What does suppressed mean?

[AdvanceAlways]

Hi guys. What does it mean if an Eastern Catholic parish has been suppressed? When looking on Byzcath.org for local Eastern parishes near my college I stumbled upon several old parishes that were listed as suppressed. Is this something that only happens to Eastern parishes?
Thanks!

 

[Aramis]

A suppressed parish still technically exists as a parish, but is not permitted to function for some reason. No licit liturgy.

It’s not exclusively eastern; it’s not exclusively Catholic, either.

In some cases, it’s a prelude to formal closure. In others, a notice that the parish is schismatic and/or in heresy. If its suppressed, and no one is attending, it’s essentially a closed parish. If people are attending, it’s probably one of: schismatic, heretical, about to be closed, about to be reopened.

It’s often easier to just go ahead and close a parish in the Roman Rite, because it merely takes the bishop’s permission to establish a new parish. Dioceses, however, usually remain suppressed, rather than get deleted, and then are used for auxiliary bishop’s technical sees; only Rome or the synod of an ECC can suppress a diocese; the latter only one of their own.

In the ECCs, however, outside the “traditional lands” it takes both the local roman and the ECC bishop’s approval to open a new EC mission or parish… but only the EC Bishop to reopen a suppressed parish.

 

[JesuXPIPassio]

A suppressed parish still technically exists as a parish, but is not permitted to function for some reason. No licit liturgy.

It’s not exclusively eastern; it’s not exclusively Catholic, either.

In some cases, it’s a prelude to formal closure. In others, a notice that the parish is schismatic and/or in heresy. If its suppressed, and no one is attending, it’s essentially a closed parish. If people are attending, it’s probably one of: schismatic, heretical, about to be closed, about to be reopened.

It’s often easier to just go ahead and close a parish in the Roman Rite, because it merely takes the bishop’s permission to establish a new parish. Dioceses, however, usually remain suppressed, rather than get deleted, and then are used for auxiliary bishop’s technical sees; only Rome or the synod of an ECC can suppress a diocese; the latter only one of their own.

In the ECCs, however, outside the “traditional lands” it takes both the local roman and the ECC bishop’s approval to open a new EC mission or parish… but only the EC Bishop to reopen a suppressed parish.

That’s interesting. But, with the exception of the schismatic ones, what’s the virtue in suppressing a parish instead of just closing it? Is it for the sake of having a geographical parish for the people of the area? If that is so, the people who don’t go to Mass in their designated parish would just go to another parish, so that area could just be considered part of another parish area instead, so the point of suppressing it instead of closing it seems to be defeated. Why does it work out that way?

 

[Aramis]

That’s interesting. But, with the exception of the schismatic ones, what’s the virtue in suppressing a parish instead of just closing it? Is it for the sake of having a geographical parish for the people of the area? If that is so, the people who don’t go to Mass in their designated parish would just go to another parish, so that area could just be considered part of another parish area instead, so the point of suppressing it instead of closing it seems to be defeated. Why does it work out that way?

Essentially, it’s closed. A suppressed parish doesn’t function. It can be reopened later, however.

Or, if its gone schismatic, it’s no longer licitly functioning as a Catholic parish.