By Gretchen Keiser

While discussion about the proposed pastoral letter on the American economy dominated much of the media coverage of the recent U.S. bishops’ meeting in Washington, D.C., there were a number of other important items on the agenda.

The bishops approved a major new statement on the permanent diaconate and a new statement on the continuing education of priests. They also addressed the proposed revision of the Grail Psalter which would have changed “male only” references in language to “inclusive language” which did not indicate gender.

Here are some of the major actions taken at the Nov. 12-15 bishops’ meeting:

Confirmation Age:

--The bishops modified a proposal from a committee headed by Archbishop Bernard Law of Boston that would have recommended confirmation take place between eighth and eleventh grades in the U.S. Instead, the bishops approved a substitute motion that left the age of confirmation to the discretion of the local bishop. The suggested age span of eighth to eleventh grade was not as assessment based upon the theology of the sacrament of confirmation, but upon a survey of actual practice in U.S. dioceses. Some bishops objected to setting the age limits because the age limits might imply a theological base which had not been established.

Priestly Life and Ministry:

--The bishops adopted by a vote of 198-1 a document addressing the continuing education of priests, called “The Continuing Formation of Priests: Growing in Wisdom, Age and Grace.” The new document revises a continuing education program first published in 1972. The 12-year-old document was addressed mainly to directors of continuing education. The new edition addresses all priests and reflects new understanding of adult learning methods. It emphasizes the value of participatory learning for adults; the centrality of priestly spirituality; and the need for rest and relaxation. “We feel the obligation to say something about the frenetic life of so many Americans,” said the committee chairman, explaining the inclusion of a section on the “Sabbath principle.”

Permanent Diaconate:

--The bishops adopted by a vote of 234-5 a new document on the permanent diaconate in the United States, which replaces a 13-year-old statement on the diaconate. The new document reflects the lived experiences of thousands of permanent deacons, their wives, those supervising diaconate programs and bishops over the last 13 years. The new document continues to maintain the age of 35 in the United States both for those who are married who wish to join the diaconate and those who are single and celibate. The Code of Canon Law internationally proposes the age of 25 years for those who are single and wish to commit themselves to a celibate life as a permanent deacon. Since the 1971 guidelines on the diaconate were written, there have been over 6,000 deacons ordained in the U.S. and 142 diocesan programs established. The new document includes both a theology of the diaconate and practical guidelines. Approved by a two-thirds’ vote of the bishops, it will also be sent to Rome for approval by the Vatican.

Grail Psalter

--The bishops voted down 117-154 a proposal which would have placed a revised translation of the Psalms in the liturgy in U.S. dioceses. The revision was proposed by a London organization, known as the Grail, which translated the Psalms and the revision would have changed references to men in the Psalms to language that would also include women. (For example, “Happy the man…” vs. “Happy are they…”) Several bishops questioned the quality of the revisions and objected to changes made in the language of particular psalms that foreshadowed the Messiah. (Psalm 34, for example, refers to the just man whose bones shall not be broken.) The Committee on the Liturgy which brought up the proposed revision said that it could recommend changes to the Grail organization, but could not make changes itself in the Grail revision. The committee chairman, Bishop John Cummins of Oakland, Calif., told a press conference after the vote that he saw it as a sign that the bishops “wanted a very finished product, with no questions left up in the air.” Since his term expired as chairman of the Liturgy Committee, it will be up to the newly organized committee, chaired by Archbishop Daniel Pilarczyk of Cincinnati, to decide how to proceed.

Pro-Life Report:

--The bishops gave a standing ovation to a report from Cardinal Joseph Bernardin of Chicago reaffirming the church’s identification with the vulnerability of the unborn and the linking of issues having to do with life in “a consistent ethic of life.” In addition to abortion, he specifically mentioned the arms race, the reemergence of capital punishment in the U.S., and the evil of pornography “which makes a mockery of human sexuality…giving rise to other crimes.” While the “consistent ethic of life” has been criticized by some in the church during 1984, Cardinal Bernardin said linking life issues gives the bishops and the church greater credibility and greater moral authority. “I am convinced this is the direction in which you (the bishops) want the committee to proceed,” he said.