Universality and Twinning

print version send to a friend
'Universality and Twinning' image


Universality

The Second Vatican Council stressed the need of having a universal outlook and the leading role of the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS) in making this a reality. 'All bishops... are consecrated not for one diocese alone, but for the salvation of the whole world... From this arises that communion and co-operation of the Churches which is so necessary today for the work of evangelization. Because of this communion, each Church cares for all the others because the spread of the Body of Christ is the responsibility of the whole college of bishops... Each bishop should promote the Pontifical Mission Societies (PMS). It is right that these Societies should be given the first place because they are a means to imbue Catholics... with a truly universal and missionary outlook and also a means for instigating an effective collection of funds for all the missions, each according to its needs.' [1] This statement of Vatican II is crystal clear. Limiting assistance to only one particular Church is automatically exclusive of others, especially the neediest. Each Church must be open to the needs of all the missions, not just one particular one.

 

The four founders of the PMS had a universal outlook, avoiding every kind of favouritism and discrimination. This is well expressed in the beginning of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith in 1822: 'We are Catholics and we must establish something that is Catholic, something that is universal. We should not assist this or that mission, but all the missions of the world.' [2]  Indeed Blessed Paolo Manna, founder of the Pontifical Missionary Union, would have as his fundamental motto: 'All the Churches united for the conversion of the whole world.' [3]

 

Pope John Paul II stated that the great challenge of the third millennium facing the Church is 'to make the Church the home and the school of communion...thinking of our brothers and sisters in faith within the profound unity of the Mystical Body.' [4] Communion between Churches has practical consequences in sharing and co-operation. Communion between Churches is realised in the sharing of prayer, sacrifice and material goods and this is best achieved through the PMS to whom the Church has given 'the leading role' [5] on behalf of the Pope and the College of Bishops. This role of the PMS as official instrument of the Universal Church must be recognised and assured. [6] The Societies have always had as their main objective the support of evangelization in the strict sense. [7] Through the universal fund of solidarity, the PMS give priority to assisting those Churches in difficult situations and with greater needs. [8] By means of the universal solidarity fund, they collaborate with bishops so that particular initiatives do not prejudice the common commitment towards the evangelization of peoples. [9]

 

Twinning

A growing form of particular initiative between Churches is twinning. In 1998 the Instruction Co-operatio Missionalis recognised that twinning could limit or damage assistance to the universal mission of the Church. 'Forms of direct cooperation between Churches, which come under the term "twinning", have their own validity. Nevertheless, care should be taken not to limit one's range of action to one objective or isolate oneself with regard to other general initiatives of missionary cooperation, in particular those of the PMS, so as to safeguard the principle of universal equity in the distribution of funds.' [10] Twinning must not be an end in itself. Twinning can never fully satisfy the obligation of a particular church to the universal communion of churches. Twinning can be and should be a stepping stone on the way to more involvement in assisting the needs of the universal Church. 

 

I would like to outline what I see as the positive and negative aspects of twinning and suggest guidelines in which twinning should operate.

 

Positive Aspects

Twinning is helpful to the missionary activity of the Church. If the partner is well chosen, a mission in real need is assisted. When a parish twins with a parish or a diocese with a diocese, a concrete direct relationship is established between the partners. Information can be quickly exchanged as personal contacts are initiated and developed. Within the twinning parishes or dioceses, school can twin with school, apostolic group with apostolic group, seminary with seminary, etc. The missionary contact is immediate between the minor partners within the overall partnership. Twinning often leads to sharing of personnel. Twinning promotes mutual enrichment, awareness of other cultures, education and enthusiasm about mission. People become more enthused when they know where their gifts are going and for what specific projects.

 

Negative Aspects

Twinning may create isles of wealth. A diocese or parish becomes better off while surrounding parishes or dioceses remain deprived. People become angry over this deprivation and imbalance between communities. One parish may have a beautiful church, school, transport, parish house, pastoral centre, while its neighbour has little. Twinning may lead to a single missionary focus, concentrating only on the needs of the twin. It can upset an equitable distribution of missionary aid as twinning recipients receive more than their fair share of assistance. It may create dependency. It may provide projects which become a burden once twinning ceases on the arrival of a new parish priest or bishop.

 

Guidelines for Twinning

1. Twinning must be based on genuine partnership, solidarity and brotherhood.

2. It must be adequately prepared for, based on creative dialogue, and with sensible expectations between partners.

3. It must be about giving and receiving in fullness, more than just a sharing of financial resources. Churches benefit from giving and receiving. No Church is so poor that it has nothing to give and no Church is so rich that it has nothing to receive.

4. It must be open, transparent, mutually acceptable and accountable.

5. Whether diocesan or parish, it must accord with the pastoral plan of the partner dioceses, and receive the explicit approval of both bishops.

6. It should never be between individual people but between the partner communities.

7. An evaluation is required at least every five years and there must be openness to the option of moving on to assist a needier potential partner. Sharing is to lead to greater independence, not dependence. Twinning is to assist the kick starting the needs of Churches.

8. It must lead to awakening awareness of the universal mission of the Church. It must never curtail, interfere with or hinder the celebration of Mission Sunday and acquirement of funds for the universal solidarity fund of the PMS.

9. Offerings collected on Mission Sunday must be sent in their entirety to the National PMS Office for the universal solidarity fund and may not be used for other purposes such as twinning. [11] There may also be civil charity law consequences to an unauthorised diversion of funds.

 

[1] Ad Gentes 38

[2] PMS Statute I, 10

[3] cf Red Missio, 84

[4] Nov Mill In, 43

[5] Red Missio, 84

[6] cf Coop Miss, 13c

[7] PMS Statute I, 19

[8] idem

[9] PMS Statute I, 20

[10] Coop Miss, 18

[11] cf CIC, can 1267ยง3; Eccl Sanct III, 7