Ignatius of Antioch on bishops' authority

by Dennis Coday

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dcoday@ncronline.org

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Of Chicago Cardinal Francis George's address to the bishops yesterday, David Gibson says, "George made it clear that after years of repeated questions about the bishops' credibility, it was time for the bishops to clarify just who can and cannot speak for the church."

He adds:

Setting the tone for his argument for episcopal control, Cardinal George prefaced his remarks by twice citing the 2nd century bishop, Ignatius of Antioch, who famously wrote to his flock "that you do nothing without your bishop."

"Your submission to your bishop, who is in the place of Jesus Christ, shows me that you are not living as men usually do but in the manner of Jesus himself," Antioch wrote in a citation noted by Cardinal George.

"That elevated view of the bishop's authority guided George's remarks. For example, he made it clear that even the recent years of crisis would not cow the bishops in their effort to reassert their authority and relevance.

Read Gibson's full piece here: Bishops Try to Reassert Control of a Restive Flock

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