Sui Juris

[RyanJPII]

I see Sui Juris alot on this forum but i have no idea what it means. Can someone explain it to me?

 

[Zabdi_Premjit]

I see Sui Juris alot on this forum but i have no idea what it means. Can someone explain it to me?

CCEO27: “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.”

Basically it denotes a certain level of autonomy or self-governance, I believe.

 

[FrDavid96]

It means the entire Church worldwide that has its own hierarchy and laws.

The best way to explain it is by examples:

If I say “the Ukrainian Church” I might be talking about “the Ukrainian Church over on Maple Street”

In contrast, if I say “The Ukrainian Church, sui iuris” then it’s clear that I mean the whole of the Ukrainian Church spread throughout thousands of individual parishes, with their Major Metropolitan.

 

[FrDavid96]

I see Sui Juris alot on this forum but i have no idea what it means. Can someone explain it to me?

the term means literally “self governing” sui=self and iuris=law

 

[dmar198]

CCEO27: “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.”

Basically it denotes a certain level of autonomy or self-governance, I believe.

Thank you for the official definition and for your smaller summary. I’m going to try to add to this thread by translating the official definition out of Church speak into everyday english.

“A group of Christian faithful” = A group of Christians

“united by a hierarchy” = with their own bishops

“according to the norm of law” = who follow canon law

“which the Supreme authority of the Church…recognizes” = they’re approved by the Vatican

“expressly or tacitly” = officially or unofficially

“as sui iuris” = as self-governing.

So a sui juris church is a group of Christians with their own bishops. But they only get sui juris status if they follow canon law and are approved by the Vatican, and govern themselves. Makes sense to me!

 

[Peter_J]

CCEO27: “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.”

Basically it denotes a certain level of autonomy or self-governance, I believe.

Not trying to put words in your mouth of course, but if you mean that in the sense of them all being at the same level then no. Some of them are Patriarchal, some are Major Archepiscopal, some are Metropolital, some are Eparchial.

 

[Zabdi_Premjit]

Not trying to put words in your mouth of course, but if you mean that in the sense of them all being at the same level then no. Some of them are Patriarchal, some are Major Archepiscopal, some are Metropolital, some are Eparchial.

I didn’t mean to imply they possess autonomy and self-governance in the same measure. To be honest, while I have gathered that some sui juris churches are more autonomous than others, I don’t much about the specific levels and what distinguishes them. Perhaps you’d like to explain exactly what makes a church Patriarchal, Metropolital, Eparchial, etc.

 

[Peter_J]

I didn’t mean to imply they possess autonomy and self-governance in the same measure. To be honest, while I have gathered that some sui juris churches are more autonomous than others, I don’t much about the specific levels and what distinguishes them. Perhaps you’d like to explain exactly what makes a church Patriarchal, Metropolital, Eparchial, etc.

The full answer is slightly lengthy, namely canons 55 through 176:

Code of canons of Oriental Churches

• Table of Contents -

PRELIMINARY CANONS

TITLE 1 The Rights and Obligations of All the Christian Faithful
7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26.

TITLE 2 Churches Sui Iuris and Rites
27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41.

TITLE 3 The Supreme Authority of the Church
42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54.

**TITLE 4 The Patriarchal Churches
55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. 76. 77. 78. 79. 80. 81. 82. 83. 84. 85. 86. 87. 88. 89. 90. 91. 92. 93. 94. 95. 96. 97. 98. 99. 100. 101. 102. 103. 104. 105. 106. 107. 108. 109. 110. 111. 112. 113. 114. 115. 116. 117. 118. 119. 120. 121. 122. 123. 124. 125. 126. 127. 128. 129. 130. 131. 132. 133. 134. 135. 136. 137. 138. 139. 140. 141. 142. 143. 144. 145. 146. 147. 148. 149. 150.

TITLE 5 The Major Archiepiscopal Churches
151. 152. 153. 154.

TITLE 6 Metropolitan Churches and Other Churches Sui Iuris
155. 156. 157. 158. 159. 160. 161. 162. 163. 164. 165. 166. 167. 168. 169. 170. 171. 172. 173. 174. 175. 176. **

TITLE 7…
Table of Contents abridged to fit in this post]

An easier way to think of it, IMO, is to just think of an Eparchy [resp. Metropolitan Archeparchy] and then “add on” sui iuris status – meaning, in particular, that it isn’t part of a larger sui iuris church.

For example, in the USA there’s a Ukrainian Metropolitan Archeparchy and a Ruthenian Metropolitan Archeparchy … but the former is part of the UGCC, whereas the latter is sui iuris.

 

[Zabdi_Premjit]

The full answer is slightly lengthy, namely canons 55 through 176:

An easier way to think of it, IMO, is to just think of an Eparchy [resp. Metropolitan Archeparchy] and then “add on” sui iuris status – meaning, in particular, that it isn’t part of a larger sui iuris church.

For example, in the USA there’s a Ukrainian Metropolitan Archeparchy and a Ruthenian Metropolitan Archeparchy … but the former is part of the UGCC, whereas the latter is sui iuris.

So…one is just bigger than the other?

 

[Peter_J]

So…one is just bigger than the other?

Well, the whole is bigger than a part (e.g. the UGCC is bigger than any one of its eparchies and metropolias); but that aside I have to disagree: whether a particular church is patriarchal or major archepiscopal etc is not strictly determined by its size.

 

[Thomas48]

Well, the whole is bigger than a part (e.g. the UGCC is bigger than any one of its eparchies and metropolias); but that aside I have to disagree: whether a particular church is patriarchal or major archepiscopal etc is not strictly determined by its size.

I believe I read in a definition sometime in the past that one factor that determines the status of the Sui Juris is how long that particular Church has been in union with Rome.

 

[Peter_J]

I believe I read in a definition sometime in the past that one factor that determines the status of the Sui Juris is how long that particular Church has been in union with Rome.

Well, it’s all pretty speculative so I’m reluctant to say that something *couldn’t *possibly be a factor; but honestly I’m skeptical of the people who say that.

 

[Zabdi_Premjit]

I suppose what I am still confused about is how each one of these sui juris “levels” differ in regards to their autonomy with respect to the Papacy. i.e. Does a sui juris church that is an Eparchy receive more oversight and “intererence” from the Papacy than a sui juris church that is a Patriarchate?

Sorry if my wording is poor.

 

[twf]

I suppose what I am still confused about is how each one of these sui juris “levels” differ in regards to their autonomy with respect to the Papacy. i.e. Does a sui juris church that is an Eparchy receive more oversight and “intererence” from the Papacy than a sui juris church that is a Patriarchate?

Sorry if my wording is poor.

Yes. Here are a couple practical distinctions:

Patriarchal Church: The Holy Synod elects its own patriarch and bishops. Rome is not involved except to be 'informed". When a Patriarch is elected by the Holy Synod, he is immediately enthroned and Rome then extends full communion to him. Patriarchal Churches are essentially completely autonomous unless Rome or an ecumenical council explicitly intervenes.

Major Archepiscopal Church: essentially as autonomous as a Patriarchal Church, including the right to elect its own bishops, but the Major Archbishop-Elect cannot be enthroned until Rome has ratified the Holy Synod’s choice.

Metropolia and other smaller Churches sui iuris: all bishops are appointed by Rome as in the Latin Church… though they are still sui iuris in that they may have their own unique laws, liturgical traditions, etc.

There are 6 Patriarchal Churches (7 if you include the Latin Church with the Pope as its patriarch), 4 Major Archepiscopal Churches,5 Metropolias (head bishop is of Metropolitan or Archbishop rank), and several others of lesser status (comprised of one or only a handful of dioceses / eparchies with no single head bishop other than the Pope himself).

 

[Zabdi_Premjit]

Yes. Here are a couple practical distinctions:

Patriarchal Church: The Holy Synod elects its own patriarch and bishops. Rome is not involved except to be 'informed". When a Patriarch is elected by the Holy Synod, he is immediately enthroned and Rome then extends full communion to him. Patriarchal Churches are essentially completely autonomous unless Rome or an ecumenical council explicitly intervenes.

Major Archepiscopal Church: essentially as autonomous as a Patriarchal Church, including the right to elect its own bishops, but the Major Archbishop-Elect cannot be enthroned until Rome has ratified the Holy Synod’s choice.

Metropolia and other smaller Churches sui iuris: all bishops are appointed by Rome as in the Latin Church… though they are still sui iuris in that they may have their own unique laws, liturgical traditions, etc.

There are 6 Patriarchal Churches (7 if you include the Latin Church with the Pope as its patriarch), 4 Major Archepiscopal Churches,5 Metropolias (head bishop is of Metropolitan or Archbishop rank), and several others of lesser status (comprised of one or only a handful of dioceses / eparchies with no single head bishop other than the Pope himself).

Thank you. Your explanation was helpful.

 

[Augustine]

Well, the whole is bigger than a part (e.g. the UGCC is bigger than any one of its eparchies and metropolias); but that aside I have to disagree: whether a particular church is patriarchal or major archepiscopal etc is not strictly determined by its size.

All the Catholic Churches have each the fulness of the Church. They are not parts of a whole, but wholes in themselves. They are wholes which are mutually united in the same whole.

Pax Christi

 

[Peter_J]

I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone object to the language that the Ukrainian metropolia in the USA is “part of the UGCC”.

 

[twf]

I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone object to the language that the Ukrainian metropolia in the USA is “part of the UGCC”.

You both are right . The Catholic Church (that is, the Church Universal) is present in every diocese / eparchy / local church under a bishop: “where the bishop is…there is the Catholic Church” (St. Ignatius of Antioch). Of course in an administrative and canonical sense, a given eparchy may be part of the bigger UGCC.