Did anyone see the distribution of the palliums bestowed upon four bishops this week? Archbishop Rigali, Burke, and two others.

Could someone please expound on what that is and what it means. I noticed that the fellows receiving this honor are very orthodox. In fact, Archbishop Burke just this past week was interviewed on the local radio station in St. Louis and stated that anyone VOTING for a pro-abortion candidate should not receive communion until absolution!

Gail

-- Gail (rothfarms@socket.net), July 02, 2004

Answers

You can find some information here:

Pallium

-- Paul M. (PaulCyp@cox.net), July 02, 2004.

Basically a Pallium is given to all Metropolitans, i.e. Archbishops who have several dioceses in their Province. (Although each diocese is run autonomously, they are congregated into Provinces, with the Archbishop as Metropolitan.) The Bishops of individual dioceses don't normally receive one, but occasionally may as a special honour. How Orthodox an Archbishop is or isn't wouldn't affect his being given the Pallium. It's a necessity of his position and normally given soon after 'Installation' or 'Episcopal Ordination', depending on whether he was a bishop or priest prior to being appointed Archbishop.

-- Catholic (Catholic@Dioceses.com), July 02, 2004.