The Council of Priests as an organisation of co-responsibility:

Theological perspectives

Professor Antonio Miralles, Rome Pontifical University of Santa Croce - Rome

The Second Vatican Council established that in each diocese there should be a commission or senate of priests, which with its advice could effectively help the bishop to govern the diocese (see PO 7/1). Hence the Council of Priests came into being. Its theological foundations exist in the diocesan presbytery, the visible sign of the unity of the ministry of priesthood in the particular Church. Effectively bishops and presbyters participate, although to a different degree, in Christ’s consecration and mission: the bishops with the fullness of supreme priesthood; presbyters, in the ministry’s second level, as real priests of the New Testament, cooperating in the Episcopal order. Hence the Council describes the diocese as "a portion of the people of God which is entrusted to a bishop to be shepherded by him with the cooperation of the presbytery..." (CD 11/1). The priestly ministry, necessary for the existence of a particular Church, is included together with the bishops and the priests, not only because the bishop alone cannot do everything, but for a profounder reason expressed by the Council: "Therefore, by reason of the gift of the Holy Spirit which is given to priests in Holy Orders, bishops regard them as necessary helpers and counselors in the ministry and in their role of teaching, sanctifying and nourishing the People of God" (PO 7/1). All this as a service to their Brothers, that they may become active in fulfilling – each playing his part – the Church’s mission and in achieving redemption. The Bishop and the presbyters are united in this unavoidable responsibility within the hierarchic communion. The presbyteral Council is necessary for the implementation of this responsibility. The Council perceived it as representation of the presbytery (see PO 7/1). Not because it was to act collectively in the name of the presbytery, but as clarified in a Report explaining the Counciliar text, so it might be formed by priests fulfilling the ministry in various manners. Hence the Code of Canon Law establishes that "insofar as possible, the priests of the presbyterium are represented, taking into account especially the different ministries and various regions of the diocese" (can. 499). The presbyteral council helps the diocesan bishop who presides it, with consultant activities, which he definitely is in need of. However this council does not assist him to implement collective governance, this would in fact contradict the hierarchical communion.