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The Plight of the Old Faith – Peter Canisius, SJ, to Giovanni Cardinal Morone (1576)

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Some even believe that the Apostolic See now has better reason to revoke the privileges, which had earlier been granted to the German nobility to fill positions in the cathedral churches, than it had when it granted these privileges. For the canons make the entire clergy hated among the people. They claim rights based on these privileges, rove around like soldiers without discipline, and give offense everywhere.

If the difficult times do not presently allow for the nobles to be removed from the cathedral chapters or thoroughly reformed, then the particular distress at least requires that, following canonical procedures, no heretical nobles should in the future be allowed into the cathedral chapters, and that those who already possess seats in the cathedral chapter should have neither active nor passive votes in episcopal elections. To accomplish this, one should, in my opinion, listen to the proposals of His Imperial Majesty and the archbishops. The election of good bishops will be facilitated if it proceeds unhindered and in accordance with canon law and is not burdened with the stipulations and provisions which, in current common practice, produce unsuitable results (3). The bishops are thereby fettered and tightly constricted in their duty with respect to visitations and the reform of the clergy.

Moreover, it would be necessary to point out to these noble canons what qualities the elected bishops must possess. Also, that in the future an election is only confirmed by Rome if it was correctly conducted. The ignorance of the newly consecrated bishops is especially crass in questions of canon law and church discipline.

As noted above, bishops are generally elected from the ranks of the degenerate nobility. Before confirming the election, the Apostolic See should examine both the vote of the canons and the judgment of other priests. At the confirmation, the newly consecrated bishop should bind himself to the following points:

They are allowed neither to consecrate nor confer a benefice on anyone who has not previously sworn the confession of faith (4).

They must also demand the confession of faith from their councilors and officials. Each bishop must also have in his company a priest versed in theology and canon law, whose advice he can call upon in difficult cases and in making decisions.

They may not tolerate married or heretical priests among their clergy. They must use special care when approving confessors, who may give absolution only if the penitent confesses his sins individually (5).

The dispensing of confirmation and last rites should be resumed in the parishes where they have passed out of practice. Nowhere is it permitted to introduce communion under both kinds, and, where this is already customary, it should be abolished again if possible.

Where one’s own seminary does not exist, a new one should be established, or the bishop should support at least eight to ten stipendiaries to study at a Catholic university.

Heretics may not be buried in the churchyards.

Above all, Our Holy Father must call the newly consecrated bishops’ attention to these matters and still others, because in Germany people care very little about them and allow everything to fall into decay. Church discipline is in utter disarray, and the canonical visitation of parishes is scarcely conducted any more.

The Church can gain great help from the universities if they are reformed. Therefore, the Holy Father should summon the authorities so that the theological faculty and seminaries receive consideration. The extreme shortage in Germany of clergy entrusted with pastoral care and of members of the religious orders would thereby be eased, if at least some vacant benefices and other incomes were used for this purpose. It is sad that so few universities remain, and those pathetic, to the Catholics in Germany.



(3) Refers to the electoral capitulation, a set of written concessions required by the cathedral chapter at the election of a new bishop – trans.
(4) Refers to the Tridentine Profession of Faith, a statement of doctrine compiled by the Council of Trent and administered to ordinands, new bishops, and holders of other ecclesiastical offices – trans.
(5) And not in common, as the Protestants generally did. This refers to auricular confession, which the Council of Trent defended – trans.

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