Should the episcopal conferences be dissolved?

[Padua_Minded]

I think they should. I do however think that the episcopal conferences could be useful if they didn’t put inordinate energy into social justice initiatives, interfaith dialogue and politically correct causes. However they seem more concerned with fighting racism and getting inclusive language into the liturgy than with evangelization or abortion.

What sayeth thou?

 

[tee_eff_em]

I sayeth it would require a change to Canon Law.

Well, the current Can 449 would allow the Apostolic See to dissolve one or all, but I still do not think it would be a good idea. :twocents:

tee

 

[TheDoctor]

I thinketh that social justice and interfaith dialogue are goodly causes for the Chruch.
I thinketh that I knoweth not what “politically correct causes” be.
I thinketh that fighting racism is a good thing for the leaders of the Church to do.
I thinketh getting inclusive language into the liturgy is just plain wrong.
I sayeth that we should pray for our bishops and the task they have.
I asketh thee, Padua_minded, what doth thou propose in their place?

 

[EasterJoy]

With a billion Catholics in the world to shepherd, there has to be more than one-on-ones between individual bishops and the Pope. The American bishops need to talk with each other and work with each other. So, too, the German bishops, the Australian, and so on.

In other words, if episcopal conferences didn’t already exist, the Pope would have to invent them. As far as what those conferences decide to concentrate on, if the Pope has a problem with what the American bishops have been up to, for instance, he knows how to find them.

Besides, if they come to him as a group, wanting something inappropriate, he only has to say “no” once!

 

[Padua_Minded]

I asketh thee, Padua_minded, what doth thou propose in their place?

I hath nae problem with episcopal conferences in principal, nor campaigns for social justice (quite the contrary in fact). However the inordinate focus given to social justice causes is objectionable. Even before the Second Vatican Council bishops would meet anually and discuss doctrinal issues, produce catechisms etc. There is nothing wrong with any of that, however I think the track record of the conferences since the council leaves much to be desired. It would be nice if they could be suspended and revived in another decade or two, when the current doctrinal crisis begins to die down.

 

[saint_rafael]

Yes!
Episcopal Conferences have become mini-Vaticans in which they take over the role of the Vatican and they ignore Rome. They issue silly directives, papers, and alot of nonsense.

The USCCB has been in an unofficial schism with Rome for decades. They ignore everything from Rome and contradict everything with their pastoral rulings.

The Church did very well for thousands of years without this bureaucracy which usurps the Vicar of Christ’s role.

We need to strengthen the LOCAL bishop. It is the local bishop who has authority in the Church and the Church would be better off with strong men who lead their diocese and issue their own pastoral letters.

 

[tee_eff_em]

We need to strengthen the LOCAL bishop. It is the local bishop who has authority in the Church and the Church would be better off with strong men who lead their diocese and issue their own pastoral letters.

And Episcopal Conferences prevent the local bishops from exercising this authority how…?

tee

 

[saint_rafael]

The Wheat must be separated from the Chaff.

As painful as it is for the Church, the divisions will increase and get larger over the next couple of years.

The purification and chastisements from God must play out.

There are** two religions **in the Catholic Church. The last fifty years through negligence, sin, apostasy, and chastisement has allowed the weeds to continue to grow.
These are the times we live in.

There is no middle. The middle is no man’s land.
Tradition or Modernism. The war continues. There are only two sides.

 

[saint_rafael]

And Episcopal Conferences prevent the local bishops from exercising this authority how…?

tee

They issue directives and rulings for their whole countries. The bishops can adopt them or not, but most bishops go along with their conferences. The conference is in charge for policies. Bishops always bend toward their conference.

Collegiality is a myth. The Church is a monarchy. All we need are the Vatican and a local bishop. There should be no bureacracy in the way. The Catholic Church is made up out of a local Church, not a national Church.

Only the shismatic Orthodox have national Churches and that is why they have been divided and ungovernable for centuries.

 

[tee_eff_em]

They issue directives and rulings for their whole countries. The bishops can adopt them or not, but most bishops go along with their conferences. The conference is in charge for policies. Bishops always ben toward their conference.

So your issue is really with individual bishops who will not buck the conferences, not the conferences themselves? Or do you think the conferences somehow prevent bishops from exercising their legitimate authority?

tee

 

[saint_rafael]

So your issue is really with individual bishops who will not buck the conferences, not the conferences themselves? Or do you think the conferences somehow prevent bishops from exercising their legitimate authority?

tee

Conferences prevent the local bishop from exrecising his legitimate authority. They shouldn’t exist. The local bishop doesn’t need to consult with anyone other than Rome.

Each diocese is unique and a bishop is only resonsible for his diocese.

For example, it was 2002 or 2003 when the USCCB decided that all must stand during the Agnus Dei or Lamb of God.
It is an outrage that a conference who does not have authority can uniformly set this kind of policy across the whole country and within each diocese. These decisions must only be exercised by the discretion of a local bishop.

 

[tee_eff_em]

Conferences prevent the local bishop from exrecising his legitimate authority.

Please substantiate this.

For instance, this does not count (or no one has bothered to tell my ordinary):

For example, it was 2002 or 2003 when the USCCB decided that all must stand during the Agnus Dei or Lamb of God.

It is an outrage that a conference who does not have authority can uniformly set this kind of policy across the whole country and within each diocese. These decisions must only be exercised by the discretion of a local bishop.

Have you ever looked at the GIRM? Authority over certain matters is *explicitly given *to the Episcopal Conference.

I ask again: How do the episcopal conferences prevent the bishops from exercising their legitimate authority?

tee

 

[anamchrist]

On the contrary, their authority over individual bishops should be strengthened and they should be give more authority to act free from Roman interference.

 

[consumedconvert]

I think the USCCB has done much good. But caution must always be exercised to prevent Conferences from becoming too “Nationalized.”

Also, I disagree that the conference has been soft on abortion.

Interestingly, there are also state “mini-conferences.” I read the documents they put out this past month; they strongly oppose abortion and support legislation limiting abortion.