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68 Jurist 361 (2008)
The Task of a Bishop in His Diocese Christus Dominus 11-21

handle is hein.journals/juristcu68 and id is 369 raw text is: THE JURIST 68 (2008) 361-381 THE TASK OF A BISHOP IN HIS DIOCESE CHRISTUS DOMINUS 11-21 GEORGE H. TAVARD' L Christus Dominus at Vatican II Christus Dominus has not been considered one of the major conciliar projects, since the principles relating to the nature of the episcopate and the responsibility of bishops were already stated in the constitution De Ecclesia, before any discussion of Christus Dominus. Nevertheless, the composition of this decree was particularly difficult, and its discussion in council far from smooth. The preparatory commission de episcopis composed a text that it pre- sented to the Coordinating Commission of the Council on December 6, 1962.2 The text, more canonical than theological, was focused on the government of dioceses. On January 31, 1963, the Coordinating Com- mission of Coordination sent a series of remarks about it to the chair, Cardinal Paolo Marella. Revised by a small group from the preparatory commission, it was returned, on March 20, to the Coordinating Commis- sion, which approved it on March 26 for presentation to the council. The conciliar commission de episcopis met for the first time on April 30, 1963. To the surprise of some members, it had nothing to do at first, since the text of the preparatory commission, De episcopis ac de dioece- sium regimine, was ready for a full conciliar debate. The debate took place in November 1963 over four days (congregations 60 to 64). On No- vember 5 the bishop of Segni, Luigi Carli, introduced the text. This in- troduction occasioned immediate protests, for Carli had been chosen by I Editor's note: Father Tavard, an Assumptionist priest, a significant conciliarperitus, and one of the most noteworthy Catholic ecumenists in the postconciliar period, was a member of the Peter and Paul Seminar from the beginning. Regrettably he passed away suddenly in Paris on August 13, 2007. For a thoughtful recollection of his ecclesially sig- nificant life and ministry, see Donald Bolen, George Henri Tavard, A.A.-in memoriam, Ecumenical Trends 36/8 (September 2007) 13-14. Requiescat in pace. 2 For historical details the author relies chiefly on the four volumes of Antoine Wenger's Vatican I. Chronique ( Paris: Le Centurion, 1963-1965). Fr Wenger, redactor- in-chief of the newspaper La Croix, was the only journalist allowed to sit as an observer in all the daily sessions of the council.

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