DILI, 01 april 2022 (TATOLI)- The Timorese Catholic Church through the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Dili, Archbishop Dom Virgílio do Carmo da Silva SDB, together with the Vatican representative in Timor-Leste, Monsignor Marco Sprizzi and accompanied by the Timorese Minister of Justice, Tiago Amaral, this friday, at the ecclesiastical chamber, in Lecidere, Dili, held the launch of the ecclesiastical Court to carry out judgment to cases of sacrament of matrimony on the basis of canon law.
“Since the beginning of the mandate assigned in this diocese, the Holy Father’s demands for pastoral service for people are living in this situation. Hence, the lack of human resources, we have been unable to do more,” said the Archbishop of metropolitan of Dili, Virgilio do Carmo da Silva in his remarks this morning at Lecidere Dili.
The establishment of the Dili Metropolitan Archdiocese’s Ecclesiastical Court is aimed at responding to the spiritual and pastoral needs, judgment process and the ecclesiastical process under Law on Code of Canon, particularly requests for annulment of marriages.
With the establishment of this Court, the church hopes to assist families experiencing this crisis in their marital relationship and provide needed pastoral assistance.
“We hope that pastoral care is beneficial for the noble souls. We believe in the intercession of the Holy Family who is a model for all families to faithfully carry out their marriage vows and we can assist in a satisfactory solution of the most difficult cases,” he explained.
The whole process of obtaining a Vatican license went very well thanks to the generosity and irreplaceable work of Don Marco sprizzi, Santa Se Representative in Timor-Leste.
The Archbishop of Dili Metropolitan also thanked Atambua Diocese, Mons Dominik, who since 2016 until now has shown his generosity in processing the marriage cases of the three dioceses.
“Over the past six years we have managed to solve several cases with the help of the late Fr. Mateus da Cruz and now with Fr. Felix,” he said.
Dili Archdiocese Judicial Vicar, Father Graciano Barros Santos believes, from now on, the church has validity and a strong instrument that can help the church at any time of need.
“I am sure that this juridical-canonical channel installed in our beloved Archdiocese will make an indescribable contribution to guaranteeing all our efforts in finding the necessary and adequate means for solving canonical problems concerning marital, criminal, and dispute cases. In fact, this is the greater pastoral assistance we can give our faithful,” said Father Graciano Barros Santos.
The Ecclesiastical Court of the Dili Metropolitan Archdiocese is a Court of First and Second Instance, established by the Metropolitan Archbishop of Dili, by protocol Decree number 189/Ch/IX/2019 in accordance with Canon Law and Motu Proprio Mitis iudex Dominus iesus 2015.
This Court obtained the approval of the Supreme Court from the Apostolic Signature, by Decree Protocol n. 3435/21 SAT.
This tribunal for marriage cases will proceed to the Inter-Diocesan Courts of Baucau and Maliana or in accordance with canonic 1443, to the Roman Court of Rota.
Minister of justice, Tiago Amaral Sarmento said this court was not related to state courts and those who regulate themselves, and the government still appreciates that the Dili Archdiocese can establish an important ecclesiastical court for Catholics.
This Ecclesiastical Court will function as the first agency, thus, the second agency for the appeal case of the Baucau-Maliana Inter-Diocesan Court.
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Rafy Belo
