Sunday, April 10, 2011

Perth archbishop offers resignation as 75th birthday nears

Archbishop Barry Hickey has tendered his resignation as Archbishop of Perth to Pope Benedict XVI via the Pope’s personal representative in Australia.

The Archbishop informed The Record of his move on Friday, 1 April; under Canon Law, all Bishops must offer the Holy Father their resignation when they turn 75.

Archbishop Hickey’s 75th birthday will be on Saturday, 16 April. When he tendered his resignation, it was via the Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Giuseppe Lazzorotto, based in Canberra. 

It is Archbishop Lazzorotto who will be the Vatican’s key pointman in Australia in the selection of a new Archbishop for Perth.

Archbishop Hickey was installed as Archbishop of Perth in 1991 and the offering of his resignation after two decades leading the Church is an historic moment for the Church in Perth.

But, while his resignation has been offered, it has not, as The Record went to press, been accepted by the Pope and does not become effective until such time as it has. 

Theoretically, Archbishop Hickey could remain as Archbishop of Perth indefinitely.

The moment has also provided a slight glimpse into the processes surrounding the resignation of a Bishop from a diocese that has been entrusted to his care.

A diocese is one of the most important organisational institutions in the Church, covering either a substantial population of the faithful or a substantial area or both.

It is, in effect, an administrative, geographical boundary where the Church offers its care to the faithful and seeks to evangelise.

When it comes to vacancies in diocesan sees Canon Law sets out a variety of different procedures and arrangements to be followed depending on the situation that exists in any given diocese at any particular provided for. 

Retirement for reasons of age in accord with official rules is not the only situation for which Canon Law needs to provide. 

Death can cause a diocese to become vacant suddenly, or a Bishop may need to retire for health reasons that make it impossible for him to lead his diocese. 

A scandal that would cause a loss of faith among the general population of a diocese in the leadership of a Bishop may also necessitate a quick stepping down from his role. 

Under Canon Law, a resignation lapses if it is not accepted by the Pope within three months.

In the case of Perth, the See of the Archdiocese of Perth becomes vacant from the moment the resignation is accepted; Archbishop Hickey then automatically assumes the title and role of Archbishop Emeritus of Perth. 

When a Bishop retires, the Pope usually appoints him Apostolic Administrator on the date of the public announcement of his retirement; if he is not appointed an apostolic administrator, the existing Auxiliary Bishop and a College of Consultors (clergy previously appointed or elected for such eventualities) will administer a diocese until a new Bishop is announced.

The apostolic administrator retains his appointment until a new Bishop takes possession of the See.

While waiting for a new Bishop, the apostolic administrator is expected to invite all the faithful of the Church in a diocese to offer fervent prayers for the appointment of a new Bishop and for the needs of the diocese.

If the new Bishop is already a Bishop, he must take possession of his See within two months of receiving the apostolic letter of appointment. 

If he is not already consecrated a Bishop, the new Archbishop has four months to take possession.

A Bishop takes possession by showing the apostolic letter to the College of Consultors in the presence of the Chancellor of the Archdiocese, usually during a Cathedral liturgy.

Meanwhile, when a See falls vacant after a resignation has been accepted, all vicars general cease to exist, as do episcopal vicars, any council of priests and any Archdiocesan pastoral council.

Judicial vicars and tribunal judges, however, whose offices are appointed for fixed terms, continue in their roles; Archdiocesan Chancellors, a mandatory position for every diocese, will usually continue and can exercise powers delegated by the previous Archbishop.

While the appointments of some among diocesan bureaucracies lapse when an Archbishop retires, the appointments of deans, parish priests and assistant priests do not. Parishes also continue daily life as normal.

An Archdiocesan Finance Council is the only institution, along with the Episcopal council, which is mentioned in the Code of Canon Law as being part of the Archdiocesan curia and it remains in place even during the vacancy of a See. 

While a See is vacant, an apostolic administrator of a diocese can carry out a range of duties normally exercised by a Bishop of a diocese but cannot: 

* incardinate or excardinate priests unless the See has been vacant for a year
* consecrate the sacred Oil of Chrism on Holy Thursday unless he is a Bishop
* appoint vicars or chancellors
* alter or suppress parishes.