Wednesday, November 05, 2008

Questionaire about possible bishops

Comment: this has been published on a number of websites now; the Vatican can't send this out to dozens of people and expect it to remain secret. So you might as well see it. Perhaps the most revealing thing about it is the conflicting requirements: Does he have a devotion to Our Lady? - and is he 'up to date' in theology, and active in ecumenism (i.e., does he avoid having a devotion to Our Lady)? Is he loyal to the Holy See's teaching on the impossibility of women priests? - and does he 'appreciate' the 'collabortation' of women (i.e., does he sureptitiously promote women's ordination)?

This speaks volumes about the way the Church is being governed. Let us pray that Pope Benedict XVI promotes to the episcopate people who give the teaching of the Church more than lip-service.

H-T Damian Thompson.

I- PERSONAL Appearance, health, application to work. Family's condition. Any predisposition to hereditary illnesses?
2- HUMAN QUALITIES Intellectual abilities Temperament and character. Balance and Soundness of judgment. Sense of responsibility.
3- CHRISTIAN & PRIESTLY VIRTUES Prudence, Fairness, spirit of faith and charity. Piety: daily celebration of the Eucharist and Liturgy of the Hours. Marian devotion.
4- BEHAVIOUR Moral integrity. How does he relate to people and to public authorities in the exercise of his priestly ministry?
5- CULTURAL FORMATION Is he competent and up to date in Theology and other Ecclesiastical Sciences? General cultural attainment. Foreign languages. Works published.
6- ORTHODOXY Doctrinal orientation. Loyalty to the Doctrine and Magisterium of the Church. In particular: the attitude of the candidate to the Documents of the Holy See on the Ministerial Priesthood, on the Priestly Ordination of Women, on marriage, on sexual Ethics and on Social Justice. Fidelity to the genuine Tradition of the Church and commitment to the authentic renewal promoted by Vatican 11, and adherence to the "Statement of Conclusions, 1998".
7- DISCIPLINE Devotedness to the Holy Father, the Holy See and the Episcopal Hierarchy. Support for Priestly Celibacy and general and particular Laws of the Church. In particular: as to Liturgical and Clerical Discipline.
8- PASTORAL EXPERIENCE AND ATTITUDES Evangelization and Catechesis: preaching and teaching. Aptitude for public speaking. Readiness to administer the Sacraments. Promotion of Vocations. Interest in the Missions and Ecumenical activities. Formation of lay people in the Family and Social fields of apostolate: of young people, of workers, defenders of human rights?
9- QUALITIES OF LEADERSHIP Does he have a capacity for leadership: for dialogue, for evoking and accepting collaboration, for analysis and programming, for making decisions and ensuring that they are carried through? Does he appreciate the role and collaboration of religious and lay people ( men and women )? Is he able to delegate and share responsibility? Has be shown an interest in the problems of the Universal as well as the local Church?
10- ADMINISTRATIVE CAPACITY Does he exercise due care of the Church's property? Ability in administration. Sense of justice. Readiness to enlist the help of those experienced in such affairs?
11- PUBLIC IMAGE Has he gained the respect of his fellow clergy? Of the people and of the public authorities?
12- GENERAL OVERVIEW Give a comprehensive judgment on the personality of the candidate and of his suitability for the episcopate. Indicate, if affirmative, whether he is particularly suited for appointment to a residential See, or as an Auxiliary Bishop. Or for work in an urban, rural, industrial or in other social context.
13- CONSULTATION Please suggest the names of persons (ecclesiastic, religious, or lay) who can provide pertinent and useful information about the candidate. Please give names and addresses.

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
1- a. Full name of the candidate.
b. Date and place of birth.
c. Names of parents.
d. Was he born in lawful wedlock?
2- a. Condition of his family: religious, moral, civil, economic; bodily and mental health.
a. In what Seminaries and other Institutes has he studied?
b. What were the results?
c. What academic grades did he achieve?
4- a. Is he the author of any publications?
b. If possible, indicate titles and editions.
5- a. Does he speak, or in any way know, foreign languages?
6- a. Date and place of priestly ordination.
b. Diocese or Religious Institute for which he was ordained.
c. Diocese in which he was born.
d. Diocese to which he now belongs.
e. Diocese of actual residence.
f If a Religious, indicate the province for which he was professed and the date of profession.
7- a. Ministries he has exercised and offices (ecclesiastical, academic, etc.) he has filled (place and dates).

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Pope Leo XIII's Prayer to St Michael

Holy Michael, Archangel, defend us in the day of battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, thrust down to Hell Satan, and all wicked spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. Amen