Rome – On May 17, 2008, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Vatican Secretary of State, published a two-sentence letter to all bishops re-affirming the norms of the November 2005 document from the Congregation for Catholic Education in accord with the Congregation of Divine Worship (see C.I. January 2006, pp. 16-19.)
In the brief response to questions (Rescriptum ex audentia) Cardinal Bertone stated the norms establishing the selection of candidates to the priesthood are valid “for all houses of formation to the priesthood,” including those for the Eastern-rite Churches, for the Evangelization of Peoples, and for religious orders (Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic life.)