The Church Hierarchy

[Epistemes]

*“And a third thing is the understanding of the Church as a community, a communion which is not just a hierarchy but the people of God, whose servants are the priests and bishops.” *(Hans Kung)

Why does Kung refer to priests and bishops as the servants of the Church? If the Church is not just a hierarchy, then are not all people the servants of the Church?

 

[FCEGM]

*“And a third thing is the understanding of the Church as a community, a communion which is not just a hierarchy but the people of God, whose servants are the priests and bishops.” *(Hans Kung)

Why does Kung refer to priests and bishops as the servants of the Church? If the Church is not just a hierarchy, then are not all people the servants of the Church?

Perhaps you are unfamiliar with the usage of “Servant of the servants of God” in reference to the Popes.

newadvent.org/cathen/13737a.htm

 

[reggieM]

• If the Church is not just a hierarchy, then are not all people the servants of the Church?*

That’s true. I would say that Fr. Kung was taking too much of a hierarchical view in that case. Bishops, priests, religious and laity are all servants of the Church.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I think that Father Kung’s status as a Catholic Theologian was revoked some years back. I would treat his teachings with suspicion.