Folia Canonica 5. (2002)
STUDIES - John D. Faris: Territory and the Eastern Catholic Experience in the United States
52 JOHN D. FARIS Minorities were simply integrated into the society of the majority. The axiom, cuius regio eius religio, is indicative of the attitude Christian society had toward pluralism for many centuries. Conciliar Sea-Change The twentieth century, with its massive migrations of peoples, called for a re-thinking of the principle of “one bishop - one city” because one bishop3 could no longer adequately serve the pastoral needs of pluralistic societies comprising diverse cultural, linguistic and ritual communities.4 The mobility and consequent intermingling of populations diverted attention from the territory and addressed the needs of the community.5 Among all the Christian churches, the principle of “one bishop - one city” had perhaps been observed as much in the breach as in the observance, but the establishment of multiple hierarchies was usually a consequence of heresies or schisms, with two hierarchs laying claim to the same see. Two bishops in the same city were rivals, competing for the same territory / community. With Vatican II, we have the call for the establishment of parishes and multiple hierarchies in one territory by the same authority. Steps should therefore be taken for the preservation and enlargement ofall the individual churches throughout the world, and so parishes and their own hierarchy should be set up wherever the spiritual good of the faithful requires it.6 7 A brief textual analysis of this conciliar “call to action” is beneficial. The statement establishes that the ultimate goal is the preservation and enlargement of the individual churches1 throughout the world. This goal is to be achieved 3 It is interesting to note that the principle of one patriarch in one territory had long since been abandoned. 4 For example, in the United States, the Eastern European and Middle Eastern Catholic faithful did not feel comfortable with the Irish or German bishops (despite the reluctance of the Irish and German bishops in the United States to cede control over any Catholics in their territory to someone else). 5 One notes that the conciliar description of the ecclesia particularis (“particular church,” i.e., diocese) in Christus Dominus n. 11 does not include the factor of territory: A diocese is a section of the people of God whose pastoral care is entrusted to a bishop in cooperation with his priests. Thus, in conjunction with their pastor and gathered by him into one flock in the holy Spirit through the gospel and the eucharist, they constitute a particular church. In this church, the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church of Christ is truly present and at work. 6 Orientalium Ecclesiarum, n. 4. See also Christus Dominus n. 23. 7 The decree Orientalium Ecclesiarum, employs the term ecclesia particularis to identify what are now known as ecclesiae sui iuris in the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.
