[The splender of Unity in diversity -multiplicity of local Churches and Catholicity of the undivided Church ]
Lumen Gentium No.23:“ ..........It has come about through divine providence that in thez course of time, different Churches set up in various places by the apostles and their successors joined together in a multiplicity of organically united groups which, whilst safeguarding the unity of the faith and the unique divine structure of the universal Church, have their own discipline, enjoy their own liturgical usage and inherit a theological and spiritual patrimony.... This multiplicity of the local Churches, unified in a common effort, shows all the more resplendently the catholicity of the undivided Church”.

[Equal right and Dignity of all recognized Rites ]
Sacrosanctum Concilium No 4:“In faithful obedience to tradition, the Sacred council declares that Holy Mother Church holds all recognized rites to be of equal right and dignity that she wishes to preserve them in the future and to foster them in every way.

[Eastern Churches with their Liturgy and Traditions form part of the undivided heritage of the universal Church ]
Orientalium Ecclessiarum No.1:The Catholic Church values highly the institutions of the Eastern Churches, their liturgical rites, ecclesiastical traditions and their ordering of Christian Life. For in those churches, which are distinguished by their venerable antiquity, there is clearly evident the tradition which has come from the apostles through the Fathers and which is a part of the divinely revealed, undivided heritage of the Universal Church. This holy, ecumenical synod, therefore, has a special care for the Eastern Churches, which are living witnesses of this tradition and wishes them to flourish and to fulfill with new apostolic strength the task entrusted to them.

[The Church wishes the traditions of each particular Church or rite to remain whole and entire ]
OE No.2 : “The holy Catholic Church, which is the mystical body of Christ, is made up of the faithful who are organically united in the Holy Spirit by the same faith, the same sacraments and the same government. They combine into different groups, whfch are held together by their hierarchy, and so form particular Churches or rites. Between those Churches there is such a wonderful bond of union that this variety in the Universal Church, so far from diminishing its unity, rather serves to emphasize it. For the Catholic Church wishes the traditions of each particular church or rite to remain whole and entire, and it likewise wishes to adapt its own way of life to the needs of different times and places”

[Every particular Church has the same rights and obligations even with regard to the preaching of the Gospel in the whole world ]
OE Nos.3 -4 :These individual Churches both Eastern and Western, while they differ somewhat among themselves in what is called ‘rite’, namely in liturgy, in ecclesiastical discipline and in spiritual tradition, are none the less all equally entrusted to the pastoral guidance of the Roman Pontiff, who by God’s appointment is successor to blessed Peter in primacy over the Universal Church. Therefore these Churches are of equal rank, so that none of them is superior to the others because of its rite. They have the same rights and obligations, even with regard to the preaching of the Gospel in the whole world, (ctr. Mt. 16:15) under the direction of the Roman Pontiff”.

[Protect and advance the particular Churches - Obligation to retain one ’s own Rite and to follow it to the best of one ’s ability ]
OE No.4 :Provision must be made therefore everywhere in the world to protect, and advance all these individual Churches. For this purpose, each should organize its own parishes and hierarchy, where the Spiritual good of the faithful requires it. Prelates of the various individual Churches who have jurisdiction in the same territory should meet at regular intervals for consultation, and thus foster unity of action and strive together to meet their common tasks, so as better to further the good of religion and to safeguard more effectively the discipline of their clergy. All clerics and those who are to receive sacred orders should be well instructed concerning rites and particularly in practical rules for inter-ritual questions. Lay people also should receive instructions concerning rites and their rules in their catechetical formation.”

“Each and every Catholic, as also the baptized members of any non-Catholic church or community who come to the fullness of Catholic communion, must retain each his own rite wherever he is, and follow it to the best of his ability, without prejudice to the right of appealing to the Apostolic See in special cases affecting persons, communities or districts. The Apostolic See which is the supreme arbiter of inter-Church relations will provide for all such needs in an ecumenical spirit, acting directly or through other authorities, giving suitable rules, decrees or rescripts.

OE No.5:History, tradition and very many ecclesiastical institutions give clear evidence of the great debt owed to the Eastern Churches by the Church Universal. Therefore the holy council not merely praises and appreciates as is due this ecclesiastical and spiritual heritage, but also insists on viewing it as the heritage of the whole Church of Christ. For that reason this Council solemnly declares that the churches of the East like those of the West have the right and duty to govern themselves according to their own special disciplines. For these are guaranteed by ancient tradition, and seem to be better suited to the customs of their faithful and to the good of their souls.

OE No.6 :All members of the Eastern Churches should be firmly convinced that they can and ought always preserve their own legitimate liturgical rites and ways of life, and that changes are to be introduced only to forward their own organic development. They themselves are to carry out, all these prescriptions with the greatest fidelity. They are to aim always at a more perfect knowledge and practice of their rites and if they have fallen away due to circumstances of times or persons, they are to strive to return to their ancestral Traditions.

[Latin religious orders and associations urged to set up houses or even provinces of Eastern rite ]
Those who by reason of their office or apostolic ministry have frequent dealings with the Eastern Churches or their faithful should be instructed as their office demands in theoretical and practical knowledge of the rites, discipline, doctrine, history and character of the members of the Eastern churches. It is recommended strongly to religious 5 6.orders and associations of the Latin rite, which are working in Eastern countries or among the Eastern faithful that they should set up, so far as is possible, houses or even provinces of the Eastern rite to make their apostolic work more effective.

[Foster the heritage of the Eastern Churches to bring about unity between East and West ]
Unitatis redintegratio,No.15: “Everyone should realize that it is of supreme importance to understand, venerate, preserve and foster the rich liturgical and spiritual heritage of the Eastern Churches in order faithfully to preserve the fullness of Christian tradition, and to bring about reconciliation between Eastern and Western Christians”.

Uni.Red.No.16:From the earliest times the Churches of the East followed their own disciplines, sanctioned by the Holy Fathers, by Synods, and even by Ecumenical Councils. Far from being an Obstacle to the Church’s unity, such diversity of customs and observances only adds to her beauty and contributes greatly to carrying out her mission, as has already been stated. To remove all shadow of doubt, then, this holy synod solemnly declares that the churches of the East, while keeping in mind the necessary unity of the whole Church, have the power to govern themselves according to their own disciplines, since these are better suited to the character of their faithful and better adapted to foster the good of souls.

Uni.Red.No.17:......With regard to the authentic theological traditions of the Orientals, we must recognize that they are admirably rooted in Holy Scripture, are fostered and given expression in liturgical life, are nourished by the living tradition of the Apostles by the works of the Fathers and spiritual writers of the East; they are directed toward a right ordering of life, indeed, toward a full contemplation of Christian truth. This sacred Council thanks God that many Eastern children of the Catholic church preserve this heritage and wish to express it more faithfully and completely in their lives, and are already living in full communion with their brethren who follow the tradition of the West.

Uni.Red.No.18:After taking all these factors into consideration, this sacred Council confirms what previous Councils and Roman Pontiffs have proclaimed: in order to restore communion and unity or preserve them, one must “impose no burden beyond what is indispensable” (Acts 15:28) .....Similarly, to the pastors and faithful of the Catholic Church, it commends close relations with those no longer living in the East but far from their homeland, so that friendly collaboration with them may increase in a spirit of love, without bickering or rivalry.

[Pastoral care of the faithful of different Rites in the same The Bishop ’s duty]
Christus Dominus,No.23: Accordingly, where there are believers of different rites, the bishop of that diocese should make provision fortheir spiritual needs either by providing priests of those rites, or special parishes, or by appointing Episcopal vicars, with the necessary faculties. If necessary, such a vicar may be ordained bishop. Alternatively, the bishop himself may perform the functions of an Ordinary for each of the different rites. And if the Apostolic See judges that, on account of some special circumstances, none of these alternatives are practicable, a special hierarchy should be established for each different rite.

Likewise in similar circumstances provision should be made for the faithful of a different language group either by appointing priests who speak that language or by creating special parishes, or by appointing an Episcopal vicar well versed in it. If it is deemed suitable he may be ordained bishop, or the matter may be dealt with in some other appropriate way.