meetings with
various people will be communicated".

Regarding the Visitation to the Irish Seminaries

  "The Apostolic Visitator for Irish seminaries is Archbishop Timothy M.
Dolan of New York. He will be assisted by some clerics, approved by the
Congregation for Catholic Education, whose main duty will be to help to
conduct the one-to-one interviews with the seminarians.

  "Archbishop Dolan will visit five institutions: St. Patrick's College,
Maynooth; the Pontifical Irish College, Rome; Saint Malachy's College,
Belfast; All Hallows College, Dublin; Milltown Institute of Theology and
Philosophy, Dublin (this will be visited only in regard to its academic
programmes).

  Prior to each Visitation, the Visitator will receive copies of all
necessary documentation. Moreover, each staff member and student will be
granted the possibility to express to the Visitator in a signed statement
his opinion about the seminary. Such letters should be addressed to the
Visitator using the mailing address of the apostolic nunciature.

  "The Visitator will examine all aspects of priestly formation. He, or his
assistants, will conduct private interviews with all staff members, all
seminarians and, where applicable, other parties normally involved in the
life of the seminary. It is not his task to meet with victims of abuse who,
as noted above, may be instead received by the Visitators of the four
metropolitan archdioceses. Furthermore, each priest who has graduated from
the seminary in the previous three years will be given the opportunity for a
private interview.

  "In conducting his examination of each institution, the Visitator will
follow the directives set out by the documents of the Holy See and of the
local Church concerning priestly formation and the protection of minors".

Regarding the Visitation to Religious Houses

  "Sr. Sharon Holland I.H.M., Fr. Robert Maloney C.M., Sr. Mairin McDonagh
R.J.M. and Fr. Gero McLoughlin S.J. have been appo
inted to serve as
Apostolic Visitators of those institutes of consecrated life and societies
of apostolic life with houses in Ireland.

  "The first phase of this Visitation will consist in responding to a
questionnaire which seeks information regarding the involvement of
institutes in cases of abuse, the responses offered to victims, and the
compliance of the institute with the protocols contained in 'Safeguarding
Children, Standards and Guidance Document for the Catholic Church in
Ireland'. The questionnaire also seeks to ascertain how each community is
dealing with the revelations and their consequences. Additionally it asks
what is being done, in the light of past experiences, to assist members in
their primary mission of radically witnessing to Christ's presence in the
world.

  "The Visitators will meet afterwards to assess the responses to the
questionnaire. They will then make recommendations to the Congregation for
Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life regarding the
next steps to be taken in the Visitation process.

  "When the Apostolic Visitation is complete, the Visitators will submit
their findings to the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and
Societies of Apostolic Life. After having carefully studied the report of
the Visitators, the Congregation will determine what further steps should be
taken to contribute to a revitalisation of consecrated life in Ireland".

Conclusion

  "Given the delicate nature of the subject matter and out of respect for
persons involved, the Visitators will exercise great discretion and will not
grant interviews during the first phase of the Visitation.

  "The Congregations for Bishops, for Institutes of Consecrated Life and for
Catholic Education concur with the Secretariat of State that the first phase
of the Visitation - the inquiry concerning the four metropolitan
archdioceses, religious houses and seminaries - should be completed if
possible by Easter 2011. At that time the Visitators should submit the
results of their enquiries so that they can be studied during the month of
May and a plan for moving forward can be discussed. Then the Holy See will
announce, with a proper statement, the next steps that have to be taken.

  "When the Visitation is complete, the Holy See, after reviewing all the
material submitted by the Visitators and offering suggestions for the
spiritual renewal of the archdioceses, seminaries and religious houses, will
issue a comprehensive summary of the results of the Visitation".
OP/                                                                     VIS
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AUDIENCES

VATICAN CITY, 12 NOV 2010 (VIS) - This evening the Holy Father is scheduled
to receive in audience Cardinal William Joseph Levada, prefect of the
Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
AP/                                                                     VIS
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OTHER PONTIFICAL ACTS

VATICAN CITY, 12 NOV 2010 (VIS) - The Holy Father appointed Bishop Johannes
Maria Trilaksyanta Pujasumarta of Bandung, Indonesia, as archbishop of
Semarang (area 21,196, population 20,140,000, Catholics 406,271, priests
407, religious 771), Indonesia. The archbishop-elect was born in Solo,
Indonesia in 1949, he was ordained a priest in 1977 and consecrated a bishop
in 2008.
NER/                                                                    VIS
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 - Origin: VIS - Ufficio Stampa della Santa Sede (1:396/3) 
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