Fri Jan 15, 2010 10:30 am
Oath of Office
On occasions we take oaths. Marriage vows, testimony in court, and oaths of
office are examples. In doing so we ask God to witness our sincere
intention to remain faithful to the promises we make. While binding,
these oaths/promises are made to others and we bring God in to reinforce
our serious intention to be faithful. They are not promises made
directly to God.
Our baptismal promises are the first
and most fundamental promises we make directly to God and
bind throughout life. Subsequent vows/oaths are just that,
"sub-sequent" (following after and under) our Baptismal
promises:
Do you renounce Satan? We do!
And all his works? We do!
And all his allurements? We do!
These promises take precedent and
prevail over all human oaths that may follow.
Now study carefully an oath of office
that bishops and cardinals take:
"I
[name and surname], Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, promise and swear
to be faithful henceforth and forever, while I live, to Christ and his
Gospel, being constantly obedient to the Holy Roman Apostolic Church, to
Blessed Peter in the person of the Supreme Pontiff Benedict XVI, and of
his canonically elected Successors; to maintain communion with the
Catholic Church always, in word and deed; not to reveal to any
one what is confided to me in secret, nor to divulge what may bring harm
or dishonor to Holy Church;* to carry out with great diligence
and faithfulness those tasks to which I am called by my service to the
Church, in accord with the norms of the law. So help me Almighty God."
In light of current revelations, the
consensus (sensus fidelium) would judge that this oath in
part attempts to prevail over the promises made directly to God at
baptism. Covering up clergy sexual abuse by bishops is one example of
this. There may be others. What other
secrets might be involved "that may bring
harm or dishonor to Holy Church" and dishonor and shame to the people
of God, but also require setting aside the Baptismal promises made
directly to God?
Baptismal promises are not
displaced by oaths made to the Church, to humans, or human authority,
nor do they permit mental reservation or hypocritical evasive tactics.
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