24 November 2014

CDW

Perhaps someone could explain what the subtext is in the appointments to the CDW. Two erudite Secretaries were sent packing, and a new Secretary, said to be Bugninistior vel etiam Marinior, was appointed, before the appointment of Cardinal Sarah as Prefect. In the World, you might have thought that the new Departmental Manager would have been appointed first, and then his views taken into account in the appointment of his subordinates.

I know that the position of Cardinal Prefect is technically a promotion, but I wonder if, just conceivably, the Holy Father does not necessarily see it as much of a promotion in this case. This Pope is not someone fascinated by 'Liturgy as a subject'. Readers with Anglican Previous will remember the (true) story about 'Gloomy' Dean Inge, of S Paul's, who, being asked at a dinner party whether he was interested in Liturgy, replied "No, neither do I collect postage stamps". Has Cardinal Sarah, in effect, been put in a position where he can do neither harm nor good, and where his Secretary, who has been there just long enough to get his feet under the table, sets the tone?

12 comments:

Et Expecto said...

I believe that Dean Inge also wrote the following:

The gloomy old dean of St Paul's
Was passing Niagra Falls.
He said "Wait a minute,
I want to bathe in it."
And took off his whatyoumecalls!

vetusta ecclesia said...

One recalls the old adage about a Jesuit in Holy Week!

Unknown said...

The other recent appointment was of an under secretary, the secretary of the congregation since 2012 has been Archbishop Arthur Roche, previously the Bishop of Leeds.

Ann said...

Actually, appointing the secretary before the prefect, and obliging both to work together despite differences, and not solely because of shared, cosy affinities, makes lots of sense if one wants, as I suspect Francis does, to lead the Church rather than to lead a mere party within the Church.

motuproprio said...

It is a new Under-Secretary that has been appointed. The Secretary remains Archbishop Roche (formerly Bishop of Leeds and whose successor has just been consecrated - sorry I think we are now supposed to say ordained).

motuproprio said...

There is another quotation from Dean Inge that I have found very apposite to our 'current situation'. "Whoever marries the spirit of this age will find himself a widower in the next."

Oliver Nicholson said...

Hark, the Herald Angels sing,
Or they would had not Dean Inge
Just arrived in Heaven and he
I bored with immortality.

Fr PJM said...

Wasn't it Chesterton who said that?

Also, the Council said bishops were "consecrated".

motuproprio said...

Definitely Dean Inge; which somehow leads me to question whether James McNeill Whistler really did reply to Oscar Wilde's compliment 'I wish I'd said that', 'You will Oscar, you will'?

motuproprio said...

The balance of the evidence seems to be that he did!

motuproprio said...

And yes, the Code of Canon Law Latin-English Edition, (1983), under "Title VI—Orders" uses the term sacrae ordinationis minister "minister of sacred ordination" and the term consecratione episcopali "episcopal consecration". (CCL cc. 1012, 1014)

Melinda said...

Jim and Sir Humphrey?