Roman Curia blocks dialogue with pope, says former official

Published: 2003-11-10

ROME (CNS) -- An atmosphere of "centralism" in the Roman Curia has prevented direct dialogue between religious orders and Pope John Paul II, said the former president of the Union of Superiors General. In a soon-to-be-published article, Carmelite Father Camilo Maccise said the lack of opportunity to meet the pope face to face "is a subtle way of blocking space for indispensable dialogue for intraecclesial collaboration." The Union of Superiors General is an umbrella group that represents more than 240 male religious orders worldwide. Father Maccise served as the group's president for six years until November 2000. In a telephone interview Nov. 5 from Avila, Spain, Father Maccise said that in the 1980s it had been the norm for the union to have a direct audience with the pope every year or two. But he said the union's last meeting with Pope John Paul was in 1990, at the end of its general assembly in Rome. Father Maccise said he fears that some criticisms in a final document drawn up by the union at that assembly may have alienated Vatican officials.

Copyright (c) 2003 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .