Cruz explains Pope’s resignation
RETIRED Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Oscar Cruz, giving his piece on the much talked about resignation of the Pope, cited Code of Canon Law: 401 paragraphs 1 and 2 on the matter of resignation of priests.
“Just for the record and in order to avoid unnecessary questions as well as irrelevant speculations, it is good and proper to address the matter of the resignation of Bishops – be they Prelates, Archbishops or Cardinals all of whom are considered by the law of the Church as ‘Bishops’,” wrote Cruz in his blogspot last week.
He noted that when a Bishop resigns from his Episcopal office, inquiries are made as doubts are raised.
“It is right to assume that many Catholics do not know – as they do not really need to know – the many, detailed as well as complicated laws of the Church contained in her rather voluminous and intricate ‘Code of Canon Law’,” he said
“A diocesan Bishop who has completed his seventy-fifth year of age is requested to offer his resignation from the Office, to the Supreme Pontiff, who, after taking all circumstances into account, will make the pursuant provision. A diocesan Bishop, who, because of illness or some other grave reasons, has become unsuited for the fulfillment of his Office, is earnestly requested to offer his resignation from Office,” Cruz further explained.
“From the above law and observations made thereon, it is rather clear that the Church has not only supernatural but also natural anchorage, works premised on both divine and human elements, draws her strength from faith and reason,” Cruz said.
He added that all these indicate that the Church is neither merely super naturalistic nor naturalistic, neither simply divine nor humanistic, neither only credulous nor rationalistic.
The 85-year old Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation as leader of the 1.1 billion Catholics around the world effective Feb. 28 due to his age and health considerations.
“I understand and admire him very much. God bless him,” said Cruz said in a text message to The PUNCH.—Eva Visperas
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