Consultative Body
| General Description |
Membership |
Existence |
1. College of
Eparchial
Consultors
(CCEO c. 271) |
The college of eparchial
consultors assists the
eparchial bishop in the
governance of the
eparchy in accord with
the provisions of
common and particular
law. At times, the law
requires the eparchial
bishop to consult the
college, and to obtain its
consent. |
The college is
comprised of no less
than six priests, and no
more than twelve, who
are members of the
presbyteral council at
the time of their
appointment by the
eparchial bishop. |
The college of eparchial
consultors is a required
body within the eparchy.
It is to be established for
a five-year term, but it
continues its functions
even after that time until
a new college is
constituted. The college
of eparchial consultors
continues in existence
during a vacant or
impeded see. |
2. Eparchial
Pastoral Council
(CCEO cc. 272-275) |
The eparchial pastoral
council exercises a
three-fold responsibility,
under the governance
of the eparchial bishop.
It investigates,
evaluates, and proposes
practical conclusions
regarding matters
pertaining to the
pastoral welfare of the
eparchy. Unlike the
diocesan pastoral
council in the Latin
Catholic Church, the
eparchial pastoral
council is not required
to convene annually
(CIC c. 514, §2). |
The pastoral council
consists of clerics,
religious or members of
societies of common
life, and especially lay
people. In so far as
possible, the council is
to be representative of
the eparchy with
respect to persons,
associations and other
endeavors. If suitable,
the eparchial bishop
can invite others to be
members of the
pastoral council even if
they are ascribed in
other Churches sui
iuris. The manner of
determining
membership on the
pastoral council is left
to the eparchial bishop
and should be
articulated in the
council's statutes. |
Unlike the college of
eparchial consultors or
the presbyteral council--
which are required by
canon law--the
establishment of the
pastoral council is left to
the discretion of the
eparchial bishop should
pastoral circumstances
within the eparchy
recommend it. The
pastoral council is to be
established for a definite
period of time. It goes
out of existence when the
eparchial see is vacant. |
3. Eparchial
Assembly
(CCEO cc. 235-242) |
The eparchial assembly
assists the eparchial
bishop in those things
concerning the special
needs or usefulness of
the eparchy. At the
discretion of the
eparchial bishop, the
assembly's advice may
lead to the promulgation
of laws, declarations or
decrees. |
In iure members: the
coadjutor bishop and
auxiliary bishops;
protosyncellus, syncelli,
judicial vicar; eparchial
finance officer;
eparchial consultors;
rector of the eparchial
major seminary;
protopresbyters; at
least one pastor from
each district within the
eparchy, to be elected
by all of those who
have the care of souls
there; members of the
presbyteral council;
some delegates from
the pastoral council (if
it exists), elected by the
council in a manner
determined by
particular law; some
deacons, elected
according to particular
law; superiors of
monasteries sui iuris,
and some superiors of
other institutes of
consecrated life which
have a house in the
eparchy, elected in a
manner determined by
particular law; lay
persons elected by the
pastoral council (if it
exists), or elected in
some other manner
determined by the
eparchial bishop. The
number of lay persons
is not to exceed one-third of the eparchial
assembly.
At the eparchial
bishop's discretion:
As members other
persons, even of other
Churches sui iuris.
As observers persons
from non-Catholic
Churches or ecclesial
communities. |
The eparchial assembly is
convened as often as
circumstances warrant it
in the judgment of the
eparchial bishop, after he
has consulted the
presbyteral council. It is
the right of the eparchial
bishop to convene the
eparchial assembly, to
preside over it personally
or through another, and to
transfer, postpone,
suspend or dissolve it. If
the eparchial see
becomes vacant, the
eparchial assembly is
suspended by the law
itself until the new
eparchial bishop issues a
decree to continue or
terminate it. |
| 4. Eparchial
Finance Council
(CCEO cc. 262-263) |
The eparchial finance
council assists the
eparchial bishop in the
preparation of the
annual budget, the
appointment of the
eparchial finance
officer, and in offering
general oversight of the
administration of the
temporal goods of the
eparchy. The eparchial
bishop is to hear the
finance council
concerning the more
important acts related to
eparchial financial
matters and, in some
instances he must obtain
the council's consent. |
The eparchial finance
council is comprised of
the eparchial bishop
(who acts as the
council's president), the
eparchial finance
officer, and other
suitable persons who
are also, if possible,
expert in civil law.
Persons are appointed
to the council by the
eparchial bishop
following consultation
with the college of
consultors, unless a
different manner has
been delineated by
particular law. Those
related to the eparchial
bishop up to the fourth
degree inclusive of
consanguinity or
affinity may not be
members of the
council. No mention is
made in the common
law regarding a
minimum or maximum
number of persons who
are to comprise the
finance council, nor is
the question of a term
of office considered.
Such matters are
determined by
particular law. |
The finance council is a
required body under
canon law. The council
does not dissolve during a
vacant or impeded see. |
5. Eparchial
Presbyteral Council
(CCEO cc. 264-270) |
The presbyteral council
is a group of priests
representing the
eparchial presbyterate
which assists the
eparchial bishop by
offering its advice
regarding the pastoral
needs and welfare of
the eparchy. The
eparchial bishop hears
the presbyteral council
in matters of greater
importance and he is
obliged to consult it in
certain circumstances. |
Some priests are ex
officio members of the
presbyteral council,
others are appointed by
the eparchial bishop,
and another portion are
priests who are elected
by the presbyterate
according to the
provisions of particular
law. The members of
the presbyteral council
are designated for a
term determined in the
statutes so that the
whole council, or at
least some part of it, is
renewed within a five-year period. |
The eparchial bishop is
obliged to establish a
presbyteral council within
the eparchy. If the
eparchy is vacant, the
presbyteral council
ceases to exist and its
function is carried out by
the college of eparchial
consultors. |