Vatican II ABOUT FACE! - Chiesa viva
Vatican II ABOUT FACE! - Chiesa viva
Vatican II ABOUT FACE! - Chiesa viva
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172<br />
fore all men the doctrine concerning Bishops,<br />
the successors of the Apostles, who together<br />
with the successor of Peter, the Vicar of Christ,<br />
the visible Head of the whole Church, govern the<br />
house of the living God.»<br />
Now, saying that “with the Successor of Peter, the Bishops<br />
govern the house of the living God” is more than a<br />
misunderstanding, because it can lead us into an error, in<br />
a serious way, for not having emphasized the subordination of<br />
the Bishops to the Pope, which would contradict the First<br />
<strong>Vatican</strong> Council.<br />
At N° 19 we read: “Jesus formed the Twelve after the<br />
manner of a college or a established group, over which He<br />
placed Peter chosen from among them.” And further<br />
ahead:<br />
«And the apostles (…) gather together the universal<br />
Church, which the Lord established on<br />
the Apostles and built upon blessed Peter, their<br />
chief, Christ Jesus Himself being the supreme<br />
cornerstone.»<br />
As we can see, it does not refer to the text: “You are Peter<br />
and on this rock I will build My Church”, so that the<br />
phrases “put Peter at its head,” and “their chief,” or<br />
“head,” have the meaning of a simple “primacy of honor.”<br />
At N° 20, the misunderstanding remains; in fact, it says:<br />
«And just as the office granted individually to<br />
Peter (…) so also the Apostles’ office of nurturing<br />
the Church is permanent, and is to be exercised<br />
without interruption by the sacred order<br />
of Bishops. Therefore, the Sacred Council<br />
teaches that bishops by divine institution have<br />
succeeded to the place of the apostles, as shepherds<br />
of the Church …»