Monday 6.3.2023
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Last update – 21:54
The Italian Church has decided to hang the figures of fathers and mothers at baptisms and confirmations for three years. This measure, which will be experimental, will be extended to the whole country after several dioceses have begun to announce it.
James of Cirulli, bishop of Theane-Calvi, Alife-Caiazzo and Sessa Aurunca of the province of Caserta (southern Campania) will promulgate a decree on the 20th of March to establish baptisms, communions and rites of Christian initiation for adults; according to what is noted on the Facebook page of one of the dioceses.
“In today’s socio-ecclesiastical context, the role of the fathers and mothers has lost, for the most part, its former value”, in a note to the three dioceses, one under the command of Cirullo by the Supreme Pontiff Maximus Feb. Francis
The mission of godparents “is to accompany catechumens or candidates for confirmation throughout the journey of faith and not only during the celebration of the Sacrament.” In this state, however, this function has almost completely lost its meaning, reduced to a kind of formal perfection or social practice.
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It is an experimental suspension for three years, which “does not want to diminish the value of these figures, but is an attempt by the Bishop to recover his identity and mission”.
The liturgical and catechetical services of the Diocese “will have the task of accompanying in this three-year period, the development of the new practice and at the same time exploring new forms of accompanying that recover the true ecclesial sense of duty. godfather “and mother”.
The new practice will come into force on April 9, Easter, and “the power to celebrate the sacraments of baptism and confirmation outside the diocesan territory remains with the parish priests.”
The bishop, who mentions that the presence of these figures has already been indicated not to be done in the Code of Canon Law, suggests that this power “be granted for just reasons (…) and for extraneous reasons in the presence of patrons and concubines”.
“However, a certificate of suitability can be given to those who perform the role of godfather or godmother in an extra-diocesan territory, where this duty is not suspended and only in the absence of concurrent requirements and impediments; “Concludes the note.
On the last day of February, the Archbishop of Panormitan, Monsignor Corrado Lorefice, adopted the same measure, which will take effect in the region of southern Italy from July 10, also for a duration of three years.
“Social conventions and attitudes consolidate the authentic meaning of this office in the name and mandate of the Church,” he said. And he added: “It has lost its former companionship in the Christian life of the baptized and confirmed, reduced to a mere choreographic ornament in the religion of religion.”
The Bishop of Melfi-Rapolla-Venosa, Monsignor Gianfranco Todisco, has already taken this decision in 2017, due to “the lack of duty to give the witness of life to the faith”. In 2020, Monsignor Ciro Fanelli, his successor, extended the decree.
These discussions and reforms are supported by Pope Francis, who will celebrate ten years of papacy on April 13.
