Thoughts and Excerpts: Receiving the Council by Ladislas Orsy, Post 2, Communio

This post discusses Orsy’s take on communio, the theological underpinning of all forms of organization in the Church.

The bishops at Vatican II “ … stated that the church was first and foremost a ‘communion,’ communio, a union of persons in a unique sense–created by the Spirit of Christ. … Briefly but substantially, this is the theological reality of communio. All external manifestations of unity, such as collegiality and solidarity, flow from it.” (p. 4,5)

“This spiritual communio is an ontological reality and the origin and prototype of any other communio in the church. It is not a hypothesis; it is not an opinion. It belongs to the core of Catholic doctrine.” (p. 6-7)

Ordination incorporates a person into the communio of “servant shepherds” which includes bishops, priests and deacons. Orsy says they are a community not a military organization. “None of the three orders alone has the full intelligence and prudence needed for the proper care of a local church (a diocese). The bishop needs others to govern the diocese.”

“To have a priests’ council is not a concession; it is a theological necessity.” (p. 8 )

The Bishops have their own communio – the college of bishops, with the Pope as its head. But since the 12th century the church has evolved a centralization that gives the pope powers above and beyond those as head of the college of bishops. The Orthodox church doesn’t have this structure. But it’s not just the papacy that needs reforming; bishops, priests and the rest of us need to take responsibility. The whole church needs to be reformed. “…reform in the exercise of primacy is possible only if it is balanced by corresponding transformations within the community at large.” (p. 12)

“Gregory VII is remembered for having initiated a movement toward a strong centralized government. Perhaps in a millennium from now, John XXIII will be remembered for having changed the course of events and set the church on the path of communio. Blessed be his name.” (p. 15)

Tags: canon law, Orsy, structures of governance