“The decisive new emphasis on the role of the bishops is in reality restrained or actually risks being smothered by the insertion of bishops into episcopal conferences that are ever more organized, often with burdensome bureaucratic structures. We must not forget that the episcopal conferences have no theological basis, they do not belong to the structure of the Church, as willed by Christ, that cannot be eliminated; they have only a practical, concrete function.”
-Then-Cardinal Ratzinger, (The Ratzinger Report, 59-61)
ht Diemish
photo: Gianni Giansanti
4 comments:
Didn't you know that?
The episcopal conferences came out the "collegiality" fad of VII. They have proved very useful for the progressive bishops to keep orthodox bishops in line. Orthodox bishops don't like to contradict the USCCB, because it causes confusion. Note ++Burke did not criticize "Faithful Citizenship" until he got to Rome.
More important is that the USCCB documents are not binding on any of the bisops unless it is passed unanamously--thus the authority comes from the bishop himself; OR if the Vatican approves it like the Dallas Charter--thus the authority comes from Peter.
One thing most will miss in the new motu proprio is the emphasis that Benedict places on it being the local bishop’s duty. In the entire document there is only one reference to Episcopal conferences: Art 12, 2 ….” For charitable initiatives on the national level, it is fitting that the Bishop consult the respective office of the Bishops’ Conference.”
That is not even a mandate, just a tidbit passed to the collegial crowd so the conference doesn’t get completely ignored.
Benedict has not been a real big fan of Episcopal conferences because he sees it as a way for local bishops to avoid their own responsibilities. He was critical of the Dallas Charter in an interview in the weeks after becuase he said it lent an "anonymity" to the bishops. Any bishop already had the authority to do the right things w/o the Dallas Charter.
The episcopal conferences do date back further than V-II, though their history certainly does run parallel to the false "Spirit of Vatican II."
The Knights of Divine Mercy posted a great, detailed article about this on their website last fall: According to Magisterium, Teaching Authority of USCCB Does Not Exist
Can someone help me out here? This paragraph is consistently referenced in Sacrosanctum Concilium:
Paragraph 22, 2: "In virtue of power conceded by the law, the regulation of the liturgy within certain defined limits belongs also to various kinds of competent territorial bodies of bishops legitimately established."
I presume this means conferences of Bishops at the nation level. It's referenced not less than 5 times.
1.) Is that correct?
2.) Does USCCB qualify?
3.) Is there something else I'm missing?
Don't get me wrong, I too get the heebie-jeebies when I reflect on USCCB actions. I'm just trying to flesh this out.
Good question Tom. When I have some time I'd like to follow up on this. Maybe someone else can chime if they know.
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