(Ogoja, 28 April 1960, vota written in Latin)
Cf. ADA II/V, 345-347
* Thomas McGettrick (1905-1988), S.P.S., was an Irish missionary to Nigeria
| Eminentissime Princeps, Causa veri doloris mihi tam tarde has animadversiones annexas relate ad Concilium Oecumenicum ad Eminentiam Vestram mittere. Ratio tarditatis est absentia mea e dioecesi per aliquot menses. Purpuram sacram summa qua par est reverentia et devotione deosculans, permaneo Eminentiae Vestrae humillimus in Christo + THOMAS McGETTRICK Episcopus Ogogiaensis |
| Most Eminent Prince, It is a cause of real pain for me to send these annexed animadversions relating to the Ecumenical Council so late to Your Eminence. The reason for the lateness is my absence from the diocese for several months. Kissing the sacred purple with the utmost reverence and devotion that is proper, I remain The most lowly in Christ of Your Eminence + THOMAS McGETTRICK Bishop of Ogoja |
| De Personis In pluribus dicionibus missionalibus magnum obstaculum progressui Ecclesiae est extrema penuria sacerdotum. Magnum proficeret Ecclesiae si sacerdotes, tum saeculares tum religiosi, e locis ubi eorum administratio non iam urgens est in dioeceses missionales transferri possint. Praesertim, antiqua et valde dotata Ordines et Congregationes sive virorum sive mulierum urgeantur domos constituere in dioecesibus missionalibus ubi sodales magnam partem haberent in spargenda fide vera et in peragendis aliis operibus caritatis. Similiter, congregationes vitae contemplativae urgeantur domos constituere in missionibus ubi orationes sodalium et exemplum vitae interioris magnum proficeret Ecclesiae. In aliquibus locis sodales Congregationum Religiosarum funguntur officiis magistrorum scholarum etsi in eisdem locis sunt magistri laici aeque competentes. Magnum proficeret Ecclesiae si illi religiosi mitti possint in locos ubi desunt magistri scholarum, vel pecunia ad eos remunerandos desit. In constituenda Ecclesia in missionibus, catechistae et alii praedicatores laici Evangelii magnam partem habuerunt et iam habent. Congruum esset si aliqua recognitio canonica eisdem daretur, e. g. si ordines minores eisdem, etsi nuptis, conferrentur, vel si aliqua societas specialis Praedicatorum cum quibusdam privilegiis pro eisdem conderetur. De Sacramentis I. Propter ingentem numerum baptizandorum in missionibus fere impossibile est caeremonias (etsi abbreviatas per rescriptum) cum decore peragere. Bonum esset si, cum plures baptizantur, omnibus sacerdotibus permitterentur uti formula pro infantibus sed dicendo in plurali pro omnibus, exceptis precibus pro unctionibus et forma Baptismi ipsa. II. Propter eamdem rationem, bonum esset si sacerdotibus, in certis conditionibus, permitti possit absolvere a peccatis, utendo forma generali, pueros sub aetatem quattuordecim, maritos et uxores. III. Ratione defectus sacerdotum et ubi sacerdos abest, bonum esset si religiosis professis, viris et mulieribus, permitti posset S. Eucharistiam ut Viaticum administrare catholicis in statu gratiae morientibus. IV. In certis contingendis, sacerdotibus permitti debet Sacram Eucharistiam fidelibus administrare dum in cathedra sedent. V. Cum hactenus perpaucae Ecclesiae in missionibus aedificatae sint bonum esset si, adhibitis debitis cautelis, Ordinariis permitti posset oratoriis mobilibus uti, una cum privilegio Sanctissimum Sacramentum toto tempore reservandi. VI. Ut nobis apparet, baptismus in pluribus sectis acatholicis est invalidus propter defectum intentionis. Ne neo-conversi in Ecclesia Catholica damnum patiantur, presumptio stare deberet pro invaliditate eorum baptismi, nisi Ordinarius pro sua dioecesi secus declaret. VII. Fere impossibile est, propter varias consuetudines vel istorum defectum, scire tempus quo matrimonium legitimum efficitur. Plures infideles et coetus ethnici, ut apparet, matrimonium esse unionem stabilem non putant. Quare, conatur ut clarius definiatur matrimonium legitimum, vel dentur praesumptiones ad missionarios dirigendos in hac re difficili. De Festis de praecepto Frequenter, catholici patiuntur damnum ratione obligationis audiendi Missam in diebus de praecepto. Bonum esset si solemnitas et obligatio annexa his festis vel saltem aliquibus, transferri possint in proximam dominicam sequentem vel in proximam diem requiei civilis. + THOMAS MCGETTRICK Episcopus Ogogiaensis |
| Concerning Persons In many missionary jurisdictions, a great obstacle to the progress of the Church is the extreme lack of priests. The Church would make great progress if priests, both secular and religious, could be transferred to missionary dioceses from places where their administration is no longer urgent. Especially, let old and highly endowed Orders and Congregations, whether of men or women, be urged to establish homes in missionary dioceses where members might take a big role in spreading the true faith and performing other works of charity. In a similar way, let congregations of the contemplative life be urged to establish homes in missions where the prayers of the members and the example of the inner life might make great headway for the Church. In some places, the members of the Religious Congregations perform the duties of schoolteachers, even if in the same places there are also competent lay teachers. It would be of great avail to the Church if those religious could be sent to places where schoolteachers are lacking, or where there is a lack of funds to pay them. In establishing the Church in missions, catechists and other lay preachers of the Gospel have played and are still playing a large role. It would be fitting if some canonical recognition would be given to them, e. g. if minor orders would be conferred on them, even if they are married, or if a special society of preachers with certain privileges would be established for them. Concerning the Sacraments I. Because of the huge number of those to be baptized in the missions, it is almost impossible to perform the ceremonies (even if shortened through rescript) with decorum. It would be good if, when many are baptized, all priests would be permitted to use the formula for infants, but by speaking in the plural for everyone, except the prayers for the anointings and the form of Baptism itself. II. For the same reason, it would be good if priests, under certain conditions, could be permitted to absolve children under the age of fourteen, married men and women from sins, by using the general form. III. Because of the lack of priests and where a priest is absent, it would be good if religious-professed men and women could be permitted to administer the Holy Eucharist as Viaticum to Catholics dying in a state of grace. IV. In certain contingencies, priests should be permitted to administer the Holy Eucharist to the faithful while they sit in the chair. V. Since very few churches have thus far been built in missions it would be good if, with due precautions, the Ordinary could be permitted to use mobile oratories, together with the privilege of reserving the Most Holy Sacrament at all times. VI. As it appears to us, baptism in many non-Catholic sects is invalid because of the defect of intention. Lest the neo-converts in the Catholic Church suffer harm, the presumption should remain for the invalidity of their baptism unless the Ordinary for their diocese declares otherwise. VII. It is almost impossible, on account of the different customs or the lack of them, to know the time when a lawful marriage is realized. Many unbelievers and ethnic groups, as it appears, do not consider marriage as a stable union. Therefore, effort should be made in order that lawful marriage may be more clearly defined, or let presumptions be given to guide missionaries in this difficult issue. Concerning Feasts of precept Frequently, Catholics suffer a loss due to the obligation to hear Mass on the days of obligation. It would be good if the solemnity and the obligation attached to these feasts, or at least some of them, could be transferred to the following Sunday, or to the next day of civil rest. + THOMAS MCGETTRICK Bishop of Ogoja |
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Processes of Agency, Negotiation and Identity Construction: Lived Religion and LGBTQ+ in relation to Catholic Norms and Practices in Europe from Historical, Ethical and Practical Theological Perspectives 