Orientalium Dignitas

Orientalium Dignitas is an Apostolic Letter of Pope Leo XIII, it was released on 30 November 1894 and is subtitled. "On the Eastern Churches ". Leo XIII. calls, in this letter, that the Eastern Churches, in the question of primacy to insinuate at all desirable approach in the end the Pope had. He occupied this with the system adopted by his predecessor Benedict XIV Constitution of 24 December 1743rd

Leo XIII. sent this updated constitution to the Greek Melkite Patriarch of Antioch and all the bishops of the Eastern Churches, with an invitation to submit this order. It guarantees the patriarchs of the Eastern Church to maintain their own species whose praises loyalty to faith and reminds us of the intellectual work in the Institute of Athens, which. Pope Gregory XIII was founded, is made.

Rules on the relationship of the Eastern Churches and the Latin Church

Leo XIII. shall, on the basis of the decree issued by Benedict XIV, some arrangements that:

• No missionary of the Latin Rite should make an attempt a priest of the Eastern Churches of the Latin rite to force. This attempt is punishable.
• As a priest in the communities of the Eastern Patriarchs to use the law of the Eastern Rite clergy. Only if no priest of the Eastern Churches in communities is available this may lead through a priest of the Latin rite a community.
• The new priests in the Eastern Churches should be sent to the institutions of the Eastern Church, in their own language and according to their rites. The training of priests and the cast of Priest points in municipalities is up to the patriarchs and bishops.
• Even women who are dedicated to the education of girls in convents or schools should be able to be taught at these institutions. Major changes must be made in collusion with the Patriarch and the Holy See.
• New schools or religious houses of the Latin Rite will be made only in consultation with the Apostolic See.
• The granting of absolution is for the Roman Catholic priest and the priests of the Eastern rite only in its own rite, exemptions may be granted, in accordance with law.
• After a conversion from the east to the Latin rite, the return to the Eastern rite, on request to the Holy See, be granted.
• The marriage according to the Eastern Rite and Latin Rite is mutually recognized. However, there is also permission from one to another rite convert and after the end of the marriage covenant is the right to return conversion.
• Anyone who resides outside the patriarchal territory is under the administration of the Latin clergy. He may live according to its rite, and teach, the duration is set to an indefinite period.
• In cases of marital and other jurisdictions should be forced in any way by the apostolic delegate to decisions and instructions. Discrepancies should be discussed at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and it is a common solution be sought.
• The Melkite Patriarch, when he resided in the Ottoman Empire, jurisdiction is granted.