What is GKK or Basic Ecclesial Communities (BEC) for Canon Law and what is the role of Canon Law for the BEC’s?

The 1983 Code of Canon Law does not define BEC, nor does it contain a provision that pertains to it directly. Nonetheless, we can find an authoritative description from the 1990 encylical of Blessed John Paul II that says, the basic ecclesial communities are «groups of Christians who, at the level of the family or in a similarly restricted setting, come together for prayer, Scripture reading, catechesis, and discussion on human and ecclesial problems with a view to a common commitment. These communities are a sign of vitality within the Church, an instrument of formation and evangelization, and a solid starting point for a new society based on a “civilization of love”» (Redemptoris missio, no. 51).  Blessed John Paul II added that because they have been proven to be good centers for Christian formation and missionary outreach, some bishops have already made BEC as their pastoral priority in their dioceses as well as in some Conference of Bishops. Thus, through its 1992 Second Plenary Council, the Philippine Church decreed the vigorous promotion of BEC’s and to make it as part of the seminary formation (PCP II, arts.109-110). The Archdiocese of Davao in 1994 made the BEC its pastoral priority (Cfr. APAD II, art. 69).

Furthermore, in direct reference to Redemptoris missio, the 2004 Directory for the Pastoral Ministry of Bishops succinctly describes the basic ecclesial communities as the «groups of Christians who gather together to assist each other in the spiritual life and in Christian formation and to discuss shared human and ecclesial problems related to their common goal» (Congregation for Bishops, Apostolorum successores, no. 215, letter e).

From the canonical point of view it is important that the Apostolorum successores  says that the BEC is «one practical way of sub-dividing parishes in certain regions» and this is found under the title, “The Adaptation of Parochial Provision in Particular Circumstances”.  Clearly, this puts the BEC’s under those  “Other Communities” as stated in canon 516, §2. According to this canon and to the above cited Directory, the bishops are to give these communities the pastoral care that is suitable to their needs and conditions.  Fundamental in this pastoral care is the obligation of the sacred pastors to make available the necessary means of salvation through the word and the sacraments: «Christ’s faithful have the right to be assisted by their Pastors from the spiritual riches of the Church, especially by the word of God and the sacraments» (Canon 213).

From the pastoral point of view Pope Francis reminds us that pastoral care means being facilitators and not controllers of the faith. When people come to the Church they should find in us open doors that lead them to the faith. He gave this concrete example in his homily: «Think about a single mother who goes to church, in the parish and to the secretary she says: “I want my child baptized”. And then this Christian, this Christian says: “No, you cannot because you’re not married!”. But look, this girl who had the courage to carry her pregnancy and not to return her son to the sender, what is it? A closed door! This is not zeal! It is far from the Lord! It does not open doors! And so when we are on this street, have this attitude, we do not do good to people, the people, the People of God, but Jesus instituted the seven sacraments with this attitude and we are establishing the eighth: the sacrament of pastoral customs!»  (Morning Mass at Casa Santa Marta, 25 May 2013).

Finally, since the diocese is entrusted to the care of the diocesan bishop (with the cooperation of the presbyterate), it is he who promotes the common discipline in his own territory. This means that the norms and guidelines on the BEC’s for each diocese may vary depending on their circumstances. They can certainly be coordinated especially among those belonging to the same ecclesiastical province (ex. Davao, Digos, Tagum and Mati) and even among those of the same ecclesiastical region, e.g. among the ecclesiatical provices in Mindanao. Canon law can be an effective instrument by translating into canonical language the pastoral care of the diocesan bishops for the BEC’s in his own particular church, as well as for the collaborative BEC pastoral approaches among the ecclesiastical provinces and regions.

Ask a Canon Lawyer