The bishop of three dioceses in the province of Caserta (Campania, southern Italy) has decided to suspend the presence of fathers and mothers in baptisms and confirmations, at least on a trial basis for three years, considering that in today’s society “they have lost their former value”. .
James de Cirulli, Bishop of Thean-Calvi, Alife-Caiazzo and Sessa Aurunca, will promulgate a decree on the 20th of March, that baptisms, communions and the initiation of the Christian rite of adults will be stipulated in this way, on the website of one diocese.
“In today’s socio-ecclesiastical context, the role of the fathers and mothers has lost, for the most part, its former value”, it is declared in a note relating to the three dioceses, one under the leadership of Cirullo by the Supreme Pontiff Maximus Feb. Francis
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The mission of the godfather and godmother “is to accompany the 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.
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 offices of the Diocese “will have the task of accompanying in this three-year period, the development of the new custom and at the same time exploring new forms of accompaniment that receive the true ecclesial sense of duty.” godfather “and mother”.
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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.
