Vatican approval necessary for diocesan religious orders, Pope says

Bishops who want to establish a religious order in their dioceses must first obtain the written permission of the Holy See, Pope Francis said.

Amending canon law, the Pope said it no longer is enough for a bishop to consult the Vatican before approving the creation of a new order in his diocese.

“By its nature, every institute of consecrated life or society of apostolic life, even if it arose in the context of a particular church, is – as a gift to the church – not an isolated or marginal reality, but is deeply part” of the universal church, the Pope said in “Authenticum Charismatis” (“The Authenticity of a Charism”), released November 4 at the Vatican.

The document changes canon 579 of the Code of Canon Law regarding religious orders.

Bishop Juan Ignacio Arrieta, secretary of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts, told Catholic News Service November 4 that in May 2016 Pope Francis already had ruled invalid the establishment of diocesan-right orders established by bishops without consulting the Holy See.

But, he said, the problem was that “even if the Congregation [for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life] said no, the bishops could say they consulted the Apostolic See”.

“What was happening was that these institutes that bishops created for their diocese began to grow and to look at working in other dioceses as well,” Bishop Arrieta said.

Even if the growing orders are not ready to apply to become pontifical-right institutes, their presence beyond their original diocesan borders requires oversight, he said.

Bishop Arrieta said it is hoped the new procedure also will go further in assuring the diocesan congregation’s continued health and stability once the founding bishop has retired and that it will give the Vatican an opportunity to suggest ways to ensure the proper exercise of authority and freedom within the communities.

Some recent diocesan-right foundations have had serious issues with the sexual abuse and psychological domination of members.

One example is the French Community of St. John, which was founded by the late Father Marie-Dominique Philippe.

After his death, the prior of the community said credible accusations had been made against Father Philippe. Pope Benedict XVI dissolved the community’s branch of contemplative nuns in 2013.