What does the chapter 15 of Didache mean?

[dervisolvski]

Hello. I randomly came across a commentary on Facebook of one person saying that episcopalism is not valid as Catholic church teaches. For reference, he shows the 15th chapter of Didache:

Chapter 15. Bishops and Deacons; Christian Reproof. Appoint, therefore, for yourselves, bishops and deacons worthy of the Lord, men meek, and not lovers of money, and truthful and proved; for they also render to you the service of prophets and teachers.

We all know that authority in the Catholic church does not include laical people like us on the elections of bishops. But this quote looks like falsifying the teaching of the Catholic Church.

What does that text means?

Peace.

 

[TMC]

There have been times in Church history when the laity had a role in the selection of bishops. Seems to me that the Didache is likely referring to that kind of process. Alternately, maybe this statement is meant to be a direction to the Church as an entity (although the first seems more likely to me).

I don’t know that it matters which of those is true (or if it means something else). The Didache is a fascinating insight into Church practices in the early Church. The fact that many of those practices have evolved over time says little (to me anyway) about the validity or authority of the Church today.

 

[Maximian]

For example, St Ambrose was governor of Milan. When the heretic bishop of Milan died, he made a speech to appeal to the heretics not to fight the orthodox. As he was speaking, a small boy started chanting “Ambrose Bishop!” And soon the whole forum, both heretic and orthodox, were chanting it. He tried to hide but they wrote to the Emperor for approval and he became one of the best bishops and greatest saints the Church has ever had, being greatly responsible for the conversion of St Augustine

 

[1ke]

We all know that authority in the Catholic church does not include laical people like us on the elections of bishops.

That’s a discipline, not a doctrine. And for many years that was exactly how bishops were selected.

 

[Genesis315]

This is a just a general statement as to who should be appointed, without getting into the method. Ultimately, how men are chosen for ordination and admittance into the college of bishops is subject to the supreme authority of the Church. As a practical matter, it has been done all sorts of ways over time with the consent of that authority. But never has there been a democratic election by the laity as the final say–since even if the candidate were chosen popularly, another bishop or bishops needed to consent to actually perform the ordination rite. Laity cannot ordain.