Religious to discuss roles of authority in Latin Church

Vatican City, Mar 28, 2008 / 07:19 am

Leaders of various religious communities are planning to gather during the second week of April for a conference on how authority is exercised in their different orders. 

The Faculty of Canon Law of Rome's Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas, the "Angelicum", will host the congress on the theme: "Various models of authority in the religious life of the Latin Church". The event has been organized to mark the 25th anniversary of the promulgation of the Code of Canon Law.

Officials at the "Angelicum" explain that during the congress, which will be held on April 9, participants will present "the specific model of authority of the Order to which they belong (both at a personal and collegial level as well as at the various levels of General, Provincial and Local Superior), as it appears from a reading of history", concentrating especially on "Rules and Constitutions revised since 1983".

Some of the topics to be discussed are: "The abbot vicar of Christ: authority in monastic life"; "Religious authority in the Friars Preachers as a mendicant order"; "Religious authority in the Society of Jesus"; and "Authority and government in modern congregations".

The morning session will be presided by Cardinal Franc Rode C.M., prefect of the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, while the afternoon meeting will be held under the presidency of Archbishop Francesco Coccopalmerio, president of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts.