Have you ever thought the US might benefit from having its own primate?

[Solomonson]

Have any of you ever thought that perhaps the US (or even the Americas as a whole) would benefit if it had its own cardinal primate reporting directly to the Pope as some other countries already do?

Given the size and diversity of the US and its distance from Europe, would it be of benefit if the US had a cardinal primate over all the other Catholic clergy in the US? He would be the head of the USCCB of course, but most importantly, he would be the Pope’s “eyes and ears” and direct representative in the US.

He could be headquartered somewhere central in the USA, away from political centers. Maybe Kansas or Iowa? A great, giant pilgrimage center could be built for Catholics to visit from across the USA. Many (most?) Catholics from the USA never make it to the Holy See in their lifetimes. Would it be of benefit to have a national place of gathering for the Catholic Church in the US to go along with a primate? It could also be a central point for Catholic scholarship in the us.

I have long wondered about this. Especially when things spin out of control from time to time and there is never a central voice for the Church in this country.

 

[adamhovey1988]

When I saw “Primate” I was thinking “yeah, we could use gorillas”.

 

[Tablefor9]

When I saw “Primate” I was thinking “yeah, we could use gorillas”.

Same.

On a more serious note, we DO have a “central voice”, the USCCB–which elects its president. I’m thinking that’s because the Church in America has the American republican/quasi-democratic flavor. Perhaps that’s why as Catholics in the States we’ve gotten the idea that if enough of the baptized but scarcely catechized don’t like something, we can just protest and change it
I don’t know that having a primate would solve that–seems those with respect for authority already have it & those that don’t, won’t anyway.

I would say we DO have excellent opportunities for pilgrimage in the US/Americas. What we have to build is a culture of pilgrimage again in the American Church. This, I’m afraid, doesn’t come from the top down, either. It’s got to be birthed in the home and in the parish as part of rebuilding of larger Catholic culture.

So, I think it’s not a horrible idea, but I wouldn’t expect much from that alone.

 

[Chatter163]

This would not be practical in a country the size of the U.S., where regions are not only spread out, but quite different in character.

 

[ChurchSoldier]

Having come from the Anglican Communion which has Primates for each member church, it doesn’t really resolve the issue of unanimity or professing a collective voice.

 

[commenter]

Even in countries that do have primates, my guess is that they are much less important than they used to be. Vatican II strongly reaffirmed the role of each bishop, as a member of the episcopal college. Some of the primate’s function is taken up by the USCCB, along with the Apostolic Delegate.

The position of Primate was likely planned at a time when communications and travel were much weaker than today.

 

[malphono]

Even in countries where Primates still exist, there is little left of the Primate’s prerogatives other than the honorific title itself.