Pope Acts to Restrain Franciscans of Assisi.

[CBHagman]

This item in The Washington Post caught my eye this morning. Do read the whole article, if possible, for a better feel for things.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/28/AR2005112801707.html

An excerpt:

"ASSISI, Italy -- Imams, rabbis, Buddhist monks, Hindu holy men and followers of Confucius have strolled the chalky white and pink stone courtyards of the massive basilica here. Anti-globalization activists with fists in the air and Communist atheists carrying Marxist texts have conversed with gentle Catholic monks.

"Peace marches and conferences on economic development, bioethics and myriad other topics have unfolded, all under the auspices of the Franciscan monks who control the shrine of Saint Francis of Assisi, the much-beloved and storied founder of the Franciscan order.

"Such gatherings, particularly a pair of interfaith meetings between world religious officials and Pope John Paul II , attracted wide media attention."

(Break)

"In a decree published Nov. 19, the pope placed the Franciscans in Assisi under the threefold control of a new local bishop, the Italian Bishops Conference and a yet-to-be-named papal overseer. The edict overturned autonomy granted in 1969 by Pope Paul VI that in effect made the Franciscans ambassadors to peace movements and to outside cultural and religious groups."

I'm looking forward to speaking with a Franciscan friend about this (I can expect him to be frank, no pun intended) but figured DUers would want to get into the loop on this. Also, it's not clear to me if this applies strictly to the Friars Minor or other orders.

Anyone who's been to a peace march has probably caught a glimpse of the brown-robed Franciscans demonstrating along with the grandmothers, students, and veterans.

[shrike]

1. Wonderful guys

One of my travel goals is to visit Assisi.

I hope Benedict is not doing one of his ham-handed pronouncements.

Yes, I know he's our pope, but it doesn't mean I particularly like him.

[CBHagman]

2. Don't know yet, but do plan on a visit to Assisi.

One of my dearest friends has been involved in the secular Franciscans (i.e., the Third Order), and she made a trip to Assisi some years back, well before the earthquake. I understand that the renovations have taken place and the city is more than ready for your visit. :-)

As for Benedict XVI, I'm going to try to find out more about this first. However, it all makes Paul VI look more progressive than we gave him credit for during his lifetime, doesn't it?

[shrike]

3. yes, it certainly does

Paul VI, I mean.

[Matilda]

5. Did some googling on this topic,

and the Franciscans are accepting the situation with good grace,
but seems there's no doubt they're being reined in very firmly.

I visited Assissi many years ago, and liked the town very much.
The basilica is impressive, but I couldn't help thinking it was
all very much the style of thing that Francis didn't like at all.
He was not into the pomp and grandiosity of the Church, and I'm
not sure he'd be happy with his basilica. I liked best the statue
of St Francis that had a bird's nest on his head, with two (live)
doves nesting there. I don't know whether they chose the site,
or whether it was put there for them, but it was very appropriate.

I also visited the burial site of St Clare, who is my patron saint.

[hedgehog]

4. Well, it was a toss-up whether Francis himself was going to be

sanctified or sent to the stake. Whenever you get people who act like real Christians, some people in the Church get nervous and demand that they be reined in lest they upset and confuse the faithful