Orientalium dignitas

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Orientalium dignitas is an Apostolic Letter from Pope Leo XIII. , it was published November 30, 1894 and is subtitled On the Eastern Churches . Leo XIII. In this letter, demands that the Eastern Churches, with all desirable rapprochement, ultimately submit to the Pope on the question of primacy . He substantiates this with the constitution of December 24, 1743 issued by his predecessor Benedict XIV .

Leo XIII. sent this updated constitution to the Greek Melkite Patriarch of Antioch and to all bishops of the Eastern Churches with the request to submit to this order. He guarantees the patriarchs of the Eastern Church that their idiosyncrasies will be retained, praises their loyalty to the faith and reminds of the spiritual work carried out in the Athens Institute , which was led by Pope Gregory XIII. was established.

Regulations on the relationship between the Eastern and Latin Churches

Leo XIII. establishes some orders on the basis of the decree issued by Benedict XIV:

  • No missionary of the Latin rite may attempt to force a clergyman of the Eastern Churches to switch to the Latin rite. This attempt is a criminal offense.
  • If a patriarch of the Eastern Church lacks a clergyman of his rite, he can entrust a priest of another rite with the administration of the sacraments and the pastoral care of the community. The faithful should be given the opportunity to receive communion in each rite. Even if the believers received communion for a long time outside of their own rite, one should not assume that they have converted to the other rite.
  • The new generation of priests in the Eastern Churches should take place at the institutes of the Eastern Church, in their language and according to their rites, and they should be able to observe the fasting days.
  • The same should apply to the institutes of women religious who are dedicated to the education and upbringing of girls. Changes should be made in consultation with the Patriarch and the Holy See .
  • New schools or foundations of the Latin rite will in future only be opened with the approval of the Apostolic See .
  • The granting of absolution is legal for the Roman Catholic priests and the priests of the Eastern rite only in their own rite, exceptions can be granted.
  • It is not lawful for both Latin and Eastern rite priests to give absolution to believers of the other rite unless they have permission to do so. Corresponding privileges from earlier times are considered revoked.
  • Anyone who has changed from the Eastern to the Latin rite should be given the opportunity to return to the Eastern rite upon request from the Apostolic See.
  • Women who have married a spouse of the other rite should have the freedom to switch to their husbands rite at the time of marriage and to return to their original rite after the end of the marriage.
  • Neither the decisions of the marriage court nor those of the ecclesiastical court are incumbent on the apostolic delegate; instead, they should be left to the Congregation for the Defense of the Faith.

See also

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