The new decree, announced on Sunday by Dykasteria for the Clergy, can revolutionize the Church's approach to donations from the faithful, especially those that relate to victims for mass intentions. The document emphasizes, among others, that clergy should not demand from poor fees for sacraments and masses celebrated for a specific intention. The goal of new guidelines for priests is to increase trust in the way the Church is handling the victims.
Masses for the poor “even without a victim”
New standards say that while the faithful can still offer masses to be celebrated in accordance with special intentions, this tradition must remain free from any appearances of “trade”. Payments are to be only a form of support for the mission of the Church.
Priests are encouraged to celebrate mass for the poor, without fees. It is “strongly recommended” to “celebrate the Holy Mass for the faithful, especially the poorest, even without taking the sacrifice.” In turn, diocesan bishops – in accordance with the decree – can redirect any surplus victims to missionary areas or parishes in need.
The decree also regulates the method of celebrating mass for the intention. It allows “collective intentions” only if such services do not take place too often and only if all donors agree to them. The authors of the decree also consider replacing the promised mass for “simple references during the liturgy” as “unacceptable”. Dykastering calls for bishops to be alert, monitoring the implementation of new rules and guarding the accurate registration of intentions and victims.
