This itself if fuzzy as there are different levels of Churches. Each bishop is his own Church, so every diocese or eparchy is one Church. Then the next level is the archdiocese/metropolitan, which is the arch-diocese/eparchy and the suffragan dioceses/eparchies. Again they are one Church. Then the particular Churches, the patriarchal sees where all the archdiocese/metropolitans belong, another Church. Then the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.What is definition of Church and Churches?
The Code of CanonsWhat is definition of Church and Churches?
As Bishop John A. Elya, Melkite Catholic saidWhy do we always say “we must obey the Pope”? Not that there is anything wrong with it, but first and foremost is that we must obey our own bishop and priest.
Roman/Latin is a rite. By numbers, It happens to be ~98%+ of the Catholic Church. All the other rites make up ~2% of the remaining numbers. All rites are fully Catholic. No more or less Catholic. All rites have equal dignity. The official name of the Church (all rites) is the Catholic Church. No qualifiers. The Catholic Church is headquartered in Rome led by the pope.The term “Roman Catholic” is, I think, most properly used to refer to all Catholics in communion with Rome, rather than as a synonym for “Latin rite Catholic.” However, the term “Eastern Catholic” is very common and not at all inaccurate, particularly if it is not seen as an alternative to being “Roman Catholic.”
I grant that the term has often been used by Protestants, perhaps especially Anglicans, to implicitly deny the unique Catholicity of the Catholic Church, and this seems to be responsible for how common the term has become in the English speaking world. Also, it is true that today the term is often used as a synonym for the Latin Church.Roman/Latin is a rite. By numbers, It happens to be ~98%+ of the Catholic Church. All the other rites make up ~2% of the remaining numbers. All rites are fully Catholic. No more or less Catholic. All rites have equal dignity. The official name of the Church (all rites) is the Catholic Church. No qualifiers. The Catholic Church is headquartered in Rome led by the pope.
“Roman” received it’s emphasis due to the Protestant revolt and particularly the Anglicans who used it as a pajoritive oce.catholic.com/index.php?title=Roman_Catholic
The term “Roman Church” was used by the Roman Church at least as early as Trent. I haven’t taken the time or put the effort into seeing if it appears before that point, at any rate it was used by Rome while Luther was still alive (if barely).I grant that the term has often been used by Protestants, perhaps especially Anglicans, to implicitly deny the unique Catholicity of the Catholic Church, and this seems to be responsible for how common the term has become in the English speaking world. Also, it is true that today the term is often used as a synonym for the Latin Church.
However, when the terms “Roman Catholic Church” or “Roman Church” are used in official Church documents, in what sense are they used? Would not this be the more important criterion?
This issue comes up over and over again, though. I’m afraid it was partially my fault this time. As I’ve said many times before on different threads, due to the confusion and disagreement among individual Catholics about the definition and connotations of these terms, its probably best to avoid them altogether whenever possible.
It is my understanding that this bishop, his grace John Elya, was one of only two bishops in the Melkite synod to vote against the Zoghby Initiative. Perhaps someone here knows more about that and can tell us if that is true.As Bishop John A. Elya, Melkite Catholic said …
And the Bishop must obey the Pope.Why do we always say “we must obey the Pope”? Not that there is anything wrong with it, but first and foremost is that we must obey our own bishop and priest.
I answered to someone, so “they” is implied to the post.This statement seems very strange to me. Who is “they” and why do you say that “they” are not -]eastern /-]Eastern Catholics?
I did not know. thanks for the explanation.The Code of Canons
TITLE 2
Churches Sui Iuris and Rites
Canon 27
A group of Christian faithful united by a hierarchy according to
the norm of law which the supreme authority of the Church expressly or tacitly recognizes as sui iuris is called in this Code
a Church sui iuris. (Sui iuris = of it’s own right)
The Supreme Authority would be the bishop of Rome. A church Sui Iuris is such because the bishop of Rome has recognized it as such. The church Sui Iuris is allowed by the Pope to govern itself according to a set of rules approved for it by the Pope.
Contrast that with the next canon …
Canon 28
- A rite is the liturgical, theological, spiritual and
disciplinary patrimony, culture and circumstances of history of a
distinct people, by which its own manner of living the faith is
manifested in each Church sui iuris. 2. The rites treated in
this code, unless otherwise stated, are those which arise from
the Alexandrian, Antiochene, Armenian, Chaldean and Constantinopolitan traditions.
**
The rite derives from the local liturgical practices of the early churches in different regions of early Christendom.
**
Technically, the *Roman *Rite is a rite of the *Latin *Church, along with Ambrosian Rite, the Mozarabic Rite, etc. – although those other western rites are so restricted as to be negligible.Roman/Latin is a rite.
It doesn’t matter. The Papacy and the Church predates the internet by almost 2000 years. We don’t suddenly switch to obeying the Pope just because the Pope got an iPad. The ecclesioligy of the Church states that we are under our own bishop. Unless you live in the diocese of Rome, you are not directly under the Pope. Bypassing your own bishop means you are not connected to the Pope in any which way.And the Bishop must obey the Pope.
In Internet times, We know everyday what the Pope says.
Restricted? O_OTechnically, the *Roman *Rite is a rite of the *Latin *Church, along with Ambrosian Rite, the Mozarabic Rite, etc. – although those other western rites are so restricted as to be negligible.
Trent happened.Restricted? O_O
Why? Are those not holy enough?
So the pope is like a bishop of bishops? An Universal Bishop?And the Bishop must obey the Pope.
In Internet times, We know everyday what the Pope says.
They are restricted to the area they developed in. Thus, for example, the Ambrosian Rite can be used in Milan, but a parish elsewhere can’t just decide they prefer it and switch to it from the Roman Rite.Restricted? O_O
Why? Are those not holy enough?
To a degree yesWhy do we always say “we must obey the Pope”? Not that there is anything wrong with it, but first and foremost is that we must obey our own bishop and priest.
The Pope is a Universal Bishop in the sense that he is a bishop and he has universal jurisdiction: jurisdiction which applies directly to the whole Universal Church in all its members. To call him a bishop of bishops would be potentially misleading, it seems to me, since the Papacy is not an additional level of holy orders and other bishops don’t look to the Pope as their bishop.So the pope is like a bishop of bishops? An Universal Bishop?
well said. It can also be said of the Orthodox as well.Suffice it to say that there are many Catholics, Eastern as well as Roman Rite who know very little about their faith. All you can do is try to gently educate them and definitely pray for them.