The administrator of a vacant German diocese has said he will reluctantly comply with a Vatican instruction to suspend a plan to cut the number of parishes from 70 to nine until a new bishop takes office.
In some ways, reducing the number of parishes is a sleight of hand. On one level, quite a bit of the (especially non-sacramental) admin like running pre-schools can be centralized. Confirmation prep (once every 2 years) will also take place across the mega-parish, but for the most part (very often) the same priests say Mass at the same time they always did. Many things are still organized at the level of the now officially defunct pastoral-units (Seelsorgeeinheiten).
That they can turn over a lot of the admin to professionals and have just one "pastor" legally responsible for all the pre-schools instead of that job being something that takes up part of 9 priests' time with each smaller parish responsible for three-preschools and their staff. Later, it will make it easier to thin out the Mass schedule without constant reorganisation and arguments about closing parishes. Even now, it's easier for them to shuffle priests for coverage because they aren't as tied to the clusters as they were.
"Canon 428. §1 While the see is vacant, no innovation is to be made."
Pretty legendary take by this guy. "“It thus breaks the continuity of diocesan life, and so runs counter to the actual meaning of the prohibition of change in Canon 428 § 1.”
AKA: "See, what it says is actually what the opposite of what it says."
When you approach the guy, he simply winks, puts his finger to his lips and uses the age old sign of recognition....
In some ways, reducing the number of parishes is a sleight of hand. On one level, quite a bit of the (especially non-sacramental) admin like running pre-schools can be centralized. Confirmation prep (once every 2 years) will also take place across the mega-parish, but for the most part (very often) the same priests say Mass at the same time they always did. Many things are still organized at the level of the now officially defunct pastoral-units (Seelsorgeeinheiten).
Then what is the end of doing it?
That they can turn over a lot of the admin to professionals and have just one "pastor" legally responsible for all the pre-schools instead of that job being something that takes up part of 9 priests' time with each smaller parish responsible for three-preschools and their staff. Later, it will make it easier to thin out the Mass schedule without constant reorganisation and arguments about closing parishes. Even now, it's easier for them to shuffle priests for coverage because they aren't as tied to the clusters as they were.
Behold I am Steubenville, and I make all things new. 🕯️
"Canon 428. §1 While the see is vacant, no innovation is to be made."
Pretty legendary take by this guy. "“It thus breaks the continuity of diocesan life, and so runs counter to the actual meaning of the prohibition of change in Canon 428 § 1.”
AKA: "See, what it says is actually what the opposite of what it says."
When you approach the guy, he simply winks, puts his finger to his lips and uses the age old sign of recognition....
"There are many chickens in Westphalia."
My impression is that the administrator's letter was just a detailed criticism of the nuncio and the Vatican in "pastoral letter" format. Very petty.