4 Comments

jfm
March 16th, 2013 | 9:32 am

Can a Jesuit be released from his vow of poverty? I think many of Pope Francis’s actions thus far reflect his wish to continue to honor his vow of poverty to Christ. 77+ Cardinals chose a man who vowed poverty to become pope.

Joan
March 16th, 2013 | 4:00 pm

All members of religious orders cease to be bound by the order, whichever one it may be, when they are consecrated bishop. One reason, among others, is a bishop’s “boss” is the Holy Father. A bishop therefore cannot any longer be under his religious order’s superior or provincial.

jfm
March 16th, 2013 | 10:47 pm

Thanks, Joan. I hadn’t realized that consecration to bishop annuls ones prior obligations. I do think, however, that Pope Francis’s vow of poverty has so imbued his calling that it will be hard for him to overlook it.

Graham Combs
March 17th, 2013 | 1:04 am

As a lowly convert and a prodigal stranger to the Church I’m somewhat heartened by Father’s evaluation of Pope Francis. Yet as a convert who sometimes finds himself in conflict with his fellow Catholics about things I thought we took for granted as matters of creed, canon law, and the catechism, I remain wary and questioning. I don’t do this lightly, but I would not invoke the Holy Ghost lightly either. It involves the great unforgivable sin after all…