Folia Theologica et Canonica 4. 26/18 (2015)
IUS CANONICUM - Szabolcs Anzelm Szuromi. O.Praem., Interpretation of the Church's discipline without the former sources?
264 SZABOLCS ANZELM SZUROMI, O.PRAEM. life of the Church and its content together with its goal are defined by her funder. This is therefore that unchangingness which among alterations of external conditions signifies the immutability in the historically institutionalized Church’s life. Relevant change can happen even in the essential function of some ecclesiastical institutes, based on the conditions and circumstances of the concrete epoch. However, the scope of duties (munus) constantly remains. An excellent example for this is the transformation of duties and rights of the cathedral chapters. The original scope of duties of this body has been entrusted to the College of Consulters in those countries where the bishop conferences have established them. Sometimes completely new institute is erected together with clearly defined duties and rights. Such a new institution is the Episcopal Synod as a result of the Second Vatican Council, which came into being to assist the pope45, in which bishops exercise their mission all over the Church, according to n. 5 of Christus Dominus.46 The Episcopal Synod was established on the 15,h of September 1965 by the motu proprio of Blessed Pope Paul VI (1963-1978).47 The Holy Father underlined in this motu proprio, that the new organism, which has a consultative function, is able to bring about obligatory decisions only in those cases for which the pope has previously given his explicit authorization.48 Similarly. the forming of the episcopal conferences49 of the individual countries into permanent colleges was also a result of the Second Vatican Council.50 Pope Be45 Bravi, M., Il Sinodo dei Vescovi: istituzione, fini e natura, in Periodica 84 (1995) 455^187; cf. Faggioli, M„ Institutions of episcopal collegiality-synodality after Vatican II: The Decree Christus Dominus and the Agenda for collegiality-synodality in the 21" century, in The Jurist 64 (2004) 224-246, especially 226-232. 46 CD 5: Episcopi e diversis orbis regionibus selecti, modis et rationibus a Romano pontifice statu- tis vel statuendis, supremo ecclesiae pastori validiorem praestant adiutricem opera min consilio, quod proprio nomine Synodus episcoporum appellata, quae quidem, utpote totius catholici episcopates partes ágens, simul significat omnes episcopos in hierarchica communione sollicitudi- nis universae ecclesiae participes esse. COD 922. Erdő, P., Kirchenrechliche Aspekte der Bischofssynode. Eine Institution in der Entwicklung, in Lackner, F. - Mantl, W. (Hrsg.), Identität und offener Horizont. Festschrift für Egon Kapellan, Wien - Graz - Klagenfurt 2006. 167-180. 47 AAS 57 (1965) 775-780. 48 Paulus VI, MP. Apostolica sollicitudo (15 sept. 1965): AAS 57 (1965) 776. II: Ad Synodum Episcoporum suapte natura munus pertinet edocendi et consilia dandi. Poterit etiam potestate deliberatiua gaudere, ubi haec ei collata fuerit a Romano Pontifice, cuius érit in hoc casu deci- siones Synodi ratas habere. Cf. Arrieta, J.I., Il Sinodo dei Vescovi. Rilevanza della prassi di attuazione in ordine a! compimento delle sue finalità istituzionali, in lus in vita et in missione Ecclesiae, Città del Vaticano 1994. 309-323. 49 Haering, S., Kanonistische Bemerkungen zur Geschichte der Bischofskonferenz aufgrund des Nachlasses Faulhaber, in Aymans, W. - Geringer, K. T. (Hrsg.), luri Canonico Promovendo (Festschrifts Herbert Schmitz), Regensburg 1994. 809-834. 50 Concilium Vaticanum II, Sessio VII, Cap. III. De episcopis in commune plurium ecclesiarum bonum cooperantibus, I. 38. 1 : Est episcoporum conferentia ueluti coetus in quo sacrorum an- tistites cuiusdam nationis uel territorii munus suum pastorale coniunctim exercent ad maius bonum, quod hominibus praebet ecclesia, prouehendum, praesertim per apostolatus formas et
