Comments on: Whose call is it? The bishop’s or the Congregation’s? http://ericsammons.com/blog/2009/12/02/whose-call-is-it-the-bishops-or-the-congregations/ Musings about the Catholic Faith Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:38:42 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.3 hourly 1 By: http://ericsammons.com/blog/2009/12/02/whose-call-is-it-the-bishops-or-the-congregations/comment-page-1/#comment-5255 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:46:27 +0000 http://ericsammons.com/blog/?p=5608#comment-5255 The way I understand it, the Holy Father is the Supreme Legislator in the Church. He has delegated his authority to govern matters liturgical, the "discipline of the sacraments" to the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments. After the Holy Father, this Congregation is the highest authority when it comes to Latin Rite worship and discipline of the sacraments. A local priest in a parish, or bishop in a diocese might be able to set aside something from the territorial conference of bishops, but they cannot ignore what a Congregation does. When the Congregation determines something, it is no longer anyone else’s call (except the Holy Father). http://wdtprs.com/blog/2009/12/the-calgary-communion-show-down/ The way I understand it, the Holy Father is the Supreme Legislator in the Church. He has delegated his authority to govern matters liturgical, the “discipline of the sacraments” to the Congregation for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments. After the Holy Father, this Congregation is the highest authority when it comes to Latin Rite worship and discipline of the sacraments. A local priest in a parish, or bishop in a diocese might be able to set aside something from the territorial conference of bishops, but they cannot ignore what a Congregation does. When the Congregation determines something, it is no longer anyone else’s call (except the Holy Father).

http://wdtprs.com/blog/2009/12/the-calgary-communion-show-down/

]]> By: Eric Sammons http://ericsammons.com/blog/2009/12/02/whose-call-is-it-the-bishops-or-the-congregations/comment-page-1/#comment-5251 Eric Sammons Thu, 03 Dec 2009 21:16:53 +0000 http://ericsammons.com/blog/?p=5608#comment-5251 Ben, I admit that you may be right in your interpretation. However, Vatican II also affirmed the patristic teaching that bishops have true authority in their dioceses. They are not just branch managers of the Pope who get their authority from him. They get their authority as successors of the apostles. If a bishop cannot even temporarily suspend a discipline (not a doctrine) such as this in his diocese, what real authority does he have? It seems to me that he is reduced to nothing more than a surrogate of the Pope (or even just a surrogate of a Vatican congregation). (Again, just to be clear: I do not agree with the Bishop's decision in this case, but I question whether he doesn't have the authority to do it). Ben,

I admit that you may be right in your interpretation.

However, Vatican II also affirmed the patristic teaching that bishops have true authority in their dioceses. They are not just branch managers of the Pope who get their authority from him. They get their authority as successors of the apostles.

If a bishop cannot even temporarily suspend a discipline (not a doctrine) such as this in his diocese, what real authority does he have? It seems to me that he is reduced to nothing more than a surrogate of the Pope (or even just a surrogate of a Vatican congregation).

(Again, just to be clear: I do not agree with the Bishop’s decision in this case, but I question whether he doesn’t have the authority to do it).

]]> By: ben http://ericsammons.com/blog/2009/12/02/whose-call-is-it-the-bishops-or-the-congregations/comment-page-1/#comment-5244 ben Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:37:37 +0000 http://ericsammons.com/blog/?p=5608#comment-5244 I have to disagree with you here. Reception on the tounge is normative for the roman rite, even in the ordinary form. To ban what is normative seems to conflict with SC 22. 1. "Regulation of the sacred liturgy depends solely on the authority of the Church, that is, on the Apostolic See and, as laws may determine, on the bishop." In this case, the delegate of the Apostolic See for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments determined that according to law the proscription of communion on the tounge cannot be determined by the bishop. I have to disagree with you here. Reception on the tounge is normative for the roman rite, even in the ordinary form. To ban what is normative seems to conflict with SC 22. 1. “Regulation of the sacred liturgy depends solely on the authority of the Church, that is, on the Apostolic See and, as laws may determine, on the bishop.”

In this case, the delegate of the Apostolic See for Divine Worship and Discipline of the Sacraments determined that according to law the proscription of communion on the tounge cannot be determined by the bishop.

]]>