Vers une procédure canonique en matière de déontologie pastorale?
Jean-Pierre SchouppeA reflection on pastoral deontology has been initiated. The Church has both the right and the duty of organising herself with a view of preventing, to the best of her ability, all kinds of abuse in her midst… the more so in cases where are concerned such people whom she has invested with a ministerial function (which includes both clerics and lay pastoral agents). Given the complexity of the judiciary penal process, it seems urgent to elaborate a set of deontological procedures that would facilitate the opportune and gradual intervention of the Church authorities. The A. clarifies the concepts of discipline and deontology. He defines the relationship between deontology and ethics and law. He stresses the very question of the possibility of an ecclesial deontology. He gives examples of non penal procedures and stresses their advantages in ensuring the efficacy of a pastoral deontology. He finally presents a number of concrete proposals.