Promoting Co-Responsible Governance in the Catholic Church in Australia
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Promoting Co-Responsible Governance in the Catholic Church in Australia 1 MAY 2020 PUBLIC RELEASE 15 AUGUST 2020 A REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT OF DIOCESES AND PARISHES IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA IMPLEMENTATION ADVISORY GROUP AND THE GOVERNANCE REVIEW PROJECT TEAM REVIEW OF GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT OF DIOCESES AND PARISHES REPORT – STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL Let us be bold, be it daylight or night for us - The Catholic Church in Australia has been one of the epicentres Fling out the flag of the Southern Cross! of the sex abuse crisis in the global Church. But the Church in Let us be firm – with our God and our right for us, Australia is also trying to find a path through and out of this crisis Under the flag of the Southern Cross! in ways that reflects the needs of the society in which it lives. Flag of the Southern Cross, Henry Lawson, 1887 The Catholic tradition holds that the Holy Spirit guides all into the truth. In its search for the path of truth, the Church in Australia And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness seeks to be guided by the light of the Holy Spirit; a light symbolised of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, by the great Constellation of the Southern Cross. That path and like the stars forever and ever. light offers a comprehensive approach to governance issues raised Daniel, 12:3 by the abuse crisis and the broader need for cultural change. The Southern Cross features heavily in the Dreamtime stories This report outlines, for Australia, a way to discern a synodal that hold much of the cultural tradition of Indigenous Australians path: a new praxis of church governance. But the light which passed down for thousands of years. The Southern Cross, since guides the process of discernment is not anchored in this early in the 19th century, has been emblematic of an Australian corner of the world. It can radiate out so as to reveal models sense of belonging; a shared sense of co-responsibility and a of synodality that the global Catholic Church can embrace. constancy of purpose. It is the central feature of our national flag. This is why this report is called In the scriptural tradition the firmament and the stars are symbolic ‘The Light from the Southern Cross’. of darkness and light; of the Creator’s love and concern for humanity and of the God’s guidance along a path that leads to an eternal home. Contents 1. Introduction 1 5.2 Ecclesial governance in the global Church 41 1.1 Genesis and background of the Review 4 5.2.1 Subsidiarity 41 1.2 The focus on governance 5 5.2.2 Stewardship 42 1.3 The Review as an instrument of change 6 5.2.3 Synodality 43 5.2.4 Dialogue 44 2. The governance Review structure, process and report 8 5.2.5 Reflection and discernment 44 5.2.6 Leadership 45 2.1. Terms of reference 9 2.2 Implementation Advisory Group 9 5.3 Good civil governance principles 46 2.3 Governance Review Project Team and advisers 10 2.4 Questions to be addressed 11 5.3.1 Governance 46 2.5 Structure of the report 12 5.3.2 Integrity 46 2.6 Review, methodology and outcomes 13 5.3.3 Accountability and transparency 47 2.7 Recommendations 15 5.3.4 Risk management 47 5.3.5 Ethics and culture 48 3. The Church: one, holy, catholic and apostolic 24 5.3.6 Consultation 49 5.3.7 Inclusiveness and participation 50 3.1 Overview 25 5.3.8 Communication 50 3.2 Theological foundations of the Church 25 5.3.9 Relationships 51 3.2.1 Fundamental ecclesiology 25 5.4 Good civil governance practice 51 3.2.2 Jesus and the kingdom: The foundation of the Church 26 5.4.1 Status as charities 51 3.2.3 The Spirit and the Church 27 5.4.2 Civil corporate governance resources 52 3.2.4 The Mission and Life of the Church 28 5.4.3 Fiduciary and administrative precepts 53 5.4.4 Induction and formation 54 3.3 Serving the unity and mission of the Church: synodality and collegiality 29 6. Good Governance practices and culture of dioceses 55 3.4 The bishop as pastor and shepherd 30 6.1 Overview 56 4. The Church as a society 32 6.2 Oversight by the Apostolic See and diocesan accountability 57 4.1 Overview 33 4.2 Church laws, norms and rites 34 6.2.1 Relationships: the Apostolic 4.3 The Church in Australia: See and local Churches 57 ‘local’ and ‘national’ 34 6.2.2 Ad limina visits and quinquennial reports 58 4.4 Diocesan structures 35 4.5 Parish structures 35 6.3 The selection and appointment of episcopal leaders 60 4.6 Church authorities, entities and agencies not centred in a parish or diocese 36 6.3.1 The selection and appointment of diocesan bishops 60 5. Identification of the principles and culture 6.3.2 The selection and appointment of good governance 37 of diocesan administrators 62 6.3.3 The selection and appointment 5.1 Overview 38 of senior diocesan leaders 63 5.1.1 Governance 38 6.4 Episcopal leadership and accountability 64 5.1.2 Culture 39 6.5 Synodality and inclusive practice 66 5.1.3 Identification of appropriate governance principles 40 6.5.1 Initiatives of governance reform 66 Contents 6.5.2 Synodality as a framework for 6.11.8 Diocesan synods 107 exercising co-responsibility 71 6.11.9 Diocesan financial governance 108 6.5.3 Inclusivity and co-responsibility: an 6.11.10 Public accountability and transparency 110 element of leadership and governance 72 6.11.11 Church media and communications 111 6.11.12 Limitations and costs 112 6.6 Safeguarding and responding to concerns and allegations of abuse 77 6.12 Managing relationships 113 6.6.1 The governance structures and leadership 7. Good Governance practices and culture of parishes 116 for safeguarding within Australia 77 6.6.2 Identification and management 7.1 Overview 117 of risk to children and other persons vulnerable to harm 78 7.1.1 Articulating a vision for parish life 117 6.6.3 Standards and audit for transparency and accountability 79 7.2 Biblical Foundations 118 6.6.4 Vos estis lux mundi 80 6.6.5 National Response Protocol 81 7.2.1 A biblical foundation for stewardship 6.6.6 Record keeping and information 82 and parishes 118 7.2.2 Acts of the Apostles and early 6.7 Training and selection of candidates Christian communities 118 for the priesthood 84 7.2.3 St Paul and the Analogy of the Body 119 7.2.4 St Matthew and the Petrine Promise 119 6.7.1 Selection and formation of candidates 7.2.5 The Body Formed by the Eucharist 119 for the priesthood and ordination 84 6.7.2 Formation of candidates for the priesthood 86 7.3 Theological foundations 120 6.7.3 Selection and formation of candidates 7.4 Parishes: capable of renewal and adaptation 122 for religious life 88 7.5 Complementary and collaborative ministry 124 7.6 Structural reform of parish 6.8 Training, development governance and ministries 125 and formation for leadership 89 7.6.1 The parish pastoral council – skill, 6.8.1 Leadership training 89 criteria, commitment, collaboration 125 6.8.2 Formation programmes for bishops 91 7.6.2 Parish finance council 127 6.8.3 Opportunities for ongoing 7.6.3 The pastoral ministry of the priest 128 leadership development 91 7.6.4 The appointment and reappointment of clergy 129 6.9 The Australian Catholic Bishops 7.6.5 The pastoral ministry of the diaconate 129 Conference (ACBC) 92 7.6.6 Lay pastoral ministry and the ministry 6.10 Roles and responsibilites of governance of pastoral associates 130 within dioceses 94 7.6.7 Parish ministries, groups and activities 6.11 Structural governance reform of dioceses 95 – role descriptions and accountabilities 131 7.6.8 Good administration is good 6.11.1. Legal reform and reporting relationships 95 pastoral practice 131 6.11.2 The example of governance standards 7.6.9 The parish school 131 by basic religious charities 98 6.11.3 Lay leadership 99 7.7 Safeguarding 132 6.11.4 Public juridic persons 100 7.8 Resources and training needed for good 6.11.5 Reforming education governance 101 governance at the parish level 132 6.11.6 Bishops and parishes 102 6.11.7 Diocesan pastoral governance 104 8. Conclusion 133 Contents Glossary 135 Appendix 2 Statistical and descriptive summary of dioceses, parishes, Appendix 1 Church authorities and pastoral ministries 153 National, diocesan and parish structures 141 Appendix 2 – Part 1 – Dioceses and parishes 154 Appendix 1 – Part 1 – National structures 141 Table 1 – Parishes, clergy and population 1.1 The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference 142 per responding diocese 156 1.2 Fifth Plenary Council for Australia 142 Table 2 – Provinces, parishes, clergy and population 157 1.3 The Provincial Council 143 1.4 Eparchies 143 Appendix 2 – Part 2 1.5 Ordinariates and prelatures 144 Religious institutes and Societies of apostolic life 158 Appendix 1 – Part 2 – Diocesan structures 145 Appendix 2 – Part 3 Other Church authorities and pastoral ministries 158 2.1 Dioceses and eparchies 145 2.2 Diocesan bishop 145 Associations of Christian Faithful 158 2.3 Election of diocesan administrators Ministerial Public Juridic Persons (PJPs) 158 or appointment of apostolic administrators 146 Health and Aged Care 159 2.4 The diocesan synod 146 Education 160 2.5 The diocesan pastoral council 147 Welfare services 161 2.6 Senior diocesan clergy 147 2.7 The council of priests 148 Appendix 3 2.8 The college of consultors 149 Governance Survey in Australia 2019 165 2.9 Other senior leadership roles 149 2.10 The diocesan finance council 150 Appendix 4 Table of members of the Association Appendix 1 – Part 3 – Parish structures 151 of Ministerial PJPs at 1 July 2019 187 Appendix 1 – Part 4 – Church authorities, entities Bibliography 192 and agencies 152 INTRODUCTION1 1.0 Introduction The joys and hopes and the sorrows and anxieties of people possible, and to embrace the reform and renewal of the today, especially of those who are poor and afflicted, are also the Church that enable a more effective witness to God’s grace.