www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Defrocking bishops

Questions have arisen in the Catholic Church about the way in which bishops have been treated in the ongoing scandals revolving around child abuse. Some commentators have questioned why priests have been defrocked and bishops seem to have been given a pass.

Since this question is still open, I thought I'd ask our Orthodox brethren about whether bishops get a pass or, given a scandal of great magnitude, if there is a practice of a bishop's Synod relieving him of both his eparchy and even his status as a cleric. Some years ago the Greek orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem was replaced by his Synod. I'm not clear as to how this works and would like some idea of what went on. I don't need to know the gory details, just the mechanism and the theory behind it.

Thanks, have a blessed Great and Holy Week.

Bob

Bob,

This does not answer your question, but the scandal of Bishops refusing to exercise the Office of the Keys by tolerating scandalous clerics is pandemic across Christendom.

While I personally am opposed to the functionalist understanding of the ministry of oversight in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) this understanding has given rise to the practice of Synods electing their Bishops for six year terms. Some Synods have term limits, generally two terms. Others have no limits other than the will of the electorate.

Generally, but not always, the sitting Bishop is re-elected. In most cases where the sitting Bishop is not re-elected there has been a scandal or general incompetence. But in some cases orthodox, Godly Bishops are being deposed in favor of those pursuing the pro-gay agenda, feminist liturgical language, etc.

My Synod had the latter situation occur--part of the reason behind my screen name.

Keep a Good Lent in these final days!

I've always wanted to see the ritual in the Roman Rite for the defrocking of a bishop. It is of course probably never used, and I don't know if survived the post-conciliar reforms. I've seen it described, and it seems to be pretty intense (ritualistic taking away of the bishop's crozier, etc. etc.).

Alexis

The ceremonial probably still exists, but generally hasn't been used since almost all bishops who are worthy of being defrocked will refuse to show...

And the ones who'd show are usually just retired to a monastery somewhere out of the loop.

I heard of a recent banishment of an abbot and his assistant for abusing young monks. The monastery was disbanded and the monks sent to other houses in their order. On the other hand, however, both the abbot and his assistant refused to obey the Pope's order and are living with family in some sort of ambiguous state. So much for the vow of obedience; works when one wants to and doesn't have a claim when one doesn't.

Bob

Well, Fr. Marcial Degollado wasn't a bishop, but Pope Benedict banished him to a monastery for a life of prayer and repentance following the revelation of his sexual misconduct.

Alexis

Altho it has nothing to do with DEfrocking a bishop, here's a suggestion for a new practice during the ceremony of the ordination of a bishop: in addition to presenting the new bishop with the mitre (or even better yet, INSTEAD OF) - perhaps he should be presented and crowned with a crown of THORNS.

yes. Replacing the mitre with a crown of thorns. That'd work for me.

At least he obeyed the Pope in this--he deserves some credit for that.

Sielos,

The idea definitely has some merit--a potent reminder of the bishop's (and all Christians') duty to follow in the footsteps of the Master!

Let's not get carried away, though. Traditions--even those of human origin--are very important in the life of the Church.


Peace,
Deacon Richard

Maybe I ought to wear a crown of thorns from time to time. THAT's what would probably work for ME.
I wouldn't enjoy it but one does not always enjoy what one needs...

Deacon Richard and Sielos:

Christ is Risen!! Indeed He is Risen!!

An Orthodox priest told me that when he was ordained the bishop whispered to him something attributed to St. John Chrysostom. "Remember that the floor of Hell is paved witht he skulls of priests." And on the back of his pectoral cross were the words, "Be an example for the believers."

Maybe something simple and sobering like this.

Bob

The last occasion that comes to mind of the actual use of the rite of "degradation from the episcopate" was the degradation of "Bishop" de Landas Berghes, around the end of World Wat I, in the Catholic Cathedral in New York. The degraded bishop was then retired to a monastery, where he died less than a year later.

It didn't make much difference; at least two further bishops who had been consecrated by de Landas continued to function and consecrated a remarkable number of other bishops.

Fr. Serge

Sounds like the slave in the Roman triumph, who stood behind the victorious general in his chariot, whispering in his ear, "Thou, too, art mortal!"

What's wrong with the simple term, "deposed"?

The full version of that Quote is "the road to hell is paved with the skulls of priest and bishops are the lamp post".
Chad