By Gretchen Keiser

The representative to the Vatican in the United States has been informed that Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan, because of his illness, is unable at this time to fulfill his pastoral role as archbishop of Atlanta.

The decision about this was made August 7 by the college of Consultors of the archdiocese, a group of priests who are a special advisory body to the archbishop and who have this responsibility under a particular provision of church law.

The Consultors acted after receiving a medical report from doctors who have cared for Archbishop Donnellan since he suffered a stroke May 1. The medical assessment led them to conclude that "the physical condition of the Most Reverend Thomas A. Donnellan, Archbishop of Atlanta, has deteriorated so that he is presently unable to fulfill his pastoral function fully."

Under canon law, which guides the Church, the Consultors then elected a diocesan administrator who will lead the archdiocese during this time when the archbishop is unable to carry out his duties.

They elected Monsignor John F. McDonough, the vicar general of the archdiocese, who has been acting on behalf of the archbishop in leadership since May. The election took place Aug. 14.

His new title of diocesan administrator carries different authority and additional power to carry out the daily work of the Church in the archdiocese. However, it is by its nature a temporary position of authority until such time as the archbishop is able to resume the work of his office or the Holy See makes other provision for the pastoral leadership of the archdiocese.

Monsignor McDonough, as a member of the College of Consultors, took part in the Aug. 7 meeting, but was out of town on Aug. 14 when he was elected administrator.

In a telephoned statement given through the chancellor, Father Peter Ludden, Monsignor McDonough said, "I have accepted my election by the College of Consultors to the task of governing the archdiocese during Archbishop Donnellan's illness.

"I am conscious, however, of the heavy responsibility involved and ask the people and clergy of the archdiocese the favor of a remembrance in their prayers for me and especially for our archbishop's full restoration to health."

In his own statement, Father Ludden said that "as chancellor and moderator of the diocesan curia (governing bodies), I pledge my full cooperation and support to Monsignor McDonough in his governance for the archdiocese and urge all our people to assist him by their prayer and encouragement."

The technical term in church law for this situation is that the See, or archdiocese, is "impeded" when the bishop is unable to communicate with his people, even by letter, either because of physical separation or illness. The Consultors informed Archbishop Pio Laghi, the Apostolic Pro-Nuncio in Washington, D.C., of this status and the election.

Archbishop Donnellan, who has shepherded the archdiocese for 19 years, has been hospitalized for three and a half months following a stroke that affected his right side and his speech. He has also had an infection that has affected his recovery.'

The lengthy hospitalization has abruptly deprived the people of the archdiocese of the presence of their archbishop, who, at 73, maintained a full schedule of activities until the time of his illness.

The governing by Monsignor McDonough is a mechanism provided for by canon law in such a situation so that the work of the Church can continue, said Father Edward Dillon, who is a member of the College of Consultors and a canon lawyer.

The diocesan administrator can act in his own name on behalf of the archdiocese and carry out the ordinary affairs of the archdiocese, in civil and legal matter as well as church affairs, he said. He cannot establish new parishes, however. He can appoint priests to lead parishes, but only with the title of parish administrator rather than pastor. Since he is not a bishop, he cannot ordain priests or deacons.

The power of an administrator is "less than that of a bishop, but is totally sufficient to maintain the diocese," Father Dillon said.

In this important and practical area, "the archbishop would be the first person to tell you that the Church as an institution must and will continue," despite a bishop's illness, Father Dillon said.

However, he added, "when a leader is stricken down that way, it is a sad moment. It has its human impact and the human impact has to be a sense of grief at his present illness and a certain sense of uncertainty -- uncertainty as to when he will be back among us."

Now that Archbishop Laghi has been informed, the concern of the Vatican will be that the archdiocese have appropriate governance on an ongoing basis, Father Ludden and Father Dillon said.

Among possible actions would be to wait a period for improvement in the archbishop's health, with the diocesan administrator governing until then; or to consider appointing an auxiliary bishop to the archdiocese or coadjutor bishop who would have the right of succession to the archbishop. Many factors would be involved in the Vatican's deciding a course of action, the priests said.

Consultors who took part in the process were Monsignor McDonough, Father John Adamski, Father Dillon, Father Thomas Carroll, MS, Father William Hoffman, Father Richard Kieran, Father Ludden, Father Richard Morrow, and Father Daniel O'Connor.