Who has the ultimate authority?

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BernadetteM

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At church today a woman was discussing how not one Bishop in California denounced Obama’s speech at Notre Dame.

I thought that the Cardinal of Los Angeles has authority over all the Bishops in California.
She said no that each Bishop determines whether he wants to comment on different issues in the Church.

I was wondering if anyone knows if a Cardinal, and I don’t know if there can be more than one Cardinal in each state or not, is over all the Bishops in the state and can determine whether they can give a different opinion than the Cardinal.

I hope this is not too confusing and that I posted this in a clear enough manner.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette
 
I’m pretty sure that the bishops have authority over their diocese, and if there are many diocese you can have an archdiocese in which an archbishop is appointed. This archbishop is like the Pope, a first among equals.

This may not be correct, but it’s best I can offer.

Pax
 
The Mother Superior, the Priest, the Bishop, the Archbishop, the Cardinal, and the Pope all have authority. They can use said authority to speak out on issues, such as abortion. But if their ecclestial superior tells them to stop, than they must obey. For example, an apparition cannot tell a Bishop to stop speaking. But an Archbishop can.
 
Cardinal Mahony has authority over the archdiocese of Los Angeles, which is a “metropolitan” city, which means that it is has multiple bishops whom the cardinal (or archbishop) has authority over. So obviously there are many other bishops in California who are not under his authority. And even those bishops under his authority could have spoken out about this or any other issue, just as any priest can, and the laity can - and many did. 🙂
 
“Cardinal” is not a hierarchical rank.

Simple priests (such as the late Avery Dulles) and (at one time) even laymen could be created Cardinals.

Cardinal Mahoney has metropolitical authority because he’s an archbishop, NOT because he’s a Cardinal.

Territorial boundaries (state, national, or whatever) have nothing to do with whether or not there’s a cardinal there.
 
Thank you all for the information. The woman at church was very upset that none of our Bishops spoke out about Notre Dame.

But what can anyone expect, California is very liberal. I just pray that the Pope appoints some conservative Bishops in the future. Mahony is about ready to retire.

I do wonder how much the Holy Father is really aware of what is going on in every diocese. It seems impossible for him to keep tract of all the harmful decisions that some Bishops make.

We must pray for him and the Church.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette
 
Cardinal is just an honorary title like monsignor. The bishop is the authority in his dioceses. He is subject to the Head Bishop, The Pope.
 
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