The Pope's direct challenge; the French bishops' tepid response

[childofmary1143]

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Its a long article but what was most interesting was this :

The newspaper La Croix described the bishops’ reception of the Pope’s talk as “lukewarm.” Cardinal André Vingt-Trois of Paris, speaking in his capacity as president of the French episcopal conference, told a press conference that the bishops do not have a “servile” attitude toward the Roman Pontiff. "The relationship of the Pope with the bishops is not a boss-employee relationship," the French cardinal reminded journalists. “He is not the chief executive of a multinational corporation coming to visit a branch office.”

What part of full supreme authority don’t those French Bishops understand?

 

[rwoehmke]

What part of full supreme authority don’t those French Bishops understand?

Bishops have a lot of latitude in their own diocese. I think it becomes obvious that the Pope is reluctant to hammer those who in our lay opinion are straying a bit. The French bishops have a point. The relationship is a whole lot different than one finds in commercial business.

 

[Spirithound]

Bishops have a lot of latitude in their own diocese. I think it becomes obvious that the Pope is reluctant to hammer those who in our lay opinion are straying a bit. The French bishops have a point. The relationship is a whole lot different than one finds in commercial business.

I agree and acknowledge that the Pope and the bishops do not have a boss/middle-management relationship, but would the Cardinal have said that to Papa Benedetto’s face? He’s basically saying “He’s not my boss”, when all the Pope did (from a purely literal point of view) was suggest that the people who wanted the EF should be accommodated. The Cardinal’s response was pretty disrespectful.