Dominican selection of DiNoia
nullified
By ARTHUR JONES
NCR Staff Washington
When members of the U.S. Eastern Province of the Dominican Order
opened their quadrennial chapter June 6 in Providence, R.I., they quickly
elected a new provincial.
But when the name of the new provincial, Fr. Joseph Augustine
DiNoia, was faxed to the Dominican master in Rome, he just as quickly nullified
the selection, a prerogative reserved for the master.
In the words of the order's rule, the election of DiNoia was
"cassated" by the Dominican master, Fr. Timothy Radcliffe. According to the
rules of the Dominicans, also known as the Order of Preachers, Radcliffe was
not required to give a reason for the action and chose not to give one.
Speculation followed. What had DiNoia, executive director of the
National Conference of Catholic Bishops' Committee on Doctrine, done or not
done?
Under the order's almost 800-year-old governing structure, set up
by St. Dominic in 1217, the master -- or any Dominican superior faced with an
election involving subordinates -- has the authority to confirm or cancel. So,
for example, when Dominicans in Louisville, Ky., three years ago elected a new
prior, the superior cassated that election because the prior-elect was the
full-time treasurer at a college, a position where he was needed more.
DiNoia, in addition to his full-time job with the bishops, is a
systematic theologian on the Dominican House of Studies faculty here in
Washington.
One Dominican, who did not wish to be identified, told NCR
that DiNoia's existing workload was the most likely explanation of the master's
decision.
DiNoia, reached at the Dominican's Providence College Rhode
Island, told NCR he had gone to the meeting not knowing he was even
being considered as a candidate for provincial. In all canonically guided
elections, he said, there is proscription against politicking, though names do
start to emerge the week before the election.
"I'd absolutely no idea my name might emerge, and it didn't really
until the day of the election," he said.
Asked if he knew why he had been cassated, DiNoia replied that in
the order, the higher superior, "unlike canon law, does not have to provide
explanation and that's something we adhere to.
"The reasons, no one knows. People have speculated," he said,
"chiefly on my positions with the bishops conference, and the importance of my
role as theology professor -- there aren't that many of us -- at the Dominican
House of Studies. Certainly I wouldn't have been able to continue to do either
of those things."
He said he had not spoken to the master, "and perhaps when we
speak he might say things personally to me. But working 'for the good of the
church, the good of the order' are standard considerations that would enter
in," he said.
Asked if he was disappointed, DiNoia paused, then said, "Well,
hmmm, not really." He added, "In this I want to discern what God wants me to do
-- and there must be other things he wants me to do. I really do believe that
the Holy Spirit is involved in this."
As a leader, Radcliffe, a British Dominican, has a reputation as a
personable activist. He travels widely, visiting the 8,000 Dominicans around
the world, takes lots of notes during his visitations and is well
respected.
DiNoia said he'd heard there had been another cassation in Germany
recently but stressed that this information came from hearsay only. DiNoia, who
has been at the bishops' conference for four years, handles doctrinal topics
that touch both on faith and morals. That work has broadened considerably into
ethical areas, such as in health care issues.
He described the work as "more than a 9-5 job. It's
all-consuming." In addition to his teaching load, one course a semester, DiNoia
edits the quarterly philosophy/theology journal The Thomist.
In the Dominican election process, the election result is first
forwarded to the superior to cancel or confirm and then, if confirmed, sent to
the elected to accept or reject.
In 1983, Dominican Fr. Albert Nolan was elected master and
declined. He chose to remain in South Africa where he had been active in the
antiapartheid movement and working on behalf of the poor.
The order then elected Fr. Damian Byrne, the current master's
predecessor.
The U.S. Eastern Province, in its second election, chose Fr.
Norman Haddad as provincial. The master confirmed the choice.
National Catholic Reporter, July 4,
1997
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