The Vatican Congregation for the Clergy has rejected the Society of St. John's appeal of Bishop Joseph F. Martino's decision to suppress the Society.
The Bishop has directed that the members of the suppressed Society may not celebrate the Eucharist at a private residence where they are now located, may not engage in any fundraising activities, and must carry a prominent notice on the website www.ssjohn.org that the Society of St. John is no longer a recognized ecclesial entity of the Roman Catholic Church.
Bishop Martino also reminds the faithful in the Diocese that the Society, because of its suppression, can no longer function as a public clerical association.
Bishop Martino had formally suppressed the Society in a decree issued Nov. 19, 2004 and published in the Nov. 25 issue of The Catholic Light. The decree cited financial concerns for the Diocese, allegations of sexual misconduct against two members of the Society, lack of progress by the Society in attaining its stated purposes after six years of operation, and refusal to cooperate with the Bishop in his attempts to oversee the Society's fundraising activities.
Shortly after the decree was issued, the Society asked Bishop Martino to revoke the suppression. He declined, stating that "the reasons for suppression enumerated in that decree continue and no compelling arguments to the contrary or new circumstances lead me to revoke or alter the decision contained in the decree."
In January, the Society appealed the Bishop's decision to the Vatican Congregation for the Clergy. After reviewing the case, the Congregation issued a decree on May 3 that rejects the appeal and thereby upholds the suppression.
The Vatican decree notes that since the time of its erection as a public clerical association in 1998, the Society "has been plagued with numerous difficulties, particularly in the areas of economic and pastoral activities" and "has repeatedly refused to fully cooperate with the Ordinary in the execution of his responsibilities (under Canon Law) regarding the oversight of the financial situation of the Society."
The decree also states: ". . . insofar as the rightful and required supervision by the Ordinary over Diocesan associations and entities subject to his jurisdiction is concerned . . . the Bishop of Scranton has been impeded from exercising his proper authority, and despite warnings, the Society remains pertinacious in its attitudes . . . the issuance of the Decree of Suppression was in conformity with the requirements of the law.
"The Congregation therefore decrees that the administrative recourse made by the Society of St. John against the Decree of Suppression is rejected because it has no basis in law or in fact."
------------------------------------------------------------
Official Notice
The recourse sought by the Society of St. John against Bishop Joseph F. Martino's November 19, 2004 Decree of Suppression has been rejected by the Vatican Congregation of the Clergy.
In view of this decision, the faithful are advised that Bishop Martino has issued the following directives to those who were members of the now extinguished public association:
- in view of no. 108 of the Instruction Redemptionis sacramentum, the priests of the extinguished Society may not celebrate the Eucharist at a private residence;
- the priests are strictly prohibited from any involvement in fund-raising activities for any pious purpose whatsoever;
- the www.ssjohn.org website must carry a prominent notice that the Society of St. John is no longer a recognized ecclesial entity of the Roman Catholic Church.
James B. Earley
Chancellor
Diocese of Scranton
