Response of Yves-Joseph-Marie PLUMEY, the bishop of Garoua, Cameroon, to Vatican II’s Antepreparatory Commission

Eminentisime Domine,

Die 18 iunii huius anni, epistolam sub N. 1 C/59-531 Eminentia tua dignata est mittere, in qua observationes ac suggestiones meas pro Pontificia Commissione Antepraeparatoria Concilii Oecumenici liberalissime petiit.

Quapropter, re mature perpensa, et de consulto aliquorum sacerdotum S. Theologiae ac Iuris Canonici peritorum, quasdam de episcopis et de diaconis adnotationes ausus sum Eminentiae tuae proponere, quas in foliis hic adiunctis inveniet.

Obsequio meo, quod ex corde in Domino gavisus sum humiliter exprimere, faveat Eminentia tua.

Eminentiae tuae Rev.mae
addictissimus
+  IVO PLUMEY, O. M. I.
Episcopus Garuensis

Most Eminent Lord,

On June 18 of this year, your Eminence deigned to send a letter under No. 1 C/59-531, in which he very graciously requested my observations and suggestions for the Pontifical Antepreparatory Commission of the Ecumenical Council.

Therefore, after due consideration and from the response of some priests who are experts in Sacred Theology and Canon Law, I have ventured to present to your Eminence some remarks concerning bishops and deacons, which he will find in the pages attached hereto.

May your Eminence favour my deference, which I am glad to humbly express from (my) heart in the Lord.

Your Most Reverend Eminence’s
very devoted
+  IVO PLUMEY, O. M. I.
Bishop of Garoua

De Episcopis

Ut in can. 329 dicitur, « Episcopi sunt Apostolorum successores », ac proinde Romani Pontificis erga totius Ecclesiae curae participes efficiuntur adeo ut non solum ecclesiae particularis cui praeficiuntur bonum spiritualem specialiter procurare teneantur, sed etiam aliis dioecesibus et territoriis missionum, quae ea indigeant, opem ferre debeant.

Quapropter, in relatione quinquennali, de qua in can. 340 agitur, omnes Episcopi specialem mentionem facient, sive de ope quam dioecesis sibi credita aliis dioecesibus vel territoriis missionum praebuerit, sive de ope quam ab aliis receperit.

De Diaconis

Cum in multis terre [sic(terrae)] partibus bonum fidelium et extensio regni Dei apud infideles parvo numero sacerdotum refrenetur, petitur ut ordinarie sacerdotes adiuvari possint a diaconis, quorum officia sequentia essent:

— praedicatio verbi divini;
— administratio S. Baptismi, etiam solemnis;
— distributio S. Communionis;
— expositio SS. Sacramenti et benedictio Eucharistica;

— Viatici ad infirmos delatio.

Ut vero diaconi possit [sic(possint)] ita sacerdotes in ministerio adiuvare, petitur ut sacrum Diaconatus ordinem suscipere possint viri laici, sive coelibes, sive matrimonio iuncti, bonis moribus praediti, bona fama gaudentes, qui requisitam sacrae doctrinae institutionem receperint.

Secundum locorum ac ministerii necessitates, iudicio Ordinarii, diaconi possent, sive unice ministerio sacro incumbere, sive coniunctim cum suis civilibus ac familiaribus obligationibus hoc ministerium adimplere.

+ IVO PLUMEY, O. M. I.
Episcopus Garuensis

On Bishops

As it is said in Canon 329, “Bishops are the successors of the Apostles”, and therefore they are made partakers of the Roman Pontiff’s concern for the whole Church, so much so that they are not only bound to specifically take care of the spiritual good of the particular church to which they are put in charge, but they should also provide assistance to other dioceses and territories of the missions that need it.

Therefore, in the quinquennial report, which is treated in canon 340, all bishops will make special mention, whether of the help that the diocese entrusted to him may have provided to other dioceses or territories of the missions, or of the help he may have received from others.

On Deacons

Since, in many parts of the world, the good of the faithful and the extension of the kingdom of God among unbelievers is restrained by a small number of priests, it is requested that priests may be regularly assisted by deacons, whose duties would be the following:

— preaching of the divine word;
— administration of Holy Baptism, even solemn Baptism;
— distribution of Holy Communion;
— exposition of the Most Holy Sacrament and Eucharistic benediction;
—  delivery of the Viaticum to the sick.

Moreover, in order that deacons may be able to assist priests in their ministry, it is requested that laymen, whether celibate or married, endowed with good morals, enjoying good reputation, who have received the requisite training in sacred doctrine, may receive the sacred order of the diaconate.

According to the needs of regions and the ministry, at the discretion of the Ordinary, deacons would be able to either devote themselves solely to the sacred ministry or fulfill this ministry in conjunction with their civil and family obligations.

+ IVO PLUMEY, O. M. I.
Episcopus Garuensis