Leo XIV Appoints French Bishop who Replaced 'Mother' and 'Father' in Baptism Register
Born on 6 February 1959 in Cherbourg, he studied civil law, philosophy, and theology. He obtained a licentiate in canon law from the Institut Catholique de Paris, and was ordained as a priest for the Diocese of Verdun in 1987. Leo XIV seems to favor the appointment of pro-homosexual canon lawyers.
Public Profile
In 2014, Francis appointed Monsignor Metz-Noblat as Bishop of the little-known diocese of Langres, in eastern France.
The anti-Catholic magazine Golias described him once as "turning to literature... and terribly bored". He avoids the limelight and is reluctant to take strong public positions.
However, he has been involved in one controversy: the baptism register reform in the French church.
2018 Proposal
In December 2018, as president of the French bishops’ Council for questions of Canon Law, Bishop Metz-Noblat proposed changing baptismal records from 'father/mother' to 'parents or other holders of parental authority'.
The aim was to adapt to "complex family situations", including those involving homosexuals.
In his 2018 letter to his fellow bishops, he argued that the Permanent Council had approved the new formula for baptismal registers.
He explained that he had worked with the commissions for administrative acts and liturgical and sacramental pastoral care. They had focused on the baptised person and simply observing their family situation without passing moral judgement.
He described his new model for baptismal registers as "more appropriate for our time".
The bishop’s letter prompted a critical response from other bishops and even the Roman Curia.
2019 Follow-Up Letter
In a second letter in February 2019, Monsignor Metz-Noblat attempted to appease those who opposed him.
The bishop admitted that several bishops had expressed "concern" that the new formulation would not reflect Catholic views on family matters.
"The expression used is the least problematic of the options available, and it is not open to accusations of discrimination by interested parties," he wrote.
He also noted that each bishop is free to promulgate the baptismal registry form of their choice for their own diocese.
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