VATICAN CITY
National Catholic Reporter
Robert Mickens | Nov. 24, 2014 A Roman Observer
ROME
The blueprint for a major reorganization of the Roman Curia is ready. And Pope Francis on Monday called together all the current heads of the Vatican’s major offices (the nine congregations, three tribunals, 12 pontifical councils and several other bureaus) to explain the plan, get their reactions and hear their suggestions.
But if reports on the reform scheme are correct, the pope has already decided that several of the councils established after the Second Vatican Council will be merged into major congregations. Specifically, these are the various offices dealing with the laity and others focusing on human development and social justice.
According to the Spanish news site Religión Digital, the pope wants to simplify and reduce the number of Vatican offices and establish a “council of ministers.” An article over the weekend said this council would be made up of the heads of 12 congregations: nine that already exist and three more that will be newly created (laity, justice and communications).
But Francis does not want merely to streamline the Vatican’s bureaucracy and make it more efficient; he also wants to instill a new mentality based on service, synodality, better collaboration and interoffice communication, and respect for local bishops. He’s also hoping to drive a stake through the heart of careerism and eliminate what he’s defined as the “cancer” of clericalism.
Note: This is an Abuse Tracker excerpt. Click the title to view the full text of the original article. If the original article is no longer available, see our News Archive.