Module 4 Flashcards
The bishops role in the diocese
Within local diocese various organisations and structures. These include parishes, parish catechists, Catholic schools, welfare organisations’ youth organisations and many others
Local bishop collaborated with other WA bishops to establish state-wide organisations upon which a diocese can draw. It is important for people to gain an understanding of their local diocese in order to see the role of bishop within it.
The social justice and the Church’s Magisterium
In terms of social justice, the church’s Magisterium functions by:
- calling Catholics to become active in the world’s
- establishing church structures
- teaching how to live as Jesus taught
Explain the church in Australia
Is universal, however the Catholic Church acts in particular through dioceses and national conferences of bishops.
Together they promote social justice by fostering organisations and movements, as well as by teaching how the Gospel of Christ applies to justice issues needing to be faced by the nation.
Explain Applying the Gospel teaching to Australia
- Bishops of Aus gather twice each year to work on matters related to applying the teachings of Christ to national issues.
Objective is to identify practical actions and strategies that Catholics and other Australians could adopt to address problems - Aus bishops publish OFFICIAL STATEMENTS, outline Catholic teaching and action for the future to address areas of concern.
- can be found on the Bishop’s website and includes recommendations for Church Bodies, state and national governments
Eg Common Wealth for the common Good,
Result of an inquiry into poverty in Australia over a 4yr Pepcid
More than 700 submission were revived and 600 responses to the draft statement circulated as part of 3rd stage
Inquiry identified a number of problems that were the result of Australian politics and economy.
Bishops made a number of recommendations in the document
What is a Structure?
Religious Structures refer to the organisation of a religion, including its leadership
- the way a religion is organised and led is complex and needs to be seen as a system rather than a collection of parts
May be well established and formal or less well-defined and informal
What is a Process?
Religious process refer to how things are done in a religion
- they give expression to the workings of a particular religious structure
- there is a system or way of doing something according to series of step, actions or understandings
What is the relationship between structure and processes
They are related
What is the mission of the Catholic Church?
Jesus gave the mission - share Good news (evangelise)
Jesus commissioned apostles to complete this mission once he left
Apostles were organised to complete this main mission via
- Teach
- Govern
- Sanctify
Structures - Overall Structure of the church is Leadership; explain.
Pope Cardinals Archbishops Bishops Priest Deacons Laity
Structures - another Structure of the church is the Magisterium; explain.
- Purpose of the Magisterium is to ensure all who are trying to live and to teach the message of Christ do so authentically.
- The Church has accepted the authority of the Pope and bishops when they have officially exercised their roles of leadership in name of Jesus.
- Catholics have accepted the human limitations of members of the Church’s Magisterium, but also believe that the power of Jesus is too strong to be affected by these limitations.
- The structure includes; ( In Australia thus Pope is excluded; even though head of church, place is in Rome) Cardinal (George Pell AC is an Australian cardinal of the Catholic Church - serve as chief officials of the Roman Curia (the papal bureaucracy), as bishops of major dioceses, and often as papal envoys) . Archbishop (Timothy Costello, head bishop of Perth Province) Bishop (Timothy Costello - Perth) Priest, Deacons, the Laity
What is the Difference between in a Bishop and Archbishop?
A bishop oversees a diocese, which is a collection of local parishes; and an archbishop administers an archdiocese, which is just a really large diocese.
Archbishop is the HEAD BISHOP of a collection of dioceses; Ecclesiastical Province
ROLE - Explain the three main duties and responsibilities of the Bishop
- To Teach
- A bishop is the principal teacher in his diocese and has a responsibility to preach the Word of God to his people. He must ensure that those delegated to teach in his name, namely priests, teachers, catechists and others, teach the truth.
- To Govern
- This refers to meeting the needs of the local community (material, social, personal and spiritual) as well as ensuring that Church laws are observed.
- He is ultimately responsible for training and supplying priests for parishes, for the finances of the diocese and for all church property.
- A bishop has the power to make Church laws, be a judge in Church matters and to enforce observance of these laws. These laws generally relate to worship, preaching, administration of the sacraments, safeguarding the faith and morals of the faithful and religious instruction.
- To Sanctify
- A bishop is responsible for ensuring that the sacraments are administered and has the special authority to ordain priests and to confirm.
- It is usually the case, then, for a bishop to ordain the priests who are to serve in his diocese and to travel around the diocese and administer the Sacrament of Confirmation.
- He must also ensure that Mass is celebrated in the diocese every Sunday and on major feast days.
Who appoints a Bishop in the Catholic Church in Australia?
- the Roman Catholic Church, the bishop is selected by the pope (current; Pope Francis) and receives confirmation in his office at the hands of an archbishop and two other bishops.
- For priests - bishops appoint the priest its as they are higher in hierarchy and posses the power of the gifts of the Holy Spirit to do so.
To whom is a Bishop directly responsible?
• A “diocesan bishop” is entrusted with the care of a local Church (diocese). He is responsible for teaching, governing, and sanctifying the faithful of his diocese, sharing these duties with the priests and deacons who serve under him.
What is a Ordinary Magisterium?
Popes and Bishops acting in groups or alone in their dioceses to GOVERN, SANCTIFY OR TEACH their flock / people by using the gifts of authority
