The Pillar

threatened canonical action against five Chaldean bishops, including the Archbishop of Erbil, Bashar Warda. 

However, the move is being received among some senior Chaldean clergy as a de-escalation by Cardinal Louis Sako, who was widely expected to attempt unilateral canonical action against the bishops, whom he accused of acts of disunity in the Eastern Catholic Church.

The statement was included as a postscript to a lengthy pastoral reflection on personal examination of conscience.

“We are all prone to making mistakes, and without honest self-reflection, we will live in a state of stress and anxiety, possibly losing our friends and ourselves!” Sako wrote. “Do we realize that we lie when we spread fabricated news according to our personal standards to appear strong? Truth does not need embellishments. The rope of lies is short! People know when we lie, steal, or oppress others in our pursuit of success!”

“False bubbles do not prove that we are in the right, but rather expose our disconnection when we use false evidence to support our positions! It is deeply painful when some people turn lies into weapons for moral assassination,” the cardinal said, while clarifying that “this spiritual and educational reflection has no relation to the dissenting bishops; that matter has been referred to the higher ecclesiastical court.” 

Sako had previously issued an Aug. 28 statement criticizing the five Chaldean bishops for skipping a July episcopal synod of the Eastern Catholic, which bishops are ordinarily required by canon law to attend, and similarly missing an August spiritual retreat. Sako also noted the bishops had decided to withdraw their students from a Chaldean seminary, which he claimed “constitutes a serious breach” of ecclesial unity.

Sako did not specify exactly what delict, or canonical crime, the five bishops are alleged to have committed, instead attaching a number of penal canons to his Aug. 28 statement. 

Sources close to the Archdiocese of Erbil have previously told The Pillar that the cardinal seemed not to have followed the required canonical procedural steps, including canonical warnings, if he believed the bishops were or are close to committing a delict, or if he believes they are committing one currently.

The cardinal originally imposed a Sept. 5 deadline for the bishops to “apologize and make amends” or he would forward the matter to Pope Francis, recommending that the bishops face canonical sanctions — specifically mentioning the prospect of excommunication.

On the day of the deadline, The Pillar reported that sources close to the five bishops, led by Archbishop Warda, had no intention of apologizing and the expectation among them was that Sako could attempt to impose some kind of canonical suspension on the bishops, a potentially seismic event in the Eastern Church.

Instead, Sako’s indication Saturday that he has now forwarded the matter to another “higher” authority is being seen as an indication that the cardinal has moved to de-escalate the standoff, removing the possibility of imminent unilateral action against the bishops.

It is unclear to which authority the patriarch has handed the matter off. 

It is possible he has referred the case internally within the Chaldean Church, deferring it to the governing synod of bishops — a deliberative body in Eastern canon law, distinct from the merely consultative groups sometimes convened in the Latin Church. 

The Code of Canons for the Eastern Churches allows for patriarchs, like Sako, to issue penal precepts to bishops, with serious canonical penalties attached — but only with consent of the episcopal synod.

Given Sako’s previous indications that he would appeal to the Holy See directly, it is seen as more probable that the matter has been forwarded to Rome, either to the Dicastery for Eastern Churches or to the pope personally. 

And, senior sources within the Chadeal Church have previously told The Pillar, an appeal directly to the Vatican would suggest that Cardinal Sako might not have much support among the rest of the Chaldean Church’s bishops.

Some close to the standoff have speculated to The Pillar that if Sako decided to appeal to Rome he would likely prefer to approach Pope Francis directly, bypassing the dicastery with which Sako is thought to have a complicated relationship.

The pope is currently on a scheduled apostolic tour of Asia and Oceania, with a following European tour scheduled shortly after he returns to Rome, so it is unclear if and when he would turn his attention to any appeal from the Chaldean patriarch — or what action Sako may have asked the pope to take.

It is equally unclear if Francis would choose to intervene formally in the relations between Chaldean bishops, or how positive an effect such an intervention could have. 

The pope has previously moved to try to help settle an ongoing dispute within the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, which has for years seen a sizable portion of clerics in its largest archdiocese in open rebellion over liturgical norms passed by its governing synod.

In July last year, Francis appointed Archbishop Cyril Vasil’ SJ as he personal delegate to resolve the standoff, which helped force the resignations of several members of the Church’s senior leadership. 

https://www.pillarcatholic.com/p/iraqi-bishops-standoff-now-at-higher