A bit on the discussion at the synod today

Monsignor Pierre Antoine Paulo, bishop of Haiti, said that "under certain conditions" the Catholic Church allowed communion to be taken by people who were technically in a state of sin. "We have to ask ourselves whether in particular cases, as already happens for certain sinners, it could not be given to remarried divorcees," he said .

Msgr Paulo’s remark was one of several made by bishops from countries far away from Rome which indicated a slightly different viewpoint from that held by central Church authorities .

Cardinal Angelo Scola, who has the job of coordinating the synod, did not respond directly to the Haitian bishop’s remark but noted in comments later that communion was a "gift" and not a "right". Diverging viewpoints were also apparent in other areas of the synod’s debate, which focuses on the Eucharist, or communion .

Msgr Paulo and Msgr Luis Tagle, a bishop from the Philippines, drew attention to the lack of priests in their areas of the world and the consequences for Catholic worshippers who as a result could rarely receive communion .

Msgr Tagle said that in the Philippines a practice had been established whereby a lay Catholic would lead religious "assemblies" in which bread and wine previously consecrated by a priest would be administered to a congregation .

"People know that this is not full Eucharist but this is the best we can offer them," he said, apparently implying that given the lack of priests such a practice was justified .

The Vatican wants to drive home the point that only an ordained priest can administer communion. (uh…no) This is one of the reasons the synod was organised .

Cardinal Scola admitted that a lack of priests could justify certain ceremonies to be held without a priest but he stressed people should not see these as a substitute for an authentic Eucharist. He even questioned whether it was correct to talk about a lack of priests, suggesting that it might be only necessary to redistribute existing ones, and perhaps ordain certain monks into the priesthood. "If the priesthood is a gift and the Church is not a business, when can you say that more priests are needed? Who can say how many priests there should be?" The synod is a rare forum in which bishops from around the world can compare notes on the key problems facing the Church, among them the falling number of new priests and thorny issues such as communion for divorcees .

This story pulls a moment from Scola’s speech:

In the past few decades, some theologians have proposed the ordination of "viri probati", which is Latin for "tested men".

That term is Church shorthand for older, married men with families who are known to lead exemplary personal lives in their communities and have a solid background in Church doctrine.

The topic of ordaining "viri probati" was raised with a question mark over it in a speech by Cardinal Angelo Scola of Venice, whose role at the synod is to coordinate and summarise proposals for discussion by the more than 250 members.

"To confront the issue of the shortage of priests, some … have put forward the request to ordain married faithful of proven faith and virtue, the so-called ‘viri probati,’" he said.

Scola, who read his speech in Latin in the presence of Pope Benedict, did not say which bishops from which countries had suggested discussing the ordination of older married men.

He said the possibility of older married men becoming priests in the future would not detract from the validity of rule of celibacy for those entering the priesthood in the traditional manner at a much younger age.

But Scola indicated to reporters at a news conference afterwards that he was personally opposed to the idea.

‘LOCAL CHURCHES’

Asked about his personal position, he felt the shortage of priests might be confronted by seeking "ways to redistribute the forces (of priests) among the different local churches."

Scola’s published remarks are in chapter 2, section a2 of his talk found here.