Conference of the bishops of France

The Conférence of the bishops of France is a structure of the Catholic church in France which gathers the whole of the bishop S and cardinal in activity resident in metropolitan France and in the overseas departments (D.O.M.), as well as the French cardinals in retirement residing in France.

Form also part of the Conference, the bishop placed at the head of the éparchie (diocese) of the Armenians in France, the exarque of the Ukrainians in France, the apostolic vicars and apostolic prefects of the overseas departments, the apostolic administrators and administrators diocesans (in the dioceses temporarily deprived of bishop) exerting their load in France.

Bishops of the Overseas territories (T.O.M.), which concern the Episcopal conference of the Pacific, like certain superiors of religious orders, take part in the debates but have only one advisory role.

History

The Conference of the bishops of France was created in 1966 to take the continuation of the Assemblée of the cardinals and archbishops of France which went back to 1945. It corresponds to a request of the the Holy See of 1919.

Organization

Plenary assembly

The whole of the bishops, who constitute the Conference, meets once per annum in Lourdes, in plenary assembly. This assembly makes decisions concerning the Catholic church in France, and gives opinions on security questions.

The president and the vice-president of the assembly are elected for three years.

The permanent Council

Composed of 10 members, it is charged to ensure the continuity of the presence of the Conference during the year, takes care of the application of the decisions of the plenary assembly, and cordonne the actions of the commissions and committees of the Conference. Its members are partly elected by the assembly.

General secretary

It is the body of connection between the various services of the Catholic church in France. It also prepares work, and concretely ensures the execution of the decisions of the assembly.

Commissions and committees

10, the commissions have each one a field of reflection and action:
  • sacramental Liturgy and pastoral,
  • Catechesis and Catechumenate,
  • ordered Ministries,
  • Consecrated life,
  • Family,
  • apostolic Movements and associations of Faithful S,
  • universal Mission of the Church,
  • Unit of the Christians,
  • Social Committee of the bishops of France,
  • Education, life and Faith of the young people.

Each president of commission is elected for one year at the time of the plenary assembly.

The committees are composed of bishop S elected by the Conference for longer durations, and examine problems which leave attributions of the commissions:

  • information and the Communication
  • the Canon law
  • international relations
  • the questions economic S of the Conference.

Standpoint and declarations

It published the Catéchisme for adults in 1991 with the agreement of the Holy See.

Charges of gallicanism

The CEF was shown on many occasions to show Gallicanisme. The bishops are sometimes reserved on the standpoint appropriateness certain of the pope, in particular with regard to the use of the sacrament of forgiveness and the liberalization of the missal tridentin, called of saint Pie V (Latin mass).

Successive presidents

The presidents of the conference of the bishops of France are elected at the time of the annual plenary assemblies for a Mandat three years, renewable once.

Also on November 5th, 2007 the vice-presidents of the Conference of the bishops of France are elected: Mgr Laurent Ulrich, Archbishop of Chambéry, bishop of Maurienne and Tarentaise, and Mgr Hippolyte Simon, Archbishop of Clermont.

See too

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