Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Baghdad (Agenzia Fides) - "Before the ordained, the “Priest” announces the offering of his whole life to God and the Church. It is an offering grounded in the obedience to the superiors without any conservation". For monks, "the vows are absolute: chastity, obedience, and poverty". This is the strong reminder regarding the commitments related to the priestly and religious vocation, expressed in the Decree published on Wednesday, October 22 by the Patriarch of Babylon of the Chaldeans, Louis Raphael I, in order to highlight the disciplinary action taken against some priests and religious Chaldeans that in recent years have left Iraq without the consent of their superiors, seeking asylum in Western Countries.
"We – says the Patriarchal Decree, sent to Fides Agency - have bright examples of priests from our days that give us eloquent faith lessons". The Patriarch mentions the priests who shed their blood for sake of the flock: Hana Qasha, Ragheed Ganni and Bishop Paulus Faraj Rahho, and the priests who have been kidnapped yet stayed in their country and churches as well as the priests who have been expelled from their places yet they have journeyed with their flock! Then, according to the Canon Law and monastic regulations, the Decree suspends from practicing priestly ministry six monks and six diocesan priests who have left their dioceses and religious communities in Iraq to emigrate and move abroad without the consent of their superiors, assuming pastoral duties at the Chaldean communities in the diaspora.
The publication of the Decree - warns Patriarch Louis Raphael I - was preceded by due consultations with the permanent synod of the Chaldean Church and the Congregation of the Oriental Churches, and came after "several and unfortunately unfruitful, ultimatums and attempts" put in place in the past by the previous authorites of the Church and religious communities, in order to put a stop to the deplorable phenomenon, which has caused a scandal among the faithful of the Chaldean Church. (GV) (Agenzia Fides 23/10/2014)
