
The Vatican has taken its time in appointing new ordinary bishops for the dioceses of La Vega and Baní, which have been under apostolic administration for over a year. The clergy and faithful in these ecclesiastical jurisdictions are eagerly awaiting a decision, El Dia reports on 29 July 2024.
The situation has come back into the spotlight because the current ordinary bishop of the diocese of Mao-Montecristi, Diómedes Espinal, will be submitting his resignation on 25 August 2024, upon reaching the age of 75, as required by the Code of Canon Law. With Espinal, the Vatican will need to appoint three bishops.
El Dia explains that the Vatican keeps the authority to accept any resignation and make an appointment when it considers it convenient. It is normal for bishop replacements to take a year.
Since the resignation of Monsignor Víctor Masalles, the diocese of Baní has been under the direction of apostolic administrator Monsignor Faustino Burgos. Burgos, who is also vicar general of the archdiocese of Santo Domingo and an auxiliary bishop there, was appointed to this role by the Vatican.
A similar situation affects diocese of La Vega. Following the appointment of Monsignor Héctor Rafael Rodríguez Rodríguez as archbishop of Santiago, Monsignor Carlos Tomás Morel Diplán assumed the role of apostolic administrator. This transition occurred after the previous archbishop of Santiago, Freddy Bretón, resigned upon reaching the age of 75, in accordance with the Code of Canon Law.
Monsignor Morel Diplán is an auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese of Santiago who has relocated to La Vega to fulfill his responsibilities as apostolic administrator.
El Dia also reports that in Santo Domingo, the resignation of auxiliary bishop Monsignor Benito Ángeles was accepted upon his reaching the age of 75, and a replacement has not yet been appointed.
El Dia explains that in this case, only Monsignor José Amable Durán remains as a full-time auxiliary bishop of Santo Domingo, as Monsignor Faustino Burgos holds the triple role of vicar general of this diocese, secretary-general of the Dominican Episcopal Conference, and apostolic administrator of Baní-San Cristóbal.
Another diocese that could become vacant in the coming months is Puerto Plata, due to the health problems facing its bishop, Julio César Corniel, who is no longer actively involved in public activities.
Read more in Spanish:
El Dia
29 July 2024