Does the USCCB Have Authority in the U.S.?

[LittleSoldier]

Recently a member sent me a PM regarding a post I had written where I stated that I had conceded on an issue because another poster had presented a statement issued by the USCCB. The member who PMd me wished to know how I knew the USCCB had authority.

And I didn’t know. So I checked the USCCB website and couldn’t find an address that I could use to send an email. I couldn’t find it (that’s not unusual and if anyone has the address please let me know. I’m not very good at finding those addresses).

But I did find a phone number and I called the USCCB. I talked to two women. The first basically referred me to the second. The second did not even know what CAF is (which I find surprising) and had no idea how the USCCB gets its authority (which I found even more surprising). She then referred me back to the website I had already used to find the phone number.

I asked a CAF apologist and received no response whatsoever. Not even a “sorry, I can’t help you.”

I am very, very disappointed in the USCCB and in at least one CAF apologist.

So - does the USCCB have authority in the United States? If so, does it receive that authority from the Vatican?

I could post links to a large number of websites that claim the USCCB has no authority whatsoever. I don’t want to do that as I know it’s against forum rules to post information from websites that don’t represent the Catholic Church and that anyone can call their organization Catholic (look at Catholics for Choice if you don’t believe me).

Does anyone have an official answer?

Where does the USCCB get its authority?

---

I’m not sure that this thread should be in this forum. It was difficult for me to choose a forum. If this is in the wrong forum I hope someone tells me and I’ll transfer it to the correct forum. Thank you.

 

[MarkThompson]

No problem. Please read this chapter of the Code of Canon Law, which deals with the authority and norms for national conferences of bishops. I assure you, it’s entirely legitimate.

EDIT: Authority is also granted to episcopal conferences in other places. For instance, paragraph 160 of the GIRM, concerning the mode of receiving Communion, states: “Fideles communicant genuflexi vel stantes, prout Conferentia Episcoporum statuerit.” (“The faithful communicate kneeling or standing, as the Conference of Bishops shall have decreed.”) So that’s where they get the authority to do that. You’d have to look all over to find all the grants of authority for every single thing they do.

 

[puzzleannie]

A basic search of the website yields dozens of threads discussing the general issue, this particular one cites some of the canon law on OP’s topic and should answer her questions.
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=268546&highlight=USCCB

 

[Matthew_Holford]

LittleSoldier did you have a specific question? The USCCB has full and legitimate authority throughout the USA. I’m only asking if you have a specific question because I wonder if you were told that the USCCB didn’t have authority in a particular matter. Although I infer that from what you’ve posted whoever told you the USCCB has no authority meant they have no authority at all. While I cannot think of an example off the top of my head I just wondered if you’d been asked about a matter that is left to the legitimate authority of each diocesan Bishop.

 

[LittleSoldier]

Thank you both for your replies. I’ve started reading the documents you have linked. I think I should mention the issue that I conceded on, as it may be unique.

Dear Matthew,

This is weird. You posted when I was writing my post but I was answering your question! Yes, I do have a specific issue and I thank you for asking me about it.

The USCCB evidently allows the use of emergency contraception in raped women who are not pregnant. If the woman is pregnant she is not allowed the use of emergency contraception and tests are conducted in order to determine if she is pregnant. I was very surprised to read this (in a thread) and refused to accept that the Church would ever allow such a thing. Then someone posted documentation from the USCCB. I’d never heard of that organization. I can’t find the thread in which I conceded.

I hope this helps.

God bless you!!

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

National Episcopal Conferences are laid out in Christus Dominus, 38, Paul VI’s Ecclesiae Sanctae, and in Canons 447-459.

They have no “natural” authority, their authority is either granted by law or through approval of the Holy See. However if the authority is granted to the conference, through either the law or approval of the Holy See, then their statements/judgments/actions are binding on all bishops, clergy, and laity within the US.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

Thank you both for your replies. I’ve started reading the documents you have linked. I think I should mention the issue that I conceded on, as it may be unique.

The USCCB evidently allows the use of emergency contraception in raped women who are not pregnant. If the woman is pregnant she is not allowed the use of emergency contraception and tests are conducted in order to determine if she is pregnant. I was very surprised to read this (in a thread) and refused to accept that the Church would ever allow such a thing. Then someone posted documentation from the USCCB. I’d never heard of that organization. I can’t find the thread in which I conceded.

I hope this helps.

God bless you!!

Unfortunately, I cannot recall the link but there is a document (or web page) on the USCCB’s website stating its position and the procedure to be followed in this matter.

I too remember being very surprised when I read it. My knowledge of theology is not good enough to say whether it conforms to the Magisterium of the Church. I did feel it was not consonant with my understanding of our Church’s teaching on these matters and it did make me feel uncomfortable. That, of course, means nothing; I doubt an organisation such as the USCCB would publish a document that was not in accordance with the Church’s current teaching.

 

[NewEnglandPriest]

Unfortunately, I cannot recall the link but there is a document (or web page) on the USCCB’s website stating its position and the procedure to be followed in this matter.

The US Bishops are following precendent established by the Vatican:

Vatican acts overBosnian rapes: Birth control ban eased for women at risk

Its also not limited to the US:

[A Spanish bishop raised eyebrows in late January by stating that religious women living in war zones or other places where there is danger of rape can legitimately use oral contraceptives to protect themselves from pregnancy.

Despite skeptical reactions from some quarters, one of Rome’s foremost Catholic moral theologians says the bishop did nothing more than re-state official church policy that dates back at least 40 years.](FindArticles.com | CBSi)

This issue has been out there for decades now and the Vatican has never, to my knowledge or ability to find, issued any statement forcing any Epsicopal Conference to retract these statements nor deny that its Congregations have permitted nuns in war zones to take contraceptives.

 

[Just_Lurking]

Teaching authority of the USCCB comes from this canon:

Can. 753 Although the bishops who are in communion with the head and members of the college, whether individually or joined together in conferences of bishops or in particular councils, do not possess infallibility in teaching, they are authentic teachers and instructors of the faith for the Christian faithful entrusted to their care; the Christian faithful are bound to adhere with religious submission of mind to the authentic magisterium of their bishops.

For proper interpretation of this canon, refer to Apostolos Suos (see here).

 

[Corki]

Thank you both for your replies. I’ve started reading the documents you have linked. I think I should mention the issue that I conceded on, as it may be unique.

Dear Matthew,

This is weird. You posted when I was writing my post but I was answering your question! Yes, I do have a specific issue and I thank you for asking me about it.

The USCCB evidently allows the use of emergency contraception in raped women who are not pregnant. If the woman is pregnant she is not allowed the use of emergency contraception and tests are conducted in order to determine if she is pregnant. I was very surprised to read this (in a thread) and refused to accept that the Church would ever allow such a thing. Then someone posted documentation from the USCCB. I’d never heard of that organization. I can’t find the thread in which I conceded.

I hope this helps.

God bless you!!

Where it gets a little murky is the type of documents. Various committees of the USCCB regularly publish documents. Those are teaching documents, sometimes, but not authoritative ones. They are often written by committee staff persons and not by the Bishops. Anything authoritative from the USCCB will have been voted upon at a regular meeting - held twice a year. Emergency contraception is one of those issues. I know there was a document published by the Connecticut conference of Bishops which, of course, would not be authoritative on anyone (it was directed to hospitals) outside of Connecticut - although the document is a good reference. There may also be a document from a USCCB committee. I don’t know if there was a document voted upon by the USCCB on this issue.

 

[Joab_Anias]

From: nccbuscc.org/healthcare/

The Bishops and the Right Exercise of Authority (11/1/10)

 

[Student09]

I’m only asking if you have a specific question because I wonder if you were told that the USCCB didn’t have authority in a particular matter. Although I infer that from what you’ve posted whoever told you the USCCB has no authority meant they have no authority at all.

Hi. I was the poster who had asked LittleSoldier about this (and it was a question that I had, not a statement). I know that the USCCB has some kind of authority in the U.S., but I was uncertain about what the nature of that authority was and what matters in particular it applied to. This thread has helped a little bit but I will have to read some of these long documents …

In regard to giving religious assent to what the bishops say - one would hope that it would never happen that the bishops would teach something that was obviously contrary to official Church teaching, but if it did happen, I presume that the higher teaching authority would take precedence? I.E. if there is a contradiction, where does one put one’s religious assent?

 

[Matthew_Holford]

Hi. I was the poster who had asked LittleSoldier about this (and it was a question that I had, not a statement). I know that the USCCB has some kind of authority in the U.S., but I was uncertain about what the nature of that authority was and what matters in particular it applied to. This thread has helped a little bit but I will have to read some of these long documents …

In regard to giving religious assent to what the bishops say - one would hope that it would never happen that the bishops would teach something that was obviously contrary to official Church teaching, but if it did happen, I presume that the higher teaching authority would take precedence? I.E. if there is a contradiction, where does one put one’s religious assent?

We have to trust our bishops that they would not make a decision that would be in contradiction of the Church’s teaching. We believe that the are guided by the Holy Spirit and so will not stray. It is also worth noting that for their decisions to be binding there has to be a unanimous vote. I don’t know how often that unanimity is achieved. I have never attended any meeting where a unanimous decision was made. If the bishops cannot reach a decision by unanimity then to bring in something that will be binding throughout the US they would have to achieve a two-thirds majority and then refer it to Rome for confirmation. I also believe that all acts of an episcopal conference have to be sent to Rome before an episcopal conference implements them. So, their decisions are reviewed in Rome which means it is very, very unlikely that they would make a decision that was in conflict with the Church’s Magisterium.

 

[Student09]

If the bishops cannot reach a decision by unanimity then to bring in something that will be binding throughout the US they would have to achieve a two-thirds majority and then refer it to Rome for confirmation. I also believe that all acts of an episcopal conference have to be sent to Rome before an episcopal conference implements them.

I thought something like that was probably the case, since it seems that missal translations and indults and such have to be approved by Rome before they can be implemented. Thank you.

 

[Matthew_Holford]

… since it seems that missal translations …

Translations of and any additions to any liturgical book an episcopal conference wants for its territory must be approved by Rome.

indults and such have to be approved by Rome before they can be implemented.

Just so we’re clear on this point indults aren’t strictly approved by Rome. Rome is asked for an indult, which it may then grant or decline. A country’s bishops don’t draw up an indult and then ask Rome to approve it.

Thank you.

You’re welcome.

 

[LittleSoldier]

Wow!! Thanks to everyone! I have a lot of reading to do. I knew that if I couldn’t find the information I needed that CAF members would know. As you do.

I appreciate all the links. I’m still a little confused, but at least I have a place to start. It’s a shame that a person who phones the USCCB is basically blown off. Knowing the authority of the USCCB is important and the people who work for the USCCB should really know more than they do. Of course I’m only speaking of one woman and maybe other representatives would have given me a better answer. Or if I’d lied and said I was a bishop…no that wouldn’t have worked because I’m obviously not a man and it would be a sin, anyway.

Thank you all so much!!

 

[Student09]

Or if I’d lied and said I was a bishop…no that wouldn’t have worked because I’m obviously not a man and it would be a sin, anyway.

You could have said you were an Episcopalian bishop! They probably would have thought you were a spy trying to further the cause of women’s ordination in the Catholic Church …

 

[markomalley]

So - does the USCCB have authority in the United States? If so, does it receive that authority from the Vatican?

…

Does anyone have an official answer?

Where does the USCCB get its authority?.

The USCCB has virtually no authority in of itself.

See Canon 455:

Can. 455 §1. A conference of bishops can only issue general decrees in cases where universal law has prescribed it or a special mandate of the Apostolic See has established it either motu proprio or at the request of the conference itself.​

§2. The decrees mentioned in §1, in order to be enacted validly in a plenary meeting, must be passed by at least a two thirds vote of the prelates who belong to the conference and possess a deliberative vote. They do not obtain binding force unless they have been legitimately promulgated after having been reviewed by the Apostolic See.
§3. The conference of bishops itself determines the manner of promulgation and the time when the decrees take effect.
§4. In cases in which neither universal law nor a special mandate of the Apostolic See has granted the power mentioned in §1 to a conference of bishops, the competence of each diocesan bishop remains intact, nor is a conference or its president able to act in the name of all the bishops unless each and every bishop has given consent.
​

Examples of where Canon Law has empowered diocesan bishops (not an exhaustive list):
Can 236: norms for formation of the permanent diaconate
Can 242: norms for priestly formation
Can 276: whether or not and to the degree that permanent deacons are obliged to say the Office daily
Can 284: the norms for which clerics must wear ecclesiastic garb
Can 312: to erect national associations of the faithful (as opposed to global ones or diocesan ones)
Can 522: to decree if a diocesan bishop may appoint a pastor for a specific period of time, vice indefinitely
Can 766: whether or not to allow lay persons to preach in a church or oratory (note: this does NOT include giving the homily, which, per Can 767, is reserved to the priest or deacon)
Can 775: (normally the diocesan bishop is responsible for catechetics in his diocese, but…) if it is useful, the conference of bishops can issue catechisms for their territory, with approval of the Apostolic See. They may also, if it is useful, establish a Catechetical office to assist the diocesan bishop in his function.
Can 831: to establish norms for clerics and religious for appearing on TV or radio when dealing with matters of faith and morals.
Can 838 §3. “It pertains to the conferences of bishops to prepare and publish, after the prior review of the Holy See, translations of liturgical books in vernacular languages, adapted appropriately within the limits defined in the liturgical books themselves.”
You can go through the rest yourself if you want and do a search on “conference” to see what they are empowered to do. There are very specific things that the conference can and can not do. Be sure to attend very carefully to Can 455 §4 (above).

The Holy Father has expressed his concern that bishops’ conferences do not set themselves up as an intermediary body between the Holy See and the individual bishop. He mentioned this very clearly in a speech given recently to a group of Brazilian bishops during their recent ad limina visit. Read the text of the speech (in Italian) here. Or read an English-language report about the speech on Zenit here.

 

[Joab_Anias]

Does anyone have an official answer?

Where does the USCCB get its authority?

DECREE CONCERNING
THE PASTORAL OFFICE OF BISHOPS
IN THE CHURCH
CHRISTUS DOMINUS
PROCLAIMED BY
HIS HOLINESS, POPE PAUL VI
ON OCTOBER 28, 1965

PREFACE

1. Christ the Lord, Son of the living God, came that He might save His people from their sins(1) and that all men might be sanctified. Just as He Himself was sent by the Father, so He also sent His Apostles.(2) Therefore, He sanctified them, conferring on them the Holy Spirit, so that they also might glorify the Father upon earth and save men, “to the building up of the body of Christ” (Eph. 4:12), which is the Church.

1. In this Church of Christ the Roman pontiff, as the successor of Peter, to whom Christ entrusted the feeding of His sheep and lambs, enjoys supreme, full, immediate, and universal authority over the care of souls by divine institution. Therefore, as pastor of all the faithful, he is sent to provide for the common good of the universal Church and for the good of the individual churches. Hence, he holds a primacy of ordinary power over all the churches.

The bishops themselves, however, having been appointed by the Holy Spirit, are successors of the Apostles as pastors of souls.(3) Together with the supreme pontiff and under his authority they are sent to continue throughout the ages the work of Christ, the eternal pastor.(4) Christ gave the Apostles and their successors the command and the power to teach all nations, to hallow men in the truth, and to feed them. Bishops, therefore, have been made true and authentic teachers of the faith, pontiffs, and pastors through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to them.(5)…

vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19651028_christus-dominus_en.html

 

[etspiri2sanctus]

A basic search of the website yields dozens of threads discussing the general issue, this particular one cites some of the canon law on OP’s topic and should answer her questions.
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=268546&highlight=USCCB

Another question for anyone really. Since the USCCB is a legitimate construct for the US, is the group subject to Rome? Or do they make their own rules… I ask this as I see many discrepencies in how various Bishops, Cardinals etc. react to questions such as should pro abort pols receive communion if they haven’t given public repentence, or recently Boston’s caving in to allowing children of gays and lesbians attend Catholic Schools. Mind you I have nothing against the education of children, but am concerned that Boston has once again stepped into quicksand.