EDITORIAL NOTE

Abstract

Ton Meijers reflects on the development of pastoral ethical codes for ecclesiastical ministers of the Catholic Church in the Netherlands. Professional Codes have been established by associations of ministers and pastoral workers and by most of the Dutch dioceses. The author first focuses on the ethical character of pastoral professional codes. Then he presents a number of principles regarding professional pastoral behaviour are presented. By using these principles pastoral professional codes can be formulated in accordance with profession and the concrete circumstances.