Episcopus quidem nuper apud Congregationem de Cultu Divino et Disciplina Sacramentorum quaesivit an Episcopo dioecesano liceat viros ad sacrum presbyteratum ordinare qui propensiones homosexuales dictas manifestaverunt. Hoc Dicasterium opportunum duxit hanc responsionem exhibere, quae ob peculiare momentum etiam publici iuris fit .
Prot. N. 886/02/0
Città del Vaticano, 16 maggio 2002
Eccellenza Reverendissima,
la Congregazione per il Clero ha trasmesso a questa Congregazione per il Culto Divino e la Disciplina dei Sacramenti, la lettera de Vostra Eccellenza, nella quale ci formula una richiesta, in ordine a chiarire la possibilità o meno che uomini con inclinazioni omosessuali possano ricevere l'ordinazione sacerdotale.
Questa Congregazione per il Culto Divino e la Disciplina dei Sacramenti, tenendo presente l'esperienza che proviene da non poche cause istruite in vista di ottenere la dispensa dagli obblighi che derivano dalla sacra Ordinazione, e dopo doverosa consultazione con la Congregazione per la Dottrina della Fede, esprime il suo giudizio nel modo seguente:
L'ordinazione al diaconato o al presbiterato di uomini omosessuali o con tendenza omosessuale è assolutamente sconsigliabile e imprudente e, dal punto di vista pastorale, molto rischiosa. Una persona omosessuale, o con tendenza omosessuale non è, per tanto, idonea a ricevere il sacramento dell'Ordine sacro.
Mi valgo volentieri della circostanza per confermarmi con sentimenti di cordiale ossequi
Jorge A. Card. Medina Estévez Prefetto
A certain Bishop recently brought a question before the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments about whether a diocesan Bishop is permitted to ordain to the sacred presbyterate men who have manifested so-called homosexual tendencies. This Dicastery considered it opportune to send this response, which is also being published because of its special importance .
Prot. N. 886/02/0
Vatican City, 16 May 2002
Most Reverend Excellency,
the Congregation for Clergy has passed on to this Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments Your Excellency's letter, in which you make an inquiry of us in respect of clarifying whether it is possible or not for men with homosexual inclinations to receive sacerdotal ordination.
This Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, bearing in mind the experience that comes from not a few cases taking place with a view to obtaining dispensation from the obligations which arise from sacred Ordination, and after due consultation with the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, expresses its judgment as follows:
The ordination of homosexual men or those with homosexual tendencies to the diaconate or to the priesthood is absolutely inadvisable and imprudent and, from a pastoral point of view, very precarious. As such, a homosexual person, or one with homosexual tendencies, is unfit to receive the sacrament of holy Orders.
I gladly take this opportunity to prove myself, with sentiments of cordial respect
Jorge A. Card. Medina Estévez
Notitiae 38 (2002): 586homosexuality , ordination Quoad ordinationes diaconorum in dioecesi Sancti Christophori de las Casas in Mexico, necnon ad quaestiones cum iisdem coniunctas quod spectat, Congregatio de Cultu Divino et Disciplina Sacramentorum hodierno Episcopo supradictae dioecesis, Excellentissimo Domino Philippo Arizmendi Esquivel, litteras scripsit, quae ob peculiare momentum suum pro opportuna informatione et norma [hic publici fiunt]
En relación con las ordenaciones diaconales en la Diócesis de San Cristóbal de las Casa, México, y con los problemas relativos a las mismas, la Congregación para el Culto Divino y la Disciplina de los Sacramentos ha escrito una carta al actual Obispo de esa diócesis, S.E.R. Mons. Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel, la que es publica ahora [para oportuna información y norma].
Prot. 159/00
Ciudad del Vaticano, 26 de octubre de 2005
Excelencia Reverendísima,
en la última Reunión Interdicasterial, celebrada el 1 de octubre pasado, como Ud. Ha podido bien observar, se realizó un detallado y serio examen de la petición presentada por Vuestra Excelencia y de la situación actual de la Diócesis de San Cristóbal de Las Casas y sus incidencias en la vida de la Iglesia Universal. Adjunto una copia del resumen que hice como conclusión de la reunión. Como resultado de la deliberación se ha convenido como sique:
No se puede ignorar que, aún después de pasados cinco años de la salida de S.E. Mons. Samuel Ruiz de San Cristóbal de Las Casas, continua a estar latente en la Diócesis la ideología que promueve la implementación del proyecto de una Iglesia Autóctona. En este sentido, la reunión Interdicasterial se ha pronunciado por una suspensión de eventuales ordenaciones de diáconos permanentes hasta que se haya resuelto el problema ideológico de fondo.
Asimismo, se pide que se fortalezca la pastoral vocacional, con vistas al sacerdocio célibe, como en el resto de la Iglesia en México y demás países de América Latina; y que se interrumpa la formación de mas candidatos al diaconado permanente. Constituye, en efecto, una injusticia contra esos fieles cristianos alentar una esperanza sin perspectivas reales; además, el diaconada supone una vocación personal, no una designación comunitaria sino una llamada oficial de la Iglesia; requiere una formación intelectual solida, orientada por la Sede Apostólica.
Para contribuir a sanear la vida eclesial, desde el inicio se ha pedido, y se continúa a indicar, abrir la Diócesis a otras realidades eclesiales propias de la universalidad de la Iglesia Católica, para ayudarla a salir del aislamiento ideológico mencionado.
Por último, cabe subrayar que, alimentar en los fieles expectativas contrarias al Magisterio y a la Tradición, como en el caso de un diaconado permanente orientado hacia el sacerdocio uxorado, coloca a la santa Sede en la situación de tener que rechazar las distintas peticiones y presiones y, de este modo, se le hace aparecer como intolerante.
Me valgo de esta ocasión para saludar muy atentamente a V.E. y asegurarle nuestro sincero deseo de prestarle toda la colaboración posible. Quedo de Ud.,
devotísimo en Cristo Jesús
✠ Francis Card. Arinze Prefecto
✠ Domenico Sorrentino Arzobispo Secretario
With respect to diaconal ordinations in the Diocese of San Cristóbal de Las Casas in Mexico, also to the questions they raise, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments has written to the current Bishop of the aforementioned diocese, the Most Excellent Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel, a letter which, on account of its particular importance, is published here as a suitable standard and piece of information.
Prot. 159/00
Vatican City, 26 October 2005
Most Reverend Excellency,
in the last Interdicasterial Meeting, held this 1 October, as you could well see, a detailed and formal examination was carried out on the request put forth by Your Excellency as well as on the present state of the Diocese of San Cristóbal de Las Casas and its circumstances in the life of the Universal Church. Attached is a copy of the summary that I have made as to the conclusions of the meeting. As a result of deliberation the following was agreed upon:
It cannot be ignored that, even after five years since the departure of His Excellency, Mons. Samuel Ruiz, from San Cristóbal de Las Casas, the ideology which promotes the project implementation of an Indigenous Church continues to underlie the Diocese. In light of this, the Interdicasterial Meeting has pronounced itself in favour of a suspension of subsequent ordinations of permanent deacons until the basic ideological problem has been resolved.
At the same time, it is requested that the pastoral ministry for vocations be reinforced, with a view to celibate priesthood, as in the rest of the Church in Mexico and in other countries of Latin America; and that formation of any more candidates to the permanent diaconate be discontinued. As a matter of fact, it constitutes an injustice against those faithful Christians to foster a hope without genuine proportions. Moreover, the diaconate presupposes a personal vocation: not a community nomination, but an official call of the Church; it requires a solid intellectual formation, oriented by the Apostolic See.
To contribute to purifying the life of the Church, from the beginning it has been requested, and this continues to be done, to open the Diocese to other ecclesial realities, proper to the universality of the Catholic Church, to help it to escape said ideological isolation.
Finally, it is worth noting that sustaining the faithful in expectations contrary to the Magisterium and Tradition, as in the case of a permanent diaconate oriented towards getting married priests, puts the Holy See in a situation of having to reject the various petitions and pressures, and of being made, in this way, to appear as intolerant.
I take this opportunity to greet Your Excellency most cordially and to assure you of our sincere desire to afford you all the assistance possible. Before you I remain,
devoted in Christ Jesus,
✠ Francis Card. Arinze Prefect
✠ Domenico Sorrentino Archbishop Secretary
Notitiae 41 (2005): 470–471Notitiae 41 (2005), 561–562deacon , mexico , ordination Notitiae 41 (2005), 561–562