Presbyteral collegiality: precedents and horizons

Abstract

The fall-out from the child sexual abuse scandals involving clergy has opened up a wide range of significant theological questions for the Roman Catholic Church. Among the many issues that have been raised are: the Church’s theology of sexuality, the mandatory celibacy of its clergy, the nature of the indelible character associated with ordination, the structures of governance and accountability, the relationship between Church and State, a culture of patriarchy and secrecy, operative images of God, as well as issues of justice and forgiveness. For almost two decades now bishops and church authorities have struggled to respond appropriately to this enormous crisis. Protocols and procedures have been put in place by various conferences of bishops, but these have not been always fully welcomed by either the clergy or a wider public concerned with the issue. Cardinal Walter Kasper has wisely observed that as the Church formulates various pragmatic solutions to pastoral exigencies these “are often like comets, trailing theological implications and consequences in their wake.