The Role of the Papacy - Can Catholics Agree?

[ByzCathCantor]

The problem is lack of acceptance of the Roman Bishop as Vicar of Christ, by the Orthodox. There has been a statement the the current law of the eastern churches will not be acceptable to them. So it is an important issue.

CCEO Canon 78

1. The power which, according to the norm of the canons and legitimate customs, the patriarch has over bishops and other Christian faithful of the Church over which he presides is ordinary and proper, but personal. Thus, the patriarch cannot constitute a vicar for the entire patriarchal Church nor can he delegate his power to someone for all cases.
2. The power of the patriarch is exercised validly only inside the territorial boundaries of the patriarchal Church unless the nature of the matter or the common or particular law approved by the Roman Pontiff establishes otherwise.

While I agree with you in general, I’m having trouble understanding what might be controversial about the cited canon sections.

To me, the first says the Patriarch is the Patriarch, and no other can act as the Patriarch. The authority of the Patriarch can thus not be delegated in its entirety and / or for the entire Patriarchial see.

The second basically bounds the Patriarchiate to its own territory.

If one is problematic, it is this, as it would create problems in cases of diaspora.

But wait! Isn’t this how we ended up with so many messes in the ecclesiastical world, Eastern Catholic and Orthodox, in particular?

 

[Vico]

While I agree with you in general, I’m having trouble understanding what might be controversial about the cited canon sections.

To me, the first says the Patriarch is the Patriarch, and no other can act as the Patriarch. The authority of the Patriarch can thus not be delegated in its entirety and / or for the entire Patriarchial see.

The second basically bounds the Patriarchiate to its own territory.

If one is problematic, it is this, as it would create problems in cases of diaspora.

But wait! Isn’t this how we ended up with so many messes in the ecclesiastical world, Eastern Catholic and Orthodox, in particular?

Jurisdiction: “…or particular law approved by the Roman Pontiff establishes otherwise.”

CCEO has more canons on jurisdiction:

Canon 45

1. The Roman Pontiff, by virtue of his office (munus), not only has power over the entire Church but also possesses a primacy of ordinary power over all the eparchies and groupings of them by which the proper, ordinary and immediate power which bishops possess in the eparchy entrusted to their care is both strengthened and safeguarded.
2. The Roman Pontiff, in fulfilling the office (munus) of the supreme pastor of the Church is always united in communion with the other bishops and with the entire Church; however, he has the right, according to the needs of the Church, to determine the manner, either personal or collegial, of exercising this function.
3. There is neither appeal nor recourse against a sentence or decree of the Roman Pontiff.

Canon 54

1. Decrees of an ecumenical council do not have obligatory force unless they are approved by the Roman Pontiff together with the fathers of the council and are confirmed by the Roman Pontiff and promulgated at his order.
2. When the college of bishops takes collegial action in another manner, initiated or freely accepted by the Roman Pontiff, in order for its decrees to have binding force, they need this same confirmation and promulgation.

Canon 58

Patriarchs of Eastern Churches precede all bishops of any degree everywhere in the world, with due regard for special norms of precedence established by the Roman Pontiff.