New President of USCCB

[Benedict54]

I for one am very pleased that is Excellency, Timothy Dolan has been selected as President of the US Bishops. I think he is a great leader and is very sound in doctrine and theology.

May God richly bless him in his new responsibilities.

 

[3DOCTORS]

:extrahappy:

 

[po18guy]

Oh, she’s a big ship and takes time to turn around, but once the turn begins, it is irresistible. Amen!

 

[irishpatrick]

Sincere question: why is there a President?

 

[comrade1789]

Sincere question: why is there a President?

Good question. Bishops are answerable each and every one personally to the Pope, who is the “president.” So I don’t know much about it all, but I don’t see how the USCCB could be an actual official organ of the Church’s hierarchy. It could almost be seen as a secular organization of US Bishops who come together to discuss issues and they elect a president to preside over the internal and external interactions of the organization, but that as an institution, it has no authority, and no Bishop has any authority other than what is granted him by the Pope.

I think that is right, but someone here can correct me and give a clearer picture of it all. It does seem kinda scary, like the potential for it to become a US “Bishop’s Union” or a US Bishop’s bloc. But if it is to help the US Bishop’s address the issues facing their respective dioceses, and come up with solutions to tough problems, and always remaining faithful to Scripture, Tradition and the authority of the Pope, than I think it is a good thing.

 

[Friar_David_O.Carm]

Good question. Bishops are answerable each and every one personally to the Pope, who is the “president.” So I don’t know much about it all, but I don’t see how the USCCB could be an actual official organ of the Church’s hierarchy. It could almost be seen as a secular organization of US Bishops who come together to discuss issues and they elect a president to preside over the internal and external interactions of the organization, but that as an institution, it has no authority, and no Bishop has any authority other than what is granted him by the Pope.

I think that is right, but someone here can correct me and give a clearer picture of it all. It does seem kinda scary, like the potential for it to become a US “Bishop’s Union” or a US Bishop’s bloc. But if it is to help the US Bishop’s address the issues facing their respective dioceses, and come up with solutions to tough problems, and always remaining faithful to Scripture, Tradition and the authority of the Pope, than I think it is a good thing.

Here is the section of the Code of Canon Law governing Episcopal Conferences.

Chapter IV: Episcopal Conferences.

 

[Truism]

But if it is to help the US Bishop’s address the issues facing their respective dioceses, and come up with solutions to tough problems, and always remaining faithful to Scripture, Tradition and the authority of the Pope, than I think it is a good thing.

On Zenon, that’s how it works.

 

[Joe_5859]

Here is the section of the Code of Canon Law governing Episcopal Conferences.

Chapter IV: Episcopal Conferences.

That’s what I was going to recommend. The existence of local episcopal conferences, their role and their responsibilities are all outlined in Canon Law.

The President of the USCCB doesn’t have any sort of authority over the other bishops per se. He ends up being the de facto Catholic spokesman whom the media turn to, and he can somewhat steer the direction of the USCCB, but it’s not as though he’s the pope of America.

 

[comrade1789]

That’s what I was going to recommend. The existence of local episcopal conferences, their role and their responsibilities are all outlined in Canon Law.

The President of the USCCB doesn’t have any sort of authority over the other bishops per se. He ends up being the de facto Catholic spokesman whom the media turn to, and he can somewhat steer the direction of the USCCB, but it’s not as though he’s the pope of America.

I think I need some help deciphering the Code, but what you stated here makes sense.