.- In
a statement sent to Catholic News Agency, Bishop Felipe Arizmendi
Esquivel of San Cristobal de las Casas and his Auxiliary Bishop Enrique
Diaz responded to the controversy surrounding a letter from the Holy
See which ordered a suspension of ordinations to the permanent
deaconate in the Mexican diocese.
“Although there
were some at the Vatican who supported our petition, the decision to
suspend these ordinations prevailed,” the statement said. “Let it
be clear, however, that this is not a definitive and permanent
suspension, but a temporary one, and those who are already permanent
deacons can continue exercising their ministry without any
restrictions.”
“First of all,”
the bishops continued, “we respect this decision with serene faith and
active hope, although with heartfelt sorrow. We will not ordain
any more permanent deacons until this door is opened again. We
could carry out new ordinations and they would be valid; but they would
be illicit and we would be breaking ecclesial communion, thus isolating
ourselves and making ourselves into an ‘autonomous Church,’ which no
one wants.”
They went on to
express their concern that “our efforts to become an ‘autoctonous
Church’ have been called ‘ideological.’ Although we acknowledge
the limitations and deficiencies, we believe that the efforts to
implement the idea of an autoctonous Church are being carried out in
conformity with the teachings of the Council.”
“We would be
falling into an ‘ideology’,” they argued, “into ‘ideological
isolation,’ if our project of an autoctonous Church were to be confused
with that of an autonomous Church. We are not, nor do we have the
intention of becoming, an autonomous Church.”
The bishops also
said the ordinations to the permanent deaconate in their diocese were
not meant to encourage hopes for a married priesthood, although they
said they have received “many requests” for the idea. The
reaffirmed their commitment to fostering vocations to the celibate
priesthood.
Regarding the
Vatican request to suspend the formation of more candidates to the
permanent deaconate, the bishops said, “We will continue the formation
of our catechists, not in view of a possible immediate ordination to
the deaconate, but rather in order to strengthen their service in the
communities, preparing them to be instituted as lectors and acolytes.”
“When the Holy
Spirit thus disposes and the doors are opened again, some of them will
already be ready for ordination,” they said.
Mexican bishop says he will not support “autonomous church”
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