Hi dear Brothers and sisters in Jesus, I've hit upon EWTN a few times for the bishops' conference but can't get the gist of it. Maybe 'cause they aren't into the meat of it yet. What is the significance of a 'plenary' conference. Who calls it, and when was the last one? What is the purpose of this one, and what can we expect to see discussed and resolved? God's blessings on us all! Theresa

-- Theresa Huether (Rodntee4Jesus@aol.com), November 12, 2002

Answers

bump

-- Jake Huether (jake_huether@yahoo.com), November 12, 2002.

Here is some information. Hope it's helpful.

-- jake (jake1@pngusa.net), November 12, 2002.

The subject line "Would someone explain the Plenary Conference going on?" shows a possible confusion about a PLENARY Conference. There is NOT one "going on".

This week the bishops of the United States are in their usual semi- annual meeting as a group. One of the topics to be considered is a proposal by some bishops for the calling of a Plenary Council for the United States in the future. As the link which jake1 provided to a web page on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops site leads, one can see that the last US Plenary Council was in 1884, yes over 100 years ago.

"Plenary" is just a word meaning full and is thus also used to refer to the full sessions (of all bishops) held at the the current Bishops' meeting. There are also smaller sessions, e.g. regional groups of bishops meeting together, during the Washington meeting, but a plenary session is when all the bishops of the US are meeting together in the large meeting room as a group.

Edward Pothier

-- Edward Pothier (EdwardPothier@aol.com), November 13, 2002.

Thanks Jake and Ed, that's helpful.

-- Theresa Huether (Rodntee4Jesus@aol.com), November 13, 2002.

Jmj

Hi, Theresa.

The U.S. bishops meet in a "plenary" way twice a year (around June and November) for three or four days, to discuss and vote on documents and translations that have been prepared by committees, to pass a budget, to vote for new officers and committee members, to concelebrate Mass and Liturgy of the Hours, to make the acquaintance of new bishops and renew the acquaintance of old friends, to discuss serious matters in a private session, etc..

I think that the proposed Plenary Council, if it is ever held, will be more formal and longer than the semi-yearly bishops' meetings. I also think that it may be held only in closed-door (non-televised) sessions, so that each bishop will really speak his mind without holding back. As I understand it, the seven bishops who joined together to call for the Council (later joined by over 100 co-signors) want the bishops to discuss the tremendous decline in morality in the U.S., the failures of the clergy (and perhaps Catholic schools, RCIA, and CCD?) to teach morality correctly, the situation involving proper candidates to enter seminaries, and other matters of this kind. The catalyst for this is supposed to have been the strong statements that Pope John Paul II made about morality earlier this year, when the U.S. cardinals went to visit him and discuss the sexual abuse crisis.

God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik (jfgecik@hotmail.com), November 15, 2002.

Dear John, I meant to respond last week, but forgot. Thank you so much for your thorough answer. Your responses for Mary on the "Mary the right choice" thread are right on, yessssss!!!!!! Theresa

-- Theresa Huether (Rodntee4Jesus@aol.com), November 17, 2002.

Thanks so much, Theresa! I am so far behind in my reading here (about three days worth) that I have not been back to that "Mary" thread to see what folks posted after my message. My life is just too hectic. (Come on, retirement!)
God willing, I'll live long enough to get caught up again!
JFG

-- (jfgecik@hotmail.com), November 20, 2002.