Monday, November 24, 2008

Dominican Catholics don’t oppose bill on the clergy, but warn of risks


SANTO DOMINGO.- While the Catholic Church doesn’t oppose the approval of a Religious Associations Law, it does warn that some observations must be made, for which it held meetings with representatives of other Christian congregations.

The statement came Monday morning from monsignor Ramon Benito Angeles, of the Dominican Episcopal Conference’s Legal consultancy, and the priest Carmelo Santana, executive secretary.

They clarified that they don’t oppose the bill, because of the Concordat between Dominican State and the Vatican, which they affirm is over any legislation.

The catholic priests said they’ve met with delegates of other Christian faiths more than once to speak on the topic, because they’re all centered on Jesus Christ.

As to the part of the Law allowing non-cathoilc Christian churches to officiate marriage, the catholics say their concern is justified because not all churches have control mechanisms to prevent a person from marrying twice, and that society would be at risk if ministers without experience nor training are allowed to realise marriages.

“There are congregations that don’t have the logistics to control the marriages they do,” Santana said in the interview by Huchi Lora and Rafael Acevedo in the program El Dia, Channel 11, adding that there are some concepts in the bill that need to mature, but the catholics at heart don’t object it.