Vyskupų konferencijos 1983 m. Kanonų teisės kodekse (II)
Episcopal conferences in the code of canon law 1983 (ii)

Summary/Abstract: Describing the juridical aspect of Bishops’ Conferences, it is easy to notice that it gained a new qualitative expression after the Vatican II and became more concrete after coming into force of the new Code of Canon Law. Legally the Bishops’ Conferences maintained their private character when in the 19th century they started to confirm their statute. As a part of universal law, the Bishops’ Conferences became only after Vatican II as an expression of “re-discovered” notion of local Churches and collegiality in the Church, the expression of community and responsibility. If the earlier Code of Canon Law of 1917 described Bishops’ Conferences as a meeting of provincial bishops, seeking the good of separate dioceses, we can say that this Code did not know Bishops’ Conferences as such. Until the Vatican II the Conferences were unofficial, a gathering of neighbouring bishops on a voluntary basis, having only moral authority. After this Council, the Conferences became legal institutions, having the juridical power and enabling the subjects to pass the laws. Vatican II offered a free possibility to establish Bishops’ Conferences, and only Pope Paul VI required them to be established everywhere. Vatican II in its teaching did not want to render these institutions full-scale juridical regulation, only essential and common principles. Wide variety of practical adjustment and theoretical specifications were offered, especially in legal and theological spheres. Introduction of additional norms confirm this. M. P. Apostolos suos. 122 Petras SMILGYS The article offers some elements, describing legal nature of this institution. One of them – the stability of the institution. This concerns all parts of the institution: the head of the Conference, constant councils, general secretariat, different councils and committees, the regularity of plenary meetings. This shows the difference between Bishops’ Conferences and plenary or provincial meetings. Conferences as legal units express their juridical nature in difference with partial meetings or diocese synods and the existence of statutes with their specific contents. Much attention is allotted to describe the members of Bishops’ Conferences. Also the last statements of M. P. Apostolos suos, concerning the bishops emeritus are given. The territorial principle of Bishops’ Conferences is also described. The article closes with an open question: is it possible to treat Bishops’ Conferences as intermediary institutions between the Holy See and local Churches? It is time for waiting; it is the question of future for the Conferences to reveal their identity.

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