Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei now under Congregation for the Doctrin of the Faith


Something rather interesting appeared in the Bollettino today. I give you the english version from the Vatican Information Service for July 8th.


- [Pope Benedict] Appointed Cardinal William Joseph Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, to the additional office of president of the Pontifical Commission "Ecclesia Dei". He succeeds Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos, whom the Holy Father thanked at the end of his service as president of the same commission.

I'm sure it has to do with the news reported by Fr. Z on June 10th, 2009 via an article in il Giornale by the Italian journalist, Andrea Tornielli:


In the next weeks there will be published a Motu Proprio of Benedict XVI which makes the Commission Ecclesia Dei … an organism of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Pope Ratzinger had already announced this last March, in the letter sent to all the bishops of the world dedicated to the Williamson case and the revocation of the excommunication of the prelates consecrated by Lefebvre. Next 4 July Darìo Card. Castrillòn Hoyos, present President of Ecclesia Dei, will turn 80 years of age and will leave his post for reasons of age. The Commission will then be presided over by the Prefect of the ex-Holy Office, the American William Joseph Card. Levada. The Vice-President Msgr. Perl will remain in his place while there will be named a new Secretary to replace the [recently] deceased Msgr. Mario Marini. Just this morning, the French agency I.Media revealed that in the "feria quarta" meeting the cardinal members of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith put together a first platform for the beginning of dialogue with the Lefebvrites. ... Meanwhile, as Il Giornale anticipated a few days ago, this Saturday there ought to be announced the nomination of the Secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship [Archbp.] Malcom Ranjith Patabendige Don as Archbishop of Colombo. In his place there will be designated the present Undersecretary of the ex-Holy Office the Domincan DiNoia.

There is a more extensive article on this by Gregor Kollmorgen at the New Liturgical Movement blog: Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei Attached to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
Other related posts (may be updated so check back)


Te Deum Laudamus! Home


The obedient are not held captive by Holy Mother Church; it is the disobedient who are held captive by the world!