The news about the illness and death of our dear and beloved Father Tim McCarthy was a cruel blow for both clergy and laity alike. This is not a eulogy for so holy and exemplary a priest. It is only a serious warning to be ready because death could claim us at any moment.
I myself have wondered for a long time how I have remained active. I walk firmly and do not experience any soreness or pain, I continue to write my weekly column in The B.C. Catholic, I preside over the Marriage Tribunal, I travel a lot, especially to the Vatican where I worked for 25 long years, and my daily prayer is devotional and fervent. Retirement was not in my dictionary and I was driving normally until somebody reproached me, saying: “At your age you should have a driver.”
Yes, I am 90 years old, and was reluctant to give up my car. In fact, it was not mine. It was on lease, the agreement was nearing its term, and I was given three options – extend the lease, buy the car, or give it up.
All this opened my eyes and I told myself it was time to accept that I am very old and perhaps I should hand in my resignation. But when I was ordained, the archbishop who performed this sacrament emphasized the words of Melchisedek – “Tu es sacerdos in aeternum” (“You are a priest forever”). And it has been like that for more than 19 centuries – cardinals, archbishops, bishops, and priests lived in rectories, bishops’ homes, and parishes. It was admirable to see the cohabitation of elderly clergy and young, recently ordained priests who learned from the experiences of the old and wise Levites.
It was at the ecumenical council Vatican II that the question of retirement was discussed. I remember bishops and cardinals receiving the voluminous agenda with the proposed changes to be approved, rejected, or delayed. Each cardinal was allowed to share with his private secretary the matters that the Holy Father John XXIII proposed.
We were flabbergasted and stupefied at the contents. For instance – Mass on Saturday? That is impossible. Saturday is for the Jews, not for Catholics. That cannot be changed! Mass in Japanese, and not in Latin? Never!
We, the secretaries, were then about 30 years old and among ourselves we also discussed the proposals – for example, the working age limit for priests of 75 years. We were three good friends – Joseph Ratzinger, Thomas Winning and me. Ratzinger and Winning served the cardinals of Koln and Glasgow, respectively, and I was the secretary of the dean of the college of cardinals, Cardinal Eugene Tisserant.
I was absolutely against the imposition of an age limit. Thomas was in favour – “Yes, at that age the bishops and cardinals are senile, they must retire.” “And you, Joseph, what do you think?” Ratzinger replied: “It depends on the condition of the body. Some at 40 are old. Some at 90 are young.”
Many bishops voted against the age limit, and eventually, it was not the council that decided and imposed the age limit. Its decree, Christus Dominus, in Latin, only strongly requested – “enixe rogantur” – the conciliar prelates to present to the Holy Father their resignation.
It was Paul VI who, in his pontifical letter Ecclesiae Sanctae, made mandatory the age limit of 75 on all the bishops of the world. But only when the Pope accepts the resignation does it become effective, says canon 401 §1.
It is due to the goodness and generosity of the Archbishop of Vancouver that my annual resignation has not been accepted. Year after year he confirms my position as his judicial vicar, prolonging my duty to preside over his regional tribunal of which he is the moderator.
The Holy See requires that every year we send a report regarding the activities of the cases for a nullity of marriage, and the grounds on which the marriages were declared null and void. It is impossible to fully describe here all the reasons for declaring a marriage invalid, but some of the principal reasons for nullity are, for instance, marriages contracted under fear or force, or deceit, or cases of consanguinity, impotence, etc. We must inform Rome of the number of cases that were appealed to a tribunal of second instance, or to the Supreme Tribunal of the Vatican.
I thank God that he gives me the grace of being very busy and exercising my priestly ministry. From Monday to Friday I work at the tribunal office, and on weekends I visit the sick, concelebrate Holy Mass at various parishes, celebrate baptisms, and help people whenever needed.
Coming back to the unexpected death of our dear Father McCarthy, I have always admired him as a pastor, as a friend, and as a holy priest. Death, where then is your victory? Father Tim is receiving the crown of a good and faithful servant of God. R.I.P.
