Curial Bishops of the Catholic Oriental Churches
Dr. Francis Eluvathingal
Who is a Curial Bishop? How is he elected? What are his duties and responsibilities?
Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara Churches have declared to have curial Bishops in their respective Major Archiepiscopal curia. By the Episcopal Consecration and taking charge as curial bishops, all the Catholic Oriental 6 Patriarchal and 4 Major Archiepiscopal Churches will have bishops in their curia in order to help their Father and Head in the administration of their Churches.
In the Particular Laws of the Maronite church (1736) for the first time, we find legislation on having such office. Later this concept is developed in the laws of the Syrian (1888) and Armenian (1911) churches. These bishops were called as vicars general or patriarchal vicars in the beginning. Only by Cleri Sanctitati (CS, 1957) this figure was called Bishops of the curia which as repeated by CCEO.
Election of Curial Bishops
The Major Archbishop is to see whether there is a need for curial bishops in the Major Archiepiscopal curia or not (c. 87). Therefore it can be his personal decision. As per the law, any bishop can be transferred from his office as curial bishop and a curial bishop can be transferred to any other episcopal office. The Major Archbishop and the members of the synod of bishops can propose the names of the candidates. After gath¬ering sufficient information as for to ascertaining the suitability of the proposed candidates, the synod draws up a list of candidates, proceeding by secret vote. If the candidate to be elected is a priest, then pontifical assent is a must before the proclamation and episcopal ordination. For the election of a curial bishop, the other procedures are as same as of an eparchial bishop.
Administrative Role of the Curial Bishops as per CCEO
To carry out the administration of the sui iuris church, two organs get involved: the synod of bishops and the curia. After the permanent synod come the bishops of the curia in the next. The curial bishops can discharge functions only within the territorial boundaries of the Church (c. 181 §1). These bishops are to exercise the functions the Major Archbishop entrusts to them. In order to nominate bishops to the curia, the Major Archbishop is to see that the basic requirements are fulfilled like the provision for support, the possibility of residing and having an office in the curia. The Major Archbishop can appoint a maximum of three bishops in the curia, having the title of ‘bishops of the curia’ (c. 87). These bishops have various functions assigned to them by law.
The bishop senior according to episcopal ordination among the bishops of the curia will be the administrator of the vacant Major Archiepiscopal see (c. 127). The Major Archbishop can reserve to himself matters which concern several eparchies and involve the civil authorities, and if an urgent decision is to be taken, the Major Archbishop has to get the consent of the bishops of the curia (c. 100). There are other such situation also where the Major Archbishop has to discuss the matter with the bishops of the Curia (see c. 220, 3° and c. 232 §3).
The other Division of the Roles of the Curial Bishops
Though a few roles of these bishops are specified by CCEO, it does not make a clear division of the powers or offices for the curial bishops. We have seen in CCEO c. 78 §1, that the Major Archbishop cannot constitute a vicar for the entire church nor can he delegate his power to someone for all cases. But this canon does not at all forbid the Major Archbishop, from having different vicars for the administration of the Major Archiepiscopal Church, sharing the powers partially, either vicariously or by way of delegation. All three bishops would have titular sees and it would be better to have the title of archbishop at least to the senior most bishop of the curia who could eventually be the administrator of the Church. This administrator during the period of vacancy of the see would have the powers of the Major Archbishop. The titles of those existed sees of the same Church may be also conferred to these titular bishops.
As there can be only maximum of three bishops in the curia in order to help the Major Archbishop, there could be three sections functioning in the curia, with curial bishops as heads. All these sections could have a secretary, preferably a priest and if needed other officers. However, on the death of the Major Archbishop, all the heads of these sections, presidents and secretaries, cease from their function, until the new Major Archbishop confirms them in their office. The following is a division done in the light of the canon law and other situations.
Section for General Administration (SGA)
This is the first section. The president of it could also be nominated as the moderator of the curia with the responsibility of ensuring the skilful coordination of the curia. This section may help the Major Archbishop to effectively relate with the Roman Pontiff, the Apostolic and Holy See, the patriarchal, major archiepiscopal and metropolitan and other sui iuris Churches, the synod of bishops, the eparchies, the exarchies, all the bishops and the exarchs of the same sui iuris Church and with the civil authorities. This section might deal with the preparation of the decrees, instructions, precepts, rescripts, canonical provisions, administrative acts, dignities, privileges, elections and nominations of Major Archiepiscopal authority and all the other official acts. This section may help the Major Archbishop to find personnel, after having done the required enquiry, for the Major Archiepiscopal curia and other offices where the Major Archiepiscopal authority has to appoint persons. This section could also coordinate the activities of certain Major Archiepiscopal commissions like the commission for the Major Archiepiscopal assembly and for the preparation of the synod. The president of this section could be the chairman or an ex-officio member in these commissions in order to co-ordinate the activities of these commissions, representing the Major Archbishop in the commission meetings. This section could be made responsible for official bulletins, press releases and the directories of the Church. The responsibility of the Public Relation Office also could be entrusted to this section. This section would also assist the Major Archbishop in the preparation of pastoral and canonical visits of the Major Archbishop; be responsible for the vigilance of the administration of the temporal goods of the Church. The general vigilance on the tribunals of the Church could be also the responsibility of this section.
Section for Faith Related Subjects (SFRS)
The second section could be entrusted with the chief responsibility of protecting the faith of the Church. Hence it could be made responsible for the liturgy, theology, spirituality, discipline, doctrine, particular laws, customs, sacraments, sacramental, history, culture, art, literature, catechesis, liturgical music, structure of the Church, eco-theology, etc. The cults to the founder and the saints of the church, the prayers and relics of the saints, etc are to be under the vigilance of it. In the same way, it can see that those oriental fathers of the Church and those who have toiled hard for the well being the Church are respected with various programmes. It could also examine the theological books, statutes and typicon of religious institutes, by-law of the associations and other movements before the approval is given to them. This section can make scientific studies on the faith related subjects which will enable the synod of bishops to make more effective decisions. This section can help the Major Archbishop in the preparation of the pastoral and encyclical letters and it may see to the disciplinary questions of the laity, the religious and the priests as far as disciplinary questions are concerned in relation to the faith and morals. It could coordinate the activities of commissions like the commission for liturgy, for the particular law, for the catechism, for doctrine and theology, for censoring the books and for ecumenism. The president of this section would be the chairman or an ex-officio member in these commissions in order to co-ordinate the activities of these commissions and he would represent the Major Archbishop in the commission meetings.
Section for the Human Resources (SHR)
The most important resource of the Church is the human resource. This section has to deal with the various issues of the christian faithful, related to their spiritual and material well being. It will have to give utmost care for the needs of the secular priests, the men and women religious and those leading consecrated life, the seminarians, etc. The needs of the laity in general and in particular of the aged, family members, women, youth, children, daliths, widows, the sick, handicapped, mentally retarded, etc. are be cared for by this section. The needs of the associations, migrants, pilgrims, the non-catholics, the non-christians, etc. are to be cared by this section. The co-ordination among the activities of the farmers, business men, politicians, doctors, engineers, nurses, etc and all those who are working for the development of the nation contributing in one way or other is very much necessary. It can take initiatives for activities to foster relations with the hierarchy, clergy, religious and the laity. It has to take special interest for encouraging the needs of the missionaries and those who are involved in the evangelization works and those who work in the fields of education and health care. The media can be made use by this section to propagate the Christian values and principles to the vast public. The lay persons, the religious and clergy involved in various heroic gospel works, are to be given due recognition and they are to be respected with honours and titles in a systematic way by this section. It is to coordinate the activities of some Major Archiepiscopal commissions like the commission for pastoral care and evangelization, for clergy, religious and consecrated life, for education, for seminary formation, for Laity, for social communication, for the family, etc. The president of this section would be the chairman or an ex-officio member in these commissions in order to co-ordinate the activities of these commissions and he would represent the Major Archbishop in the commission meetings.