SPLIT: The Authority of the USCCB?

[TheMc]

This is in line with USCCB guidelines. I personally don’t have an issue with this.

Then again, I’ve never really trusted the USCCB.

• In 1899, Pope Leo XIII had to write Testem Benevolentiae Nostrae, to slap down the USCCB’s founder’s heretical ideas
• Again, in 1922, Rome said had to restrict the USCCB’s predecessor organization
• There are many liberal and pro-gay and pro-abortion people in the higher offices there
• Holy Thursday Mandatum “Guidelines:” Directly encourages disobidience to the rubrics in the name of "humble service."
• The USCCB’s CCHD Collection: Funnels money to Gay and pro abortion “social justice” groups
• The USCCB never mentions any of this, and pretends they are important.
• In JPII’s Apostolos Suos Christus Dominus, he made it clear that the USCCB has absolutely no authority over the Catholics in America.

In short, the Pope took enormous pains, indeed, almost unheard of pains, to make clear that organizations like the USCCB’s authority over any particular lay Catholic is:

• Zero
• Nada
• Zilch
• Zip
• Goose Egg
• Empty Set
• Non-Existent
• Completely Absent
• A sounding brass and tinkling cymbal signifying nothing

In short, according to the infallible ordinary Magisterium, the teaching authority of the USCCB does not exist. No decree of the USCCB has any weight unless the local bishop endorses it. Within the USCCB there is a fight between bishops who wish to promote the Catholic Faith and bishops who wish to promote secular “social justice.”

This may come as a shocker to many of you, but that is simply how it is.

 

[DCNBILL]

Then again, I’ve never really trusted the USCCB.

• In 1899, Pope Leo XIII had to write Testem Benevolentiae Nostrae, to slap down the USCCB’s founder’s heretical ideas
• Again, in 1922, Rome said had to restrict the USCCB’s predecessor organization
• There are many liberal and pro-gay and pro-abortion people in the higher offices there
• Holy Thursday Mandatum “Guidelines:” Directly encourages disobidience to the rubrics in the name of "humble service."
• The USCCB’s CCHD Collection: Funnels money to Gay and pro abortion “social justice” groups
• The USCCB never mentions any of this, and pretends they are important.
• In JPII’s Apostolos Suos Christus Dominus, he made it clear that the USCCB has absolutely no authority over the Catholics in America.

In short, the Pope took enormous pains, indeed, almost unheard of pains, to make clear that organizations like the USCCB’s authority over any particular lay Catholic is:

• Zero
• Nada
• Zilch
• Zip
• Goose Egg
• Empty Set
• Non-Existent
• Completely Absent
• A sounding brass and tinkling cymbal signifying nothing

In short, according to the infallible ordinary Magisterium, the teaching authority of the USCCB does not exist. No decree of the USCCB has any weight unless the local bishop endorses it. Within the USCCB there is a fight between bishops who wish to promote the Catholic Faith and bishops who wish to promote secular “social justice.”

This may come as a shocker to many of you, but that is simply how it is.

I believe that the voting members of the USCCB are made up of local bishops from all over the United States.

 

[Brendan]

I believe that the voting members of the USCCB are made up of local bishops from all over the United States.

In most cases, TheMC is correct, a local Ordinary is free to accept or reject any decree or document coming from a local Synod.

There are certain acceptions, where Canon law requires a Synod to set certain standards, but these are required to recieve a recognito from Rome, and that is where the decree will recieve it’s binding authority.

A great example is GIRM 160. The original calls for the local synod to create a common posture for the reception of Holy Communion.

Fideles communicant genuflexi vel stantes, prout Conferentia Episcoporum statuerit. Cum autem stantes communicant, commendatur ut debitam reverentiam, ab iisdem normis statuendam, ante susceptionem Sacramenti faciant.

The USCCB submitted a common posture, but GIRM 160 does not gain any authority from that, rather from the recognitio given by Rome ( and all the subsequent clarifications as well)

Local Synods, such as the USCCB, are primarily advisiory in Nature. Canonically, regulatory authority rests either in Rome or with the local Ordinary.

Both Cardinal Maida and our current archbishop, +Vigneron, have elected not to follow the USSCB’s advice. ‘transitional’ and ‘permanent’ Deacons are formally addressed as “Rev Mr.”. The wearing for clericals in liturgical settings is mandatory for ‘transitional’ Deacons, and optional for ‘permanent’ deacons.

 

[DianaCC]

Then again, I’ve never really trusted the USCCB.

I remember when I first heard of the [USCCB predecessor organizations] NCCB and USCC. One of the first things I heard about them was that they were working on a document on nuclear war and another on women’s rights. I though to myself, “Huh?”

Shortly thereafter “they” came out with the book *Environment and Art in Catholic Worship *and at length “they” came out with Always Our Children.

Somewhere along the way I heard “they” transferred Holy Thursday to the following Sunday. Then something about no holy days of obligation anymore if they fall on a Saturday or Monday.

But I remember one day I was flipping through an old copy of the Baltimore Catechism and noticed on the copyright page it was ordered by the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore in 1885, which at the time happened to be exactly 100 years before. I thought, “What happened?”

Could someone remind me why the Vatican once encouraged the creation of bishops’ conferences?

 

[TheMc]

I believe that the voting members of the USCCB are made up of local bishops from all over the United States.

Yes, I’m aware, but unless they go back to their dioceses, and publish a letter that says: “This XYZ document from the USCCB is binding in this diocese,” then it has no effect. Even worse, some of the USCCB docs have things that are contrary to what the church has asked of us, such as the Holy Thursday Mandatum “Guidelines” page, or some of the directives from “Sing to the Lord.” Their documents may not change current rubrics or directives. They may only restate and expand upon what is already there.

Now there is some places, such as GIRM 130, but still, the authority is coming from Rome, because Rome still has the final say in everything.

What frustrates me most: in everything but word, they give the impression that they are binding documents. STTL and the Holy Thursday Mandatum page ARE NOT BINDING!!

 

[TheMc]

Since I didn’t get beat up for this like I thought I would, here’s an excellent article about the issue:

knightsofdivinemercy.com/2011/06/13/a-revealing-short-history-of-the-usccb/

 

[Jean_Anthony]

aaa