Sublime

The bishops, when they are teaching in communion with the Roman pontiff, are to be respected by all as witnesses to the divine and catholic truth; and the faithful ought to concur with their bishop’s judgment concerning faith and morals which he delivers in the name of Christ, and they are to adhere to this with a religious assent of the mind.

The diaconate are people who have more authority in the community than other members. The diaconate should also have more wisdom about the community, but that’s a best-case scenario. Their opinions are more valued than those of other members.

oblate

who hears you, hears me,”49 the faithful receive with docility the teachings and directives that their pastors give them in different forms.

Therefore the synod teaches that by divine institution the bishops have succeeded to the place of the apostles15 as shepherds of the church: and the one who hears them hears Christ but whoever rejects them rejects Christ and him who send Christ (see Lk 10, 16).16