• The
extraordinary consistory for " big business importances " , all the
Cardinals are summoned to an extraordinary consistory (canon 353.3 ) as an
advisory body and cannot be public.
• Individual
Functions Cardinals
•
Individually, the Cardinals are assisting the Pope " in the daily care of
the whole Church " (canon 349). First , there is Cardinals prefect in charge of Congregations or presidents of
other institutions, the age limit of their function is 75 years (canon 354 ;
Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus is 5. ) . Other Cardinals are simply
members of Congregations they cease their functions when they reach 80 years
(Pastor Bonus is 3.1; . 5.2). All these cardinals necessarily staying in Rome,
they are called the " curia Cardinals ." Finally there is some Cardinals
for special assignments by the pope they represent. They are often called
" special envoy " or " legate laetare ."
Conclusion
• What about
the relationship between the College of Cardinals and the synod of bishops? It
is the Pope who decides on the assembly for the treatment of a question,
choices can be influenced first by a practical reason: the College of Cardinals
may be convened as quickly and discreetly as a Synod of Bishops.
150 years of presence of the Brothers
of Christian Instruction (FIC) Frères Instruction Chrétienne) in Haiti
We must say
that the Catholic Church has exercised its influence in Haiti in various fields
especially in Education.This
education is provided by various religious or congregational religious orders. According
to historical notes relating to the progress of the Catholic Church in Haiti
for about 150 years, the presence of the Brothers of Christian Instruction was
a known vector of this education through private schools known for the quality
of training they transmit.
And we dare
even say that generations of young people have benefited it greatly.
It was in
1864, shortly after the signing of the Concordat, when began officially the
first religion in Haiti. At this time, it was youth volunteers aged around 16
and 18 years who have decided to leave their native land, France, spending
sometimes two to three months at the sea before arriving in Haiti. No ways of
communication, separated from their families, these young people left with the
idea that they are going for life. Sometimes, shortly after their arrival in
Haiti, some of them died of yellow fever,
by lack of food or the problem of acclimatization.
The 150
years of work of these courageous educators have contributed to the education
of generations of Haitians, at the risk of repeating ourselves. "This is a hard legacy for us Haitians to
manage. We have a responsibility to maintain the reputation of quality delivered
by the FIC or (Brothers of Christian Instruction) in regard to the education imparted in our various schools.
"
We must
therefore admit that the Brothers of Christian Instruction had a remarkable
record in Haiti in the field of education. "The 150 years of presence and their
missionary activities also contributed to the development of the Church in
Haiti, to arrive at a Church that can run by itself today with his cardinal in
his head.
The elevation of Mgr Langlois to the
rank of Cardinal
We welcome
with great satisfaction the designation by Pope Francis of Bishop Chibly
Longlois of “Les Cayes”, to the rank of Cardinal to the Holy See. This is the
first time in the history of the Church, since the concordat of 1860 signed
between the Haitian government and the Universal Church, we have the privilege
to enjoy such honor. It should also be noted that the Holy See was the first
state to recognize the State of Haiti after its Independance
The
elevation of Mgr Langlois as Cardinal is welcomed as a blessing for Haiti in a
time when Cardinal Nicolas Lopez Rodriguez of Dominican Republic is the
catalyst for a sentence of striking statelessness over 200,000 Dominicans of
Haitian descent, a measure rejected by the international community. There is no
doubt that Haiti will now find a balance and a degree of independence on the
island at the two Roman Catholic religious institutions existing on either side
of the border.
According to
Father Hans Alexander , the Permanent Secretary of the Epicospal Conference,
contacted by Radio Kiskeya when the news broke out declared why Mgr Langlois climbed to this high
office and we quote “ Mgr Langlois was honored for his commitment to the mission
of the church and the teaching of catechism . "
Other observers
believe that the nomination of Cardinal in Haiti is primarily a political
reaction from the Vatican as to show support for the Haitian people in regard
to the xenophobic tendencies of the Dominican Republic against Dominicans of
Haitian descent. It may also be a strategic choice of a pope who realize that
Catholicism is losing its grip on Haiti for the benefit of other religious
movements younger and more dynamic .
What about the
cleavage in the Haitian Church seems to have existed after the departure of Baby
Doc Duvalier? Cleavage which gave rise to this small sector of the Church known
as "Ti legliz " , some of whom are well known as followers of the
theology of liberation, an ideology that seems to have lost its feathers with
the passage of time. Will there be a significant connection between this group
and the traditional sector of the Church
represented by the new cardinal? The Political dialogue " “interhaitian " undertaken under the auspices
of Langlois , President of the Episcopal Conference, can we expect a chance to
see a happy ending when the Lavalas, movement born precisely from “Ti
Legliz” has left the table of this dialogue.
We must with
this designation, in our opinion, think higher, stronger. Have reason to hope
that Haiti, country stunted, bruised, debased, is and will be the true light
that will guide the nations, as when it was aligning in the time alongside the nations who fought
for freedom. Welcome - the creation of Langlois as cardinal - a church
dedicated to serving Rome and faithful Haitian, let us turn to a promising new
horizon opens before our eyes.
In this
difficult and turbulent period through Haiti, the cardinalate of Langlois is perhaps a chance and a hope for our country
as well as the recent election of Dany Laferrière in the " Immortals"
at the French Academy, a real hope for our country.
We can’t stop
express our joy by letting rise in our soul a hymn of “Magnificat” to greet the influence of the Holy Spirit who inspired
the Pope François to appoint within the College of Cardinals a member of " natif natal " of Haiti.
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