There's plenty of links off of this that are even more interesting. I think it has huge implications. What say ye, Men of the West? (What say ye, Men of the East? Women? North? South? Anyone?)
If His Holiness wants to re-re model after the East, what will the role of the Laity be?
I think the Laity plays a pretty big role in the autocephalous model, that's how the big dogs are kept in check, I believe. And the reason the Orthodox are successful is because the Laity is high-claiber in that they willingly embrace and protect Tradition.
How will that ever be the case (at least in the forseeable future) for the RC Laity?
To talk about things as a theologian, theorizing and considering options, is often a different reality than actually having the job and running things. It will be interesting to see how his speculations as theologian are deemed doable by him now that he has the job!
That word, 'communio,' will be a focus of this Papacy.
A start would be to segregate them out into:
Latin (Spanish/French/Portugese/Italian areas)
Africa
English
Germanic
Slavic/Hungarian
Asian
Cardinal Ratzinger wrote Primat und Episkopat in 1969.
Perhaps he has changed his thinking since then.
ping
The Orthodox have that structure, and they bicker back and forth and have different rules depending on which patriarchy you would find yourself in.
Can't you just see this? It would make things much worse for catholics. One diocese would decide this, another that, which is already the case even worse than before.
There is so much instability right now. It would be a grand concession to the Orthodox, but it could throw catholicism around the world into total chaos.
The only thing that is holding the church together, for better or for worse, doctrinally is Rome, and only Rome has been able to have any affect on some of the liturgical abuses and little effect on some of the other problems as things stand now.
If all the bishops get together regularly and agree to the letter, I would be ok with it. That ain't likely to happen.
I wouldn't put it past some bishops to allow kool aid and dog biscuits.
The optimum outcome: We become like the Orthodox
The likely outcome: We become like the Anglican Communion.
The Western Hemisphere could become the Patriarchy of the (West) Indies with the primatial see being at Guadalupe in Mexico where Our Lady appeared to Juan Diego!
With due regard to the above cautions about the date of Ratzinger's comments and the fact that he made them as a private theologian and not as the Pope, I am not so sure that it is beyond the pale. In fact, it already exists in the distinction between the Latin rite and the Eastern rites in communion with Rome. What Ratzinger appeared to be suggesting is that the primacy would pertain to doctrine and magisterium, the patriarchies to matters of jurisdiction and discipline (canon law, liturgy, etc.). If that is the case it would simply be expanding on a model which already exists. Even more, did it not exist for centuries before the Great Schism between East and West? I am no historian, but that is my general impression. Finally, the union of primacy and patriarchy might have seemed more appropriate when the Western church was primarily European, and no doubt it was reinforced in response to the divisive and nationalistic character of the Protestant Reformation. But now that Catholicism has become a world religion and serious ecumenical efforts are afoot, perhaps the time for a newer model has come. I am sure it would be more attractive not only to the Orthodox but also to the more conservative part of the Anglican communion.
Opening more doors, through which Satan will creep.
Our local, very conservative Bishop Sheridan can't even keep his North county Priests in line. We have 2 of the most liberal Parish's I've ever seen.
No Eternal Light or presence of the Eucharist in the "Worship Center".
No kneelers.
Deny the authority of the local Bishop.
Levened bread for the Eucharist.
etc....