Church and Law 1 (14) 2012: 67-83

Legislative competences of the conference of bishops as regards munus docendi

 

Mariola Lewicka

According to the teaching of the Vatican Council II, the proclaiming of the Word of God is the main function of the bishop. The teaching function of bishops can exercise personally in communion with the Roman Pontiff or collegial within the framework of the conference of bishops, what is one of the indicative of affective collegiality. Bishops assembled within the framework of the conference of bishops realize the legislative competences in the range of the teaching function issued general decrees. A conference of bishops has power to issue general decrees in cases where the Code of Canon Law of 1983 has prescribed it or a special mandate of the Apostolic See has established it either motu proprio or at the request of the conference itself (can. 455 § 1), and each and every bishop has given consent (can. 455 § 4).

 

Słowa kluczowe: konferencja biskupów, dekrety ogólne, recognitio, zadanie nauczania, kompetencje legislacyjne

 

Key words: conference of bishops, general decrees, recognitio, the teaching function, legislative competences