The Vatican has dropped Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP, the internationally
renowned former head of the Dominicans, from giving the keynote address
at this week's Caritas Internationalis (CI) general assembly in Rome.
Fr Radcliffe was originally scheduled to deliver the opening address on Monday morning and speak about the theology that undergirds the work of Caritas. He had already prepared a 45-minute talk.
Fr Radcliffe was originally scheduled to deliver the opening address on Monday morning and speak about the theology that undergirds the work of Caritas. He had already prepared a 45-minute talk.
Instead, that slot has been given to Capuchin Fr Raniero
Cantalamessa, the charismatic preacher of the papal household, followed
by Cardinal Peter Turkson, head of the Pontifical Council for Justice
and Peace.
The former Master of the Dominicans is one of several speakers and panellists who have been removed from the week long meeting's programme in order to "accommodate" the demands from the Secretariat of State that Holy See officials be given the major speaking roles, a CI spokesman told The Tablet on Friday adding that it would now be more like a "Vatican-style retreat".
He denied that the Vatican's main intention in changing the programme was to block Fr Radcliffe from speaking.
The former Master of the Dominicans is one of several speakers and panellists who have been removed from the week long meeting's programme in order to "accommodate" the demands from the Secretariat of State that Holy See officials be given the major speaking roles, a CI spokesman told The Tablet on Friday adding that it would now be more like a "Vatican-style retreat".
He denied that the Vatican's main intention in changing the programme was to block Fr Radcliffe from speaking.
"We're not reading it that way," he said.
At
least six Roman Curia officials will have major speaking roles at the
22-27 May general assembly, unprecedented in the confederation's 60-year
history.
Two Vatican canon lawyers will be discussing the re-drafting of the CI rules and statutes. The Pope's Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone SDB, will preside at the assembly's opening Mass on Sunday evening.
Fr Radcliffe, 65, was Master of the Dominican Order from 1992-2001.
Two Vatican canon lawyers will be discussing the re-drafting of the CI rules and statutes. The Pope's Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone SDB, will preside at the assembly's opening Mass on Sunday evening.
Fr Radcliffe, 65, was Master of the Dominican Order from 1992-2001.
A popular lecturer and preacher around
the world, he has authored several top-selling books since he completed
his term as head of the Dominicans.
He also has long been associated
with the work of Caritas and is currently a member of the board of
Cafod, one of two British agencies that are part of the CI
confederation.
People associated with the Caritas confederation have been careful not to make too much of the Vatican's recent moves to gain greater control over the organisation, fearing that any protests would only make the situation worse.
People associated with the Caritas confederation have been careful not to make too much of the Vatican's recent moves to gain greater control over the organisation, fearing that any protests would only make the situation worse.