Fr. Pavone, John Wesley, and "particular churches"

Canon lawyer Dr. Ed Peters remarks upon a recent interview given by Fr. Frank Pavone with Al Kresta:

In his interview Pavone recounted for Kresta that, while he was a seminarian, he had on the wall of his dorm room a map of the world underneath which was written Methodist John Wesley’s famous line “All the world is my parish” (Pt. I, 21:30 ff). Granted, a Catholic sense can be given Wesley’s point, but such a slogan falls well short of the Catholic vision of pastoral organization, and its continued use by Pavone is telling.

Wesley’s low ecclesiology let him see the world as a sort of parish, but Catholics can see more. We have "particular churches" known as dioceses (c. 368) under the direction of bishops (c. 381) who have the fullness of Orders, and it is within the context of the particular Church that most Catholic men ordained to diocesan priesthood are called for most of their lives to work out their salvation, yes, in fear and trembling. Pavone and many of his allies, however, are applying Wesley’s model of the Church against Zurek.

Consider: However Methodism might expect its ministers to graduate from seminary and find communities to serve, diocesan Catholic priests such as Pavone are not ordained for at-large ministry wherever they decide to carry it on. Church law knows of extra-diocesan priestly work and makes certain provisions for it, but paradigmatic ordained Catholic ministry is generally offered, and will always be offered, by clergy working over extended periods in a specific place under a local ordinary. It is Pavone’s style of national (for that matter, international) priestly ministry that needs special authorization, and not Zurek’s exercise of authority that needs to be tailored to Pavone’s perception of his mission.

Read the entire post on the "In the Light of the Law" blog. In addition to the Code of Canon Law, see paragraphs 813ff of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for important statements about "particular churches", the unity of the Church, and the authority of bishops.

Comments

[BillyHW]

I think the biggest problem some of the bishops have with Fr. Pavone is that he's not only interested in fighting the good fight, but in *winning* the good fight.

And that, to them, is utterly unacceptable.

[Nancy D.]

This is true. How many Bishops have instructed their parishes to Pray for respect for the Sanctity of every human life and respect for Marriage and the family at Sunday Mass?

[Howard]

Fr. Pavone cannot win the good fight. When his breath departs, he returns to his earth; on that very day his plans perish. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God.

[Dan]

I agree that, ordinarily, a bishop would have good cause to reign in a priest who, without permission, went roving around the country engaged in a personal ministry. But here Fr. Pavone has been at it for years with permission. Now the permission has been revoked for reasons that are not clear. I know far too little about the situation to make a judgment concerning the sufficiency of the reasons for the revocation of Fr. Pavone's permission to travel. But it is not fair to criticize Fr. Pavone for the nationwide nature of his ministry when for years he was given permission to pursue his ministry all across the country.

[John James]

While I'm on the other side of the world ( Australia ), I have found the facts, as I understand them in relation to this case, disquietening.
As I read this case, Fr Pavone's Ordinary, or someone on his behalf, announced, publicly, that Fr Pavone was suspected of maladministration of the funds for 'Priests for Life' and that he ( Fr Pavone ) was being asked to return to the diocese in which he is incardinated, for a period of penance, prayer and reflection.
Why, I asked myself, was this 'charge' or 'accusation' announced publicly?
What provisions, if any, are there in canon law, for a cleric, who believes an accusation against he/she to be false, to seek redress for any harm done to their good name, and to their ministry?
The enemies of the Church contend that canon law lacks transparency, and has been used, in the past, to conceal bad behaviour by clerics.
Here in Australia currently, there is much controversy, because Bishop John Hepworth, the world leader of the 'Traditional Anglican Communion',a body estimated to represent about 400,000 believers seeking reunion with Rome, has alleged that he was sexually molested by three fellow seminarians while studying for the Catholic priesthood in Adelaide, here in Australia, as a young man.
He , and his alleged attackers, were all ordained Catholic priests. Hepworth contends that so traumatised was he, that he eventually left the exercise of his minstry, travelled to the UK, married, and was ordained an Anglican priest.
Hepworth has made it very clear that he is most unhappy with the canon law proces to-date, at least in the diocese of Adelaide.