“Punished without Dialogue, without Proof, without Defence”
News of the publication of “O Comissariado dos Arautos do Evangelho” (The Commissariate of the Heralds of the Gospel) spread across international media like wildfire. This speed, a sign of how current the subject is, nevertheless risks obscuring the reasons that were decisive in writing the book, and may lead to rash and unfair judgements.
For more than eight years now, the International Private Association Heralds of the Gospel, as well as the two Societies of Apostolic Life that developed from it, have been subjected to a prolonged intervention by the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life. This incomprehensible and troubling situation has naturally caused perplexity among many who trust and support the institution. As a result, the Heralds felt morally compelled to offer indispensable clarifications. What was at stake was not only the good name of the institution and its members, clouded by doubts stirred up through vicious campaigns of slander, but also the reputation of the Catholic Church itself.
Having maintained deferential silence until now in order to avoid scandal, a study commission of Heralds, with the required academic preparation and coordinated by Prof. Dr José Manuel Jiménez Aleixandre, Doctor of Canon Law from the Angelicum in Rome, and Sr. Dr Juliane Vasconcelos Almeida Campos, Doctor of Philosophy, has finally brought this volume to completion. It seeks to recount dispassionately the facts that occurred during the period in question.
Supported by extensive and solid documentation, the narrative is, on one hand, an obligation of justice, since the prolongation of this state of affairs would breed unfounded suspicions about the existence of serious crimes within the institution. On the other hand, it is also an act of self defence in view of the cumulative damage. For example, almost thirty deacons cannot be ordained priests, seven classes of seminarians have not yet been able to receive the diaconate, and numerous other members are prevented from taking temporary or perpetual vows. The aspirants who cannot be admitted must also be considered, as well as the adolescents and their families who have seen their hopes dashed by the disruption of the educational project promoted by the Heralds of the Gospel. Finally, multiple violations of canon law, described in detail in the book, must likewise be counted among the grave reasons for its composition.
Consequently, this work signifies neither an offence nor an act of dissent, nor does it seek to injure anyone. It is solely a precautionary effort, prompted by obligations of conscience, justice, and love for the Church. Among other aims, it seeks to prevent the abuses of which the Heralds were victims from ever being repeated, in the interests of justice and equitable reparation.
Ebooks
Italian: https://ebooks.lumencatolica.com.br/Commissariamento-Araldi
Spanish: https://ebooks.lumencatolica.com.br/Comisariado-Heraldos
Portuguese: https://ebooks.lumencatolica.com.br/Comissariado-PTBR
