Category Archives: Mutuae Relationes

We’ve come to the end of the document Mutuae Relationes. Remember to check the full document here at the Vatican site. The situation in 1978 was that we were in the early stages of what was projected as a future working relationship between … Continue reading →

You can check the full document online here, but here is the last numbered section of Mutuae Relationes, which reminds us of the pope’s authority over the curia and the establishing of cooperation between bishops and religious on the level … Continue reading →

The bishops look to the possibility of large-scale cooperation in the Church, including women and men religious. They give few details for the “supra-national and universal level,” but here they are: 66. Regarding the international, continental or infra-continental sphere, among various … Continue reading →

Beyond the service of the local Church, this document provides for the participation of religious leadership in various endeavors beyond/above diocesan boundaries. 64. Participation of major superiors, or, according to the statutes, of their delegates, also in other various commissions of the … Continue reading →

In today’s post, we read the Church instructing bishops and religious superiors to set up mixed commissions to deal with matters pertaining to both: 63. Since it is of utmost importance that the council of major superiors collaborate diligently and … Continue reading →

The Church writes here of the expected rapport between groups of bishops and groups of religious superiors. You can check the full document online here. This area of concern is likely to get a lot of attention when this document is … Continue reading →

You can check the full document online here. But today we move to consider Church directives “On the national, regional and ritual level.” Section 60 reminds us of the cooperation among bishops on different levels: 60. In episcopal conferences of a … Continue reading →

Here the Church discusses local organizations of religious. The Church lauds communication and cooperation, acknowledging that these organizations are not fusions of communities, but convenient associations. Such groups do not infringe upon nor usurp the proper authority of either religious … Continue reading →

The Church has some basic legislation in place here. First, religious serve under a contract: 58. Without infringing on the right of arranging situations differently or of changing them in a way which is more in accord with the urgent … Continue reading →

Remember to check the full document Mutuae Relationes here at the Vatican site. In today’s post, we discuss three aspects of cooperation for pastoral ministry. 57. In order to foster a certain stability in pastoral cooperation, a) the difference existing … Continue reading →

The Church revisits an earlier theme of relationships between religious clergy and diocesan priests. First, that the latter honor the religious who serve with them in ministry, and are open to entrust them with serious roles: 55. In order that … Continue reading →

One suggested diocesan initiative is for the ordinary to appoint a vicar for religious: 54. It is advisable that the office of episcopal vicar for religious be set up in the diocese to render a service of collaboration, in this … Continue reading →

The motu proprio Ecclesiae Sanctae has two important provisions cited in this section, namely that religious women and men serve under the legal umbrella of the local bishop and the bishops’ conference: 53. The following dispositions of the Apostolic Letter … Continue reading →

We’ve arrived at Chapter VII, in which the Church discusses “The Importance of Suitable Coordination.” To start with, an unnumbered introduction begins this chapter which will cover sections 52 through 67. When we complete that, we will be at the conclusion … Continue reading →

Remember you can check the full document Mutuae Relationes here. In this longer section, the Church concludes Chapter VII by offering some cautions on new communities arising without sufficient prudence. Do you think we have too many new communities? The Church … Continue reading →