Original scientific paper
Priest – Bishop Relationship.Theological-Pastoral View
Mladen Parlov
orcid.org/0000-0002-7248-3959
; Catholic Faculty of Theology, University of Split, Split, Croatia
Abstract
The life of every local Church greatly depends on the relationship between the bishop and the parish priest i.e. on the relationship of those who are entrusted with the people of God. In the first section of the article the author examines the relationship between bishops and priests according to the documents of the Second Vatican Council as well as according to the most relevant post-Council documents. Then, in the second section, he explores the relationship between bishops and priests throughout the history, from the apostolic times up to the Second Vatican Council, whose documents he analyses in terms of dogmatic theology, particularly in relation to the Council of Trent. The author comes to conclusion that, from the theological point of view, it is impossible to establish a greater difference between the role of a bishop and the one of a priest. The differences are a result of the historical development of the life of the Church and are established by the canon law. In the third section of the article the author reflects on the role of bishops and priests in the life of the local Church to which they are called to serve. He emphasizes that their relationship should be characterized by mutual cooperation, respect and joint responsibility, which is required by the Church documents dedicated to life and work of bishops and priests. Finally, in the fourth section of the article, the author points to some concrete problems and difficulties in the relationship between bishops and priests and offers suggestions on how to develop a good relationship for the benefit of the local Church in which they live and work.
Keywords
bishop; priest; relationship; local Church; the sacrament of Order
Hrčak ID:
59213
URI
Publication date:
4.10.2010.
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