Author: Patriarch (Patriarhul) Daniel
March 15, 2010
ROMANIAN PATRIARCHATE
CHANCERY OF THE HOLY SYNOD
Decision # 1092 – Feb. 24, 2010. Unofficial translation of excerpts from BOR’s Holy Synod Decision #1092 issued Feb. 24, 2010.
Your Eminence,
With brotherly love, we announce that the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church [BOR], in its Feb. 11, 2010 working session, examined … the status of divorced priests and/or divorced and remarried priests, and this in the context of developing a unified and obligatory set of measures to be adopted in these situations across all eparchies of the Romanian Patriarchate …
…The Chancery of the Holy Synod has determined that as of 2009, there are 570 priests that are divorced priests and/or divorced and remarried priests, and only 39 have received any kind of penalty for what had transpired, which is over 3.5% of all BOR priests who are not monks; a serious situation in terms of the level of morality of priests …
… As a consequence of the discussions and suggestions regarding this issue and at the given the recommendations of the Commission regarding canonical and juridical discipline, the Holy Synod has decided:
1) Their Eminences and local Bishops are obliged to strictly respect the Canons, constitutional and in the form of church rules, which do not admit the remarriage of clergy, and this in all cases.
2) No local Bishop is permitted to apply any form of dispensation, and this as of the date of adoption and communication of this Holy Synod decision, in regards clergy that are divorced or divorced and remarried, inasmuch as these are to be sanctioned by lowering their rank, or even by defrocking. The same measure will apply to widowed priests who are remarried.
3) In an attempt to strengthen the stability of the Christian family, and to further develop discipline and morality in clergy ranks, as well as diminishing the cases that negatively impact church life and activity, the following measures are approved which focus on canonical regulations, constitutional and in the form of church rules, that apply to divorced clerics, divorced and remarried clerics, as well as widowed priests having remarried:
a) Divorced clerics, divorced and remarried clerics, as well as those widowed and having remarried, are not permitted to occupy leadership positions in church administration, either at the Deanery, Eparchial or Patriarchal level;
b) Divorced clerics, divorced and remarried clerics, as well as those widowed and having remarried, are not permitted to occupy the position of Parish Priest, which is a position of leadership, in parishes where there are multiple priests. In rural parishes, in this very special case, this type of priest is kept on as Parish Priest, however he will not be promoted to superior category parishes;
c) Divorced clerics, divorced and remarried clerics, as well as those widowed and having remarried, cannot ask to be promoted to other parishes, cannot be proposed to receive, nor are they allowed to receive higher church titles/levels;
d) Divorced clerics, divorced and remarried clerics, as well as those widowed and having remarried, cannot be accepted and cannot function in pre-university or university theological teaching places;
e) Divorced clerics, divorced and remarried clerics, as well as those widowed and having remarried, cannot ask to be moved from one eparchy to another without at least being under special observation regarding their canonical situation and the mentioning of this in their personal file;
f) Divorced clerics, divorced and remarried clerics, as well as those widowed and having remarried, cannot perform the Sacrament of Marriage alone, but only participate with other priests in the service, the exception being those priests functioning alone in rural parishes, and where it would be difficult to have a group of priests together.
4) Their Eminences and local Bishops will take measures to evaluate the situation of divorced priests, divorced and remarried priests, as well as widowed priests having remarried, taking the following into account: if it was an unsuccessful marriage with the wife having left her husband; or what are the results of the pastoral work undertaken; or if there is proof of pastoral- missionary qualities, or churchly behavior and good relations with the parish faithful; or if there exists a particularly outstanding theological background; or if there are children to be taken care of.
5) The results of this case by case evaluation, and in keeping with the Canons, and in order to impart pastoral and Christian pedagogy, their Eminences and local Bishops will find proper modalities for use of some of these priests, in church administration, in philanthropic activities, in cultural-educational activities, in state teaching positions, or in non-clergy positions like church singers.
6) Their Eminences and local Bishops have the canonical duty, both constitutional and following church rules, to apply this Holy Synod decision and to inform the Chancery of the Holy Synod before the next Synod meeting about the method of fulfilling the requirements of this Holy Synod decision, as well as formulating proposals to further complete/ complement this Holy Synod decision.
7) Also, before the next Holy Synod meeting, the eparchies are to complete a list, and forward it to the Holy Synod Chancery, of all divorced clergy, divorced and remarried clergy, as well as widowed clergy, underlining the following: family name and Christian name, date and place of birth, the year and motive for the divorce, the penalty attributed by the eparchy, the date of remarriage as recorded in the civil registry, the current situation given the application of the current Holy Synod decision.
8) The eparchies will table separately, also before the next Holy Synod meeting, the disciplinary measures that were applied to divorced priests, divorced and remarried priests, as well as widowed priests having remarried, explaining the rationale behind the respective measure, e.g. laying of blame or dispensation, and this for every case in question.
Bringing you up to date with this Holy Synod decision, we ask that you take the necessary measures to apply this decision in your eparchy, as well as communicating to the Holy Synod Chancery the situations requested at points 6-8 above.
With an in Christ brotherly embrace,
President of the Holy Synod
+DANIEL
Patriarch of BOR
Secretary of the Holy Synod
+Ciprian Campineanu
Hierarchal Vicar of the Patriarchate