www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Chaldean Patriarch suspends 12 priests/monks

Yesterday the Chaldean patriarchate issued another statement (in Arabic here [saint-adday.com] ) giving the disobedient priests and monks one week to either "unconditionally return" or be suspended from the priesthood. It also calls on the two bishops in California to "publicly announce their position on the concept of unity and communion with the Chaldean Church [...] and through her with the Apostolic See."

kitab500


There are no guarantees that the Christian presence anywhere in the world will survive for any length of time. We are all called to be faithful where we are, but we have no guarantees we will be found faithful when the Lord comes again.

We have only to look at North Africa which was a thriving Christian area prior to Islam and for centuries there has been no Christian remnant to be found.

I sympathize with the Chaldeans and members of the Church of the East, but doubt they will ever be safely settled back on the Ninevah Plain.

I wonder more about the Chaldean patriarch daring to continue when the issue seems to have been settled by the appeal to Rome by the clergy in the U.S. Appeals to Rome as a "last appeal" have been part of the Church's history for centuries. I think I'd be less surprised if the patriarch continued in office after what appears to be a challenge to the Pope.

Bob

I think the Chaldean Church has a tremendous opportunity in America. I live in the San Diego area near where most of the Chaldeans have settled. They have revitalized the area they are in (El Cajon). I would never go to downtown El Cajon a few years ago but now with the influx of Chaldeans the area is becoming more family friendly. I think the piety and devotion of the Chaldeans can help their (and our) evangalization efforts and help bring Christ to others.

Has the Pope of Rome ruled in favor of the priests? I can't recall hearing of a decision. I have a friend who is very close the local Chaldean community. It seems from my conversations with her that the patriarch is not very popular with the local bishops or priests.

From what I've read, the Pope gave the monks and priests who stayed in SD a stay pending the Patriarchal Holy Synod's decision and subsequent consultation with the Holy Father. According to the Patriarch, the Holy Father has ruled that the Patriarch has jurisdiction over the priests. The Bishops in SD state that the Holy Father's stay was permanent.

I'm not sure which side is stretching to the point of dishonesty.

The only thing I remember seeing was the Pope ruled they could stay and the Patriarch complaining the US bishop went over his head. For better or worse, the US bishops followed the canons.

In the end, four priests returned to Iraq by the end of last month and four priests and monks did not show up and have been suspended from the priesthood.

The official announcement (in Arabic). [saint-adday.com]

There was 12 suspended at the start of all of this, what happened with the other 4?