THE ERRED SHEEP BACK TO THE SHEEP FOLD
A CANONICAL REFLECTION
Keywords:
penal sanction, medicinal, reprove, punishment, scandal, harm, warning, vigilance, personal sanctity, responsibility, credibility, return.Abstract
Church is a community of weak and fragile human beings, including the consecrated – priests and religious. Hence, while holding that most often it is the enemies of the Church from outside, who trigger allegations and accusations against the Church, the author acknowledges that instances of the consecrated themselves causing harm to the Church, have been on the increase, especially in the past two decades. Based on this fact, from a canonical perspective the author pauses certain questions: is there any drawback or failure in the system of rules and regulations meant for the good of the individuals and the community? Do those “who have received from Him the power to bind and loose” (Mt. 16:19; CCEO c. 1401) - the hierarchs and competent superiors - fail in exercising this mandate properly or are they afraid of taking proper decisions and actions at the right time, even when they are aware of scandalous situations and persons involved in them, or is there attempt from the part of the hierarchs to cover up abuses? Do they fail in accompanying their priests? Or is it that the consecrated lack transparency, responsibility and faithfulness to their commitment?
