PCP II Decrees

RICAPLAZA, Dana Denisse
San Beda College Alabang, School of Law

LAW203R Seminar 3
PCP II Decrees
Introduction
o While the Second Vatican produced 16 documents. These documents embodied
Vaticans IIs pastoral spirit of updating and went so far as producing hybrid text
from local ecclesial grounds of former European and American colonies. Such text
show not only signs of post-colonial struggle but also the quality of sensitivity to
local socio-cultural context
o The Church in the Philippines came out with its own document one of the youngest
of the family of pastorally-oriented documents formed at the Second Plenary
Counsel of the Philippines in 1991. The document is now known as The Acts and
Decrees of PCP II
PCP II
o PCP II was first planned in the 56th Plenary Assembly of the CBCP in January 1988
o The main reasons for the need of PCP II was
1. The many changes that have taken place in the Church as a result of the II Vatican
Council together with the promulgation of the new Code of Canon Law.
2. The changes that occur in the Church in the Philippines and in Philippine society
after the celebration of the first Plenary Council in 1953 with new problematic
and new pastoral issues
o Once the proposal to hold the II Plenary Council of the Philippines had been
approved by the CBCP the next step was to ask for the formal approval of Rome.
This request was made in a letter of the CBCP President Archbishop Leonardo
Legaspi, OP, D.D. of August 1, 1988 addressed to Bernardin Cardinal Gantin,
Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops.
The letter of approval signed by Cardinal Gantin was dated Nov. 10, 1988 and
transmitted to the CBCP by the Apostolic Nunciature on Nov. 16, 1988.
o PCP II had a Solemn, Liturgical Opening at the Basilica of the Immaculate

Conception of the Manila Cathedral on January 20, 1991.
The principal celebrant was the Council President, Archbishop Leonardo Z.

Legaspi, OP, D.D., Archbishop of Nueva Caceres, concelebrants were Archbishop
Gian Vincenzo Moreni, D.D., the Apostolic Nuncio to the Philippines,
Leonardo Zamora Legazpi, O.P.

(25 November 1935 8 August 2014) was the Archbishop
Emeritus of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Caceres, and
was the former President of the Catholic Bishop's Conference
of the Philippines (19881991). He was appointed as the first
Filipino Rector Magnificus of the Pontifical and Royal
University of Santo Tomas in 1970. On Saturday, September
8, 2012, Pope Benedict XVI accepted his retirement as
Metropolitan Archbishop of Caceres, and named Bishop
Rolando Joven Tria Tirona, O.C.D., as Archbishop-elect.
Archbishop Tirona, who until then had been the BishopPrelate of the Roman Catholic Territorial Prelature of Infanta
in the Philippines, immediately succeeded to the see upon the
acceptance of his appointment and was formally installed as
Metropolitan Archbishop of Caceres on 14 November 2012.
85 Archbishops and Bishops and over 250 priests, also present in their respective
places of honor were Manila Archbishop Jaime Cardinal Sin, D.D. and Cebu
Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, D.D.
o On January 20, 1991, the Second Plenary Council of the Philippines was formally
convened.
o On January 21, 1991, PCP IIs regular session started. The Council was presided by
Archbishop Leonardo XZ. Legaspi, OP, and actual sessions lasted for 26 days
o On Feb 15, the votation and approval of the whole document ensued.
It was approved by the delegates: 313 consultative votes and 85 deliberative

votes
o The Acts and Decrees of the PCP II was completed at the San Carlos Lay Formation
Centre
Among the delegates were

o 96 Bishops
o 180 Vicar Generals and Episcopal Vicars
o 21 Major Superiors of Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of
Apostolic Life
o 12 Rectors/ Presidents of Catholic Universities
o 24 Rectors of Ecclesiastical Faculties and Major Seminaries and Deans of
Theology and Canon Law
o 156 Law delegates
That totals to 489 participants. Lay presentation was about 33% of the delegates.
There were 71 women delegates (12nuns: 59 lay)
o On February 17, after 29 days, PCP II was formally closed
In the Homily delivered on the closing day of PCP II

o Our vision of the Church as communion, participation, and mission, about the
Church as priestly, prophetic and kingly people, and as a Church of the Poor
a Church that is renewed is today finding expression in one ecclesial
movement. This is the movement to foster Basic Ecclesial Communities (PCP
II, 137).
o They are small communities of Christians, usually of families, who gather
around the Word of God and the Eucharist. These communities are united to
their pastors but are ministered to regularly by lay leaders. The members know
each other by name and share not only the Word of God and the Eucharist but
also their concerns both material and spiritual. They have a strong sense of
belongingness and of responsibility for one another. (PCP II 138)
The Church of the Poor became in PCP-II one of the three key themes:
Community of Christs Disciples, Church of the Poor, and Renewed Integral
Evangelization.
PCP II was approved by Pope John Paul II on April 11, 1992 and promulgated on
April 25, 1992, through a Decree issued by Bernardin Cardinal Gantin, Prefect,
Congregation for Bishops of the Vatican.
Decrees
Decrees of plenary councils must be submitted, before promulgation, for the

confirmation, recognition and revision of the Holy See. Such recognition does not imply
an approval of all the regulations submitted by the council.
Bishops have the power of relaxing decrees of a plenary council in particular cases in
their own dioceses, unless the council was confirmed in forma specifica at Rome. In like
manner, when no specific confirmation of the decrees has been accorded, it is lawful to
appeal from these councils.
In modern times, it is not unusual for the Holy See to confirm councils in forma specifica,
but only to accord them the necessary recognition.
If, consequently, anything be found in their acts contrary to the common law of the
Church, it would have no binding force unless a special apostolic derogation were made
in its favour.
PCP II Decrees
PCP II document is a product of discussions among representative from the church

hierarchy, religious congregations, the academe, pastoral councils, community organizers,
women, and other actively involved members of the local churches.
The final Conciliar document consisted of 671 paragraphs and 132 decrees.
A central idea that gives the PCP II documents its distinguishing stamp is that of the
Church of the Poor. It is its key idea but it has a long history and is based on multiple
sources and platforms: the Sacred Scriptures, Conciliar/Episcopal documents, Papal
teaching, discussion groups, and local ecclesial knowledge/praxis. Eventually, the vision
of the Church of the Poor found its localization in the Basic Ecclesial Communities in the
Philippines
Church of the Poor
The Church of the Poor became part of PCP II because of some foundational sources.
Behind this central idea is a whole universe of texts/contexts dealing with poverty, the
poor, and the poor Christ.
This requires that the leader and members of the Church embrace evangelical poverty,
live a simple life-style and share their resources with the poor
Those who are not poor, to be in solidarity with the poor and to defend their rights
The poor members are empowered and called to actively participate in the life& mission
of the Church
Catechesis
The PCP II also provides for the new evangelization within the context of the Filipino
People.
The New Evangelization has a two-fold message: Message of Salvation and Message of
Liberation.
Under the Message of Salvation is the renewed Catechesis
The PCP II renewed Catechesis in the Philippines by combining two elements: the social
apostolate and worship.
The PCP II balances both elements to make the Catechesis in the Philippines more
effective.
The said renewal of the Catechesis here in the Philippines is then applied in the
Education in the Faith.
The PCP II introduces the Catechesis to the public school system here in the Philippines.
The aim is for the understanding of the Christian faith by the faithful at an early age so
they will have a foundation in their development years.
Catholic educational institutions were determined as vital instruments in spreading the
renewed evangelization.
The PCP II decreed that evangelization shall be a vital part of the curriculum of the said
educational institutions.
The purpose of this is to produce professionals that has Christian values.
References:
Dagmang, Ferdinand. From Vatican II to PCP II to BEC Too. Retrieved from:
https://www.academia.edu/12011333/From_Vatican_II_to_PCP_II_to_BEC_Too
Skin Akin. (2015 March 31). The Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II). Retrieved
from: https://prezi.com/8lgdssnav0xz/the-second-plenary-council-of-the-philippines-pcpii/

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RICAPLAZA, Dana Denisse

San Beda College Alabang, School of Law

o PCP II had a Solemn, Liturgical Opening at the Basilica of the Immaculate

The principal celebrant was the Council President, Archbishop Leonardo Z.

Leonardo Zamora Legazpi, O.P.

It was approved by the delegates: 313 consultative votes and 85 deliberative

Among the delegates were

o On February 17, after 29 days, PCP II was formally closed

In the Homily delivered on the closing day of PCP II

Decrees of plenary councils must be submitted, before promulgation, for the

PCP II document is a product of discussions among representative from the church

Church of the Poor

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