Cathedral Church?

[Connie_G]

My question is simple. I was approached by some non catholic friends and they asked what is the difference in a Cathedral Church and a Reg Catholic Church. I told them I believe it is where the Bishop is seated. Was I correct?

 

[anon50111284]

Moved from OCE forum.

 

[johnnykins]

My question is simple. I was approached by some non catholic friends and they asked what is the difference in a Cathedral Church and a Reg Catholic Church. I told them I believe it is where the Bishop is seated. Was I correct?

Yes, though I wouldn’t phrase it exactly that way. It is the church where the seat/chair of the Bishop is located. The Bishop’s seat represents his authority in that diocese. An Auxiliary Bishop’s church does not have a “cathedra” or chair/seat in the diocese in that he does not have the teaching, spiritual and temporal authority in that diocese - though ALL bishops are assigned a “titular” see/diocese - in name only - representing that as a bishop, they nonetheless have teaching and spiritual authority as well as a technical temporal authority.

 

[DavidFilmer]

FWIW, the word “Cathedral” comes from the Latin cathedra, which means “chair.”