Msg Base:  AREA 5  - ASK FATHER            CIN ECHO   AMDG
  Msg No: 307.  Mon  6-08-92 16:00  (MAILED)
    From: Father Mateo
      To: Gayle Zickefoose
 Subject: Apostolic Succession

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³ It is common knowledge that There were at least 10 (0r 11) Other
³ Apostles....please explain the Official Roman Catholic position
³ concrning the Apostolic Succession of these Other Apostles....
³  
³ I placed this question some time back (some 2 months or more) but
³ haven't as yet read an answer.... I must have missed it when it was
³ posted....
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ÀÄ[GZ=>FM]
 
Dear Gayle,
 
Catholic doctrine and practice is that only bishops can ordain
bishops.  This principle governed the choice of St. Matthias to take
Judas's place, as it governed Paul in his choice of Timothy and
Titus, and so of all the rest.
 
St. Irenaeus (died after A.D. 190) wrote: "We are able to count up
those who were appointed bishops by the Apostles, and to show their
successors to our own time.... But since it would be very long ...
to count up the successions in all the churches, we ... (point
out) the tradition derived from the Apostles of the greatest, most
ancient, and universally known  church (i.e. the church of Rome),
founded and established by the two most glorious Apostles, Peter and
Paul, and also the faith declared to men which through the succession
of bishops comes down to our times.  For with this Church on account
of its more powerful leadership, every church, that is the faithful
who are from everywhere, must needs agree; since in it that tradition
which is from the Apostles has always been preserved by those who are
from everywhere."
 
        This quote is from Irenaeus's book "ADVERSUS HAERESES". His
concern here clearly is twofold.: 1) apostolic succession of bishops;
                                  2) unity of faith among all
churches.  Every church traces its episcopal lineage back to the
apostles--it doesn't matter which apostle.  But for convenience's
sake, he says, look to the church of Rome, founded by  Peter and
Paul, and to the faith held by that church.
 
                                Sincerely in Christ,
                                        Father Mateo