Cry from Middle East synod: 'Power to the Patriarchs!' [John Allen]

[Catholic_Press]

Article Details ROME – Ferment around defending the heritage and prerogatives of the Eastern Catholic churches continues to swirl at the Oct. 10-24 Synod of Bishops for the Middle East, as yesterday a Lebanese prelate proposed launching a Vatican commission to study ways of revitalizing the office of Patriarch.

                                     http://ncronline.org/files/Prelates3.jpg?1287067813        
     

                                    Observers watch during morning prayer at a session of the Synod of Bishops for the Middle East attended by Pope Benedict XVI in the synod hall at the Vatican Oct. 14. (CNS photo/Paul Haring)

ROME – Ferment around defending the heritage and prerogatives of the Eastern Catholic churches continues to swirl at the Oct. 10-24 Synod of Bishops for the Middle East, as yesterday a Lebanese prelate proposed launching a Vatican commission to study ways of revitalizing the office of Patriarch.

In broad strokes, Eastern bishops typically have two reasons for wanting to emphasize the role of the patriarchs. Internally, it’s an argument for greater collegiality, or shared decision-making, in Catholicism, as a corrective to what is perceived as excessive papal power; externally, it’s a way of giving the patriarch a higher international profile as a way of insulating their flocks in the Middle East against possible pressures and attacks.

Auxiliary Bishop Guy-Paul Noujaim pointed to Pope John Paul II’s invitation to study new ways of exercising the primacy of the pope, “inspired by the ecclesical forms of the first millennium.”

The office of patriarch became a pillar of Christianity’s structure during it first 1,000 years, but Noujaim suggested that the traditional “privileges” of the patriarchs went into decline during the second millennium.

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[rcwhiteh]

It’s about time; Roman Catholics need to have it brought home to them that the Roman Church is not the be-all and end-all of Catholicism, and the best way to do that is to re-establish the authorities of the Patriarchate.

My $0.02.

 

[twf]

Here! Here! As a Latin Catholic loyal to the Holy Father, I whole heartedly support restoring all the ancient prerogatives of the patriarchs. It is about time that the authority of the patriarchs and synods be extended to all the faithful of each Church sui iuris, and not limited to ‘traditional territories’. I believe the Holy Father will agree.

 

[countertenor]

It’s about time; Roman Catholics need to have it brought home to them that the Roman Church is not the be-all and end-all of Catholicism, and the best way to do that is to re-establish the authorities of the Patriarchate.

My $0.02.

:thumbsup:

 

[rcwhiteh]

It’s about time; Roman Catholics need to have it brought home to them that the Roman Church is not the be-all and end-all of Catholicism, and the best way to do that is to re-establish the authorities of the Patriarchate.

Well, now I find out that Benedict XVI has relinquished the title “Patriarch of the West”; I suppose it’s a moot point now - there are no Patriarchs.

Is this a good thing?

 

[countertenor]

Well, now I find out that Benedict XVI has relinquished the title “Patriarch of the West”; I suppose it’s a moot point now - there are no Patriarchs.

Is this a good thing?

There are still patriarchs. The Pope gave up his title as patriarch of the west, however the title of patriarch wasn’t taken away from the Coptic Catholic, Syriac Catholic, Melkite Catholic, ect… Patriarchs.

 

[OrdinaryMelkite]

I echo the other posters here------hear, hear!!!

 

[Richardprins]

Well, now I find out that Benedict XVI has relinquished the title “Patriarch of the West”; I suppose it’s a moot point now - there are no Patriarchs.

Is this a good thing?

I don’t think that automatically means that the pope is no longer a patriarch.