The Pastoral Function of Church Archives: A Reflection on the Theological, Juridical and Pastoral Context of Roman Catholic Diocesan Archives

Abstract

This article explores the theological, juridical, and pastoral context of Roman Catholic archives, and diocesan and parochial archives in particular, through the lens of a letter circulated by the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural Patrimony of the Church, The Pastoral Function of Church Archives. The letter acknowledges the spiritual importance of church archives for the believing community as a vector of the tradition but also recognizes the cultural and historical significance of church archives both for Catholics and the wider community. While the legal requirements of canon law are fundamental to the discussion, the commission invites the church to move beyond a narrow juridical understanding of archives. A convincing contribution to an emerging theology of church archives, with concrete suggestions for the establishment and improvement of diocesan archival services, the document constitutes a particular challenge to Irish dioceses where the archival sector remains underdeveloped.