Ordinary Issues New Decrees and Directive,s
Updating Laws Governing
The Diocese of Fall River
Most Reverend James L. Connolly, Bishop of Fall River, promulgates today a collection (j)f diocesan laws-technically known as "Pro £ynodal Statutes"-affecting clergy and laity land all facets of church life. The purpose of ibis action, without precedent in the Fall River Diocese, is to update' diocesan statutes as a l!l:leans of implementing the decrees and direc tives of Vatican II and of providIng clear-guide lNnes for uniform pastoral practice in minister nog to the spiritual needs of the people of God in the Diocese The collection was long in preparation. Bishop Connolly first publicly disclosed Lis intention to revise diocesan regulations at 11 meeting of the Diocesan Pastoral Council in,
dJThel
ANCHOR
Aft
An~hor oJ the
Soul, Sure ""d Firm-St. Paul
Fall River, Mass., Aug. 15, 1968
Vol. 12, No. 33
@
1968
PRICE lOc $4.00 per Year
the Spring of 1967. Consultation with the priests of the diocese, meetings of commissions composed of clergy, religious and laity, and finally a series of revisions have taken place throughout the intervening months prior to today's publication.Now invested with the legislative authority possessed by Bishop Connolly, these enactments assllme the force of diocesan particular law. Traditionally diocesan laws of this kind are f0rt11ally enacted in a synod, a liturgical ceremony conducted in the cathedral church. However, many and varied modifications of The mew and now effective pro syn'odal statutes are published in full oil Pages Nine, 10, 11 and 12 of this issue. -The. Anchor has arranged the middle four-successive-page layout so they may be easily removed for future refer ~nce.
church order and discipline continue to be in troduced during the post-conciliar period and the Holy Father is presently conducting a thorough revision of universal Church law. Consequently, a less formal method of pro '.mulgation of these diocesan laws was desirable; :they are; nonetheless~.authoritative and binding. Sonle changes which. t.he new statutes in troduce 'in the Diocese are il~med~ately ,notice able. A~;ong these is the granting of faculties
Mansfield Assistant Joins U.S. Navy Chaplain Corps
Critics
~Angry
NEW YORK (NC) - Fr. Donald F. X. Connolly, coor Rev. James F. Kelley, a,.s.sistant at St. Mary's parish, dinator of the National Mansfield, will be sworn in asa Navy Chaplain this week . Catholic Office for Radio and will report to the Chaplain School in Newport on and Television, has called the Sunday, Sept. 1. Father Kelley) who has served the Mansfield criticism of Pope Paul VI's birth control encyclical "angry and parish since his ordination Navy: Rev. Benoit Galland, disrespectful," and said "one is to the priesthood by Bishop Rev. John W. Pegnam and Rev. left to wonder at the motives" Connolly on Feb. 2, 1961 in Richard which caused the criticism. P. Demers•. St. Mary's Cathedral, Fall Father Connolly noled that
Rivel', was born on Feb. 25, 1929, in New Bedford, the son of Frederick E. Kelley Sr. and MaI'garet Norton Kelley. Following his graduation from New Bedford High School, he served four years in the Navy as a communications specialist and then entered Cardinal O'Connell Seminary, Jamaica Plain. He completed his philosophical and theological training in St. John's Seminary, Brighton. In 1964, he was named direc tOr of the Confmternity of Christian Doctrine for the Attle boro area. Eight other members of the " Fall River diocesan cleI'gy serving in the armed forces arc: Army Air Force: Rt. Rev. lVIsgr. John F. Denehy, Rev. lLouis J, Joseph and Rev. James F. Greene. Army: Rev. Francis X. Wal llace and Rev. Robert J. Lauglll ~.
JFR. JAMES JF. KELLlEir
many of the papal critics are saying: "If the Holy Father would only live in the real world and thus come to know its problems, and if he had followed the ad vice of his experts, he never would have issued his encyclical on birth control." In the face of this criticism, Father Connolly said, "one can . only wonder if they have actu ally read the document." The national coordinator trac ing the development of the Pope's thought in the encyclical noted that the document begins by listing the various reasons cited by the critics for a change in the Church's traditional ban on contraception, thus showing an understanding of the "real world" by his familiarity with the arguments for changing the Church's stand. Father Connolly emphasized
to priests from other New England dioceses. This authorizes the exercise of many priestly functions. It is expected that several neighbor ing diocesc~s will reciprocate by granting their faculties to Fall River priests. Bro'ader disc.retion in scheduling the hours of wedding ceremonies and funeral services is allowed and couples planning marriage have the right to select the priest of their parish whom they wish to officiate. Provision for the celebration of Mass fac ing the people becomes mandatory for parish churches. While public annual celebration of a sol emn First Holy Communion day is to be re tained in, every parish, the role' of parents in preparing their children for 'receiving the Holy Eucharist is noted, and the new statutes permit greater flexibility in admitting youngsters to this Sacrament. In all instances where church law permits reception of Communion under Both Species, this may now be done without recourse to the Chancery Office. When the priests of the Diocese participate in various ceremonies and services, the obligation of reciting the Divine Office is reduced to the hours of Lauds and Vespers only. Reflecting, the "collegial" spirit of Vati can II, the statutes urge cooperation by laity in diocesan and parish affairs in many ways, notably thr~ugh service on .parish councils and local school boards.
"
and,Disrespectful'
that the Pope considered all the data available to him, conclud ing tha,t, in view of man and his destiny, his eternal life as well as his earthly one, man may not tamper with the marriage act. The radio and TV director noted that the Pope says a cou-
pIe may limit their children by "refraining from the marriage act during the wife's fertile period," and he stressed that the Pope makes a distinction here "which must be grasped by the faithful: namely, that a couple can love one another while reTurn to Page Nineteen .
ASSUMPTION OF OUR LADY: Today is a- holyday of obligation. In a vision described in the Apoealpse, St. John sees a woman clad in glory, crowned with 12 stars, with the moon at her feet, with a child destined to rule the whole world. Hail, Mary! NC Photo.