The Pope put a stop to it.
Vatican CitySeeking to eliminate careerism in the Catholic clergy, Pope Francis has abolished the conferral of the title of ‘monsignor’ on secular or diocesan priests under the age of 65.
The Vatican’s Secretariat of State has communicated this news to Apostolic Nuncios around the world, and has asked them to inform all bishops in their respective countries of the decision in this regard taken by Pope Francis. - More here.
I never thought I'd see the day.
Never.
Thought.
I'd.
See.
The.
Day.
It's like the Prince of Peace returning ...
Song for this post here.
Facetious?
ReplyDeleteNot at all. I haven't stopped smiling since I heard the news. What a wonderful reform. Viva il Papa!
DeleteListened to the song while posting.
DeleteGracias, Terry. <3
While I am sure many are happy with news, we both know many will not be. I had read about this a few months back that Papa Francesco was considering it and with today's confirmation, it is done.
ReplyDeleteA good start.
A side note about "clerical careerism." One year ago, in December of 2012, I remember reading one blogger priest's goals for 2013. While he continues to blog and is in my opinion, a polarizing online figure, he went so far as to list "making monsignor" a goal for 2013.
Never happened and now? Never will.
Let all men of the "Cloth" be truly holy, desire only Christ, be wed, body and soul, to His Church and to His people.
Let them desire mercy and salvation for all!
Let us pray, hope, uplift such men of holy fervor and courage!
Viva il Papa!
Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe!
Remember the dust-up a few years back when Fr. Trigilio loudly complained that the only priests who were named monsignors were pliable bureaucrats or those who played nice with the spirit of the age? Real shepherds and fools for Christ need not apply...
ReplyDeleteMaybe I live in the wrong neighborhood, but I really don't get the perceived problem with monsignori. As I recall, there is a tradition in the US, anyways, of granting tha title to priests who serve as chaplains or principals or rectors of Catholic schools. In fact, of teh handful of monsignori I have known, two were granted the title (in Ohio) for their service relative to the Catholic school system (one had been a teacher, another was the longtime pastor at a parish with a parish school). Both were wonderful men and did not seem a bit careerist (seriously, Catholic school teacher as career boost?). The other monsignor I know was granted the title because he is the pastor at a minor basilica. He too is hardly careerist, and his title seems to have been granted because he ended up at the basilica, not the other way around.
ReplyDeleteI'm not at all convinced that eliminating the title---part of a longer trend of getting rid of the church's rich tradition of minor orders and various honorifics---will do much of anything to stem careerism, which seems to have more to do with the individual and his motives and means, than to the titles he may acquire. Is the chipping away of tradition really worth it? Is this really a problem?
http://blog.adw.org/2014/01/a-monsignor-reflects-on-the-restriction-of-the-title-monsignior/
ReplyDeleteI'll have to read it later - it appears the site may have crashed due to traffic overload from priests and seminarians. ;)
DeleteThe page has been unavailable for the last hour.
This is window dressing. On paper, it looks good. In practice, there are even a few cases where this happens, but over all, it is not going to change the actual problems with careerists.
ReplyDeleteThere are two kinds of problem priests. The careerist who steps all over others to get ahead and gain power and prestige in the Church, and the dissident, who steps all over Church teaching and Catholics to get ahead and gain power and prestige in the secular world. In the archdiocese of Minny/St. P we have both kinds. The local newspaper loves the dissident priest, particularly one with long hair who supports same sex "marriage" and calls for the archbishop's resignation anytime he is given a chance. The other type is vilified by the local media and is often forced out when exposed so as to save face.
I say the dissident is far more the problem. Some disagree. I wonder what His Holiness will do to address the dissident, now that he has taken to task the careerist?
I read today where a Jesuit from Spain said, apparently not for the first time, that there are situations wherein it is irresponsible not to have an abortion.
DeleteShocking! Not the first time some "Catholic" will say something along those most shocking lines. I hear tell that there are nuns who escort women to abortion clinics so that their "rights" are respected.
DeleteWhere are their respective superiors to hold them accountable for such shocking outrages?
Yes, exactly. And this is why, among other reasons, Catholics are confused about the treatment of the FFI. With all else that is going on, and even to assume there is a problem with the FFI, it's hard to imagine the time and energy spent there merits allowing the dissent and scandal like the Jesuit mentioned to fester.
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