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The 16 Documents of Vatican II

Resolution 

Reflection 338  Based on the 1965 Vatican II document: 
Decree on Bishops
- Article 8

(Comments welcome here)

 

This article speaks about the authority of bishops and of the pope
....and reflects the tension at Vatican II about the relationship between the authority of the pope and that of the bishops. The main word in the article is "authority"

This is a long way from the teaching and example of Jesus where the main word, especially for people "in authority", was "service"

Jesus never got stuck in an office. He was out among the people, especially the poor, a great deal of the time.
Being out among the people was a priority for him

Why is it that the further "up" they go in the Church or in civil society, leaders become more and more removed from contact with ordinary  people?
Why is it that leaders, whose job is service of the Church/society,
tend to become increasingly inaccessible administrators?

Surely the word "administration" originally meant "administering  service/help". Now it means running a group as CEO, exercising authority (benevolent or otherwise)

Just checked Wikipedia:
the word "diocese" like the word "deacon" just means....loving service!

A diocese is a service station!

A bishop is a service station attendant! Fuel for thought 

c.f. The Embattled "Deacon" words by John Collins