Ea Semper
Encyclopedia
Ea Semper was an apostolic letter written by Pope
Pius X in September 1907 that dealt with the governance of the Eastern Catholics in the United States. It dealt with the appointment of Stephen Soter Ortynski as the first bishop of the Ruthenian Catholics in the United States, together with papal instructions concerning his powers and duties. The general constitution of the Greek Rite in America was also published.
to the Latin Rite bishops, some of whom (such as Bishop John Ireland
, for instance) were hostile to the Greek Rite. Furthermore, it also modified several aspects of Greek Catholicism that differed from the Latin Rite. Confirmation was no longer to be conferred at baptism (as in the Greek Orthodox church, from which the Greek Catholics were descended), and could now only be given by a bishop (not a priest, as in the Eastern churches). No new married priests were to be ordained in America or to be sent to America. The pope's missive also mandated changes to the regulations governing marriages
between persons in the Latin and Greek rites.
, particularly in America; this continued a movement that began in 1892 under St. Alexis Toth, who was later canonized by the Orthodox Church in America
. Although critics would insist that Pan Slav nationalism was more to blame for this than genuine religious feeling, a further 80,000 or so would leave Rome for Orthodoxy after publication of the letter. The Orthodox Church in America claims that by 1916, the Roman Catholic church had lost 163 Uniate parishes, with over 100,000 faithful, to the Russian missionary diocese.
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
Pius X in September 1907 that dealt with the governance of the Eastern Catholics in the United States. It dealt with the appointment of Stephen Soter Ortynski as the first bishop of the Ruthenian Catholics in the United States, together with papal instructions concerning his powers and duties. The general constitution of the Greek Rite in America was also published.
Contents
Pius' letter created considerable dissatisfaction among the American Greek Rite clergy and laity, since it did not provide for any diocesan authority for their new bishop. Rather, it made him an auxiliaryAuxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
to the Latin Rite bishops, some of whom (such as Bishop John Ireland
John Ireland
John Ireland may refer to:* John Ireland , Anglican priest and philanthropist* John Ireland , American politician...
, for instance) were hostile to the Greek Rite. Furthermore, it also modified several aspects of Greek Catholicism that differed from the Latin Rite. Confirmation was no longer to be conferred at baptism (as in the Greek Orthodox church, from which the Greek Catholics were descended), and could now only be given by a bishop (not a priest, as in the Eastern churches). No new married priests were to be ordained in America or to be sent to America. The pope's missive also mandated changes to the regulations governing marriages
Catholic marriage
Catholic marriage, also called matrimony, is a "covenant by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life and which is ordered by its nature to the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring...
between persons in the Latin and Greek rites.
Reaction
Ea Semper created considerable dissatisfaction among Eastern Catholics in the U.S., and to a lesser extent in Europe. This in turn resulted in many conversions to Russian OrthodoxyRussian Orthodoxy
Russian Orthodoxy in Christianity may refer to:*Eastern Orthodox Church, the Church descended from the Imperial Church of the Byzantine Empire*Russian Orthodox Church*Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia*Old Believers*True Orthodox Church...
, particularly in America; this continued a movement that began in 1892 under St. Alexis Toth, who was later canonized by the Orthodox Church in America
Orthodox Church in America
The Orthodox Church in America is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church in North America. Its primate is Metropolitan Jonah , who was elected on November 12, 2008, and was formally installed on December 28, 2008...
. Although critics would insist that Pan Slav nationalism was more to blame for this than genuine religious feeling, a further 80,000 or so would leave Rome for Orthodoxy after publication of the letter. The Orthodox Church in America claims that by 1916, the Roman Catholic church had lost 163 Uniate parishes, with over 100,000 faithful, to the Russian missionary diocese.