Pope Francis Issues New Motu Proprio “Fidem servare” Modifying Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith Allowing Disciplinary Arm for Abuse Cases
Pope Francis has promulgated a motu proprio entitled “Fidem servare” modifying the organizational chart of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith by separating the responsibilities of the doctrinal and disciplinary sections. Now it will have two sections with distinct secretaries - one to deal with faith and the other a disciplinary arm to deal with abuse. (Excerpt edited from Vatican news)
IN THE FORM OF "MOTU PROPRIO"
OF THE HIGH PONTIFF
FRANCIS
Fidem to serve
BY WHICH THE INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF THE CONGREGATION FOR THE DOCTRINE OF THE FAITH IS MODIFIED
"Guarding the faith" (cf. 2 Tim 4: 7) is the main task, as well as the ultimate criterion to be followed in the life of the Church. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith takes on this important commitment, assuming both doctrinal and disciplinary competences, as assigned to it by my Venerable Predecessors.
The current configuration of the Congregation was arranged by St. Paul VI, who with the Motu Proprio Integrae Servandae changed the title of the Dicastery to "Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith", and by St. John Paul II, who in the Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus he specified his competences.
Now, having considered the experience the Congregation has gained in this time in various fields of work, and the need to give it an approach more suited to the fulfillment of its functions, I thought it appropriate to establish the following:
1. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith comprises two Sections, Doctrinal and Disciplinary, each coordinated by a Secretary who assists the Prefect in the specific area of his own competence, with the collaboration of the Under-Secretary and the respective Heads of Office.
2. The Doctrinal Section, through the Doctrinal Office, deals with matters that have a bearing on the promotion and protection of the doctrine of faith and morals. Furthermore, it favors studies aimed at increasing intelligence and the transmission of faith in the service of evangelization, so that its light may be a criterion for understanding the meaning of existence, especially in the face of the questions posed by the progress of the sciences and from the development of the company.
With regard to faith and customs, the Section prepares the examination of the documents that must be published by other Dicasteries of the Roman Curia, as well as of the writings and opinions that appear problematic for the right faith, favoring dialogue with their authors and proposing the suitable remedies to be made, according to the rules of the Agendi ratio in doctrinarum examine .
This Section is entrusted with the task of studying the questions relating to the personal Ordinariates established through the Apostolic Constitution Anglicanorum Coetibus .
The Matrimonial Office belongs to the Doctrinal Section, which was set up to examine, both in law and in fact, what concerns the " privileium fidei ".
3. The Disciplinary Section, through the Disciplinary Office, deals with the crimes reserved to the Congregation and treated by it through the jurisdiction of the Supreme Apostolic Tribunal established there. It has the task of preparing and elaborating the procedures provided for by the canonical norms so that the Congregation, in its various instances (Prefect, Secretary, Promoter of Justice, Congress, Ordinary Session, College for the examination of appeals regarding delicta graviora ), can promote a just administration of justice.
To this end, the Section promotes the appropriate formation initiatives that the Congregation offers to Ordinaries and legal practitioners, to foster a correct understanding and application of the canonical norms relating to their area of competence.
4. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has a current Archive for the custody and consultation of documents, which also manages the historical Archives of the ancient Congregations of the Holy Office and of the Index.
What resolved with this Apostolic Letter in the form of a Motu Proprio, I order that it has firm and stable force, despite anything to the contrary even if worthy of special mention, and that it be promulgated through publication in L'Osservatore Romano , entering into force on February 14, 2022. , and then published in the official commentary of the Acta Apostolicae Sedis .
Given in Rome, at St. Peter's, on 11 February in the year 2022, Memory of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lourdes, ninth of my pontificate.
FRANCIS
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