Episcopal Conference
A conference or Episcopal bishops' conference, a permanent institution, is the meeting of bishops of a nation or territory, exercising together certain pastoral functions for the faithful of their territory in order to better promote the well that Church offers to humanity, especially through forms and means of apostolate suited appropriately to the circumstances of time and place, under the law. These bishops and archbishops in working collegiality to accomplish all the tasks of common interest.
Summary |
History
From the early centuries, bishops, members of the episcopal college , meet to define common actions. This is the first patriarch together the bishops of his patriarchate and their advisors in the regional councils or synods. It is also the archbishops, which define common actions with their votes.
In the Middle Ages, the assembly of bishops, more or less formal, organized by language or kingdoms assembled langue d'oil , the langue d'oc , the county of Provence , etc..
In France, under the old regime, regular conferences bring together the bishops to discuss their report with the State or with Rome.
In 1919, the Holy See asks the organization of "meeting of cardinals and archbishops" in each country. They will have their skills enhanced during the 40s. Thus, until 1945, the French assembly meets twice a year.
After Vatican II and the definition of the principle of episcopal collegiality , the "Episcopal Conferences" are created or reorganized throughout Christendom.
Functions
In 1965, the implementing decree of Vatican Council II on the charge of bishops formalizes the "Episcopal Conferences", even insisting on their importance and tracing their essential characters: "An episcopal conference is sort of an assembly in which the prelates of a nation or a territory jointly exercise their pastoral office to further promote the good that the Church offers to humanity, especially through forms and methods of apostolate suitably adapted to present circumstances. . On July 27, 1998, by the Motu Proprio "Apostolos suos , "Pope John Paul II defines the nature of their theological and legal details of their specific place in the collegiality, a place to coordinate pastoral duties that can not replace the responsibility of the bishop in the communion of the Church. It recognizes no particular competence in matters of doctrine to the bishops' conference itself, and specifies a strict framework for doctrinal statements which it could issue .
Notes
References
- Christus Dominus Decree No. 38 on the Vatican website
- "Canon Law" No. 447 to 459 on the Vatican website
- Motu Proprio Apostolos suos "on the Vatican website
- Motu Proprio Apostolos suos, in paragraph 22
Internal Links
- German Bishops Conference
- Conference of Catholic Bishops of Canada
- Spanish Bishops Conference
- Catholic Bishops Conference of the United States
- Conference of Bishops of France
- Italian Episcopal Conference
- Swiss Bishops Conference
- Latin American Episcopal Council
External Links
Bibliography
- Legrand, H., Manzanares, J., Garcia, A. Garcia, Y., Episcopal Conferences, Theology, canonical status and future al. "Cogitatio fidei" 149, ed. Deer, 1988, 536p.
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