Msg Base:  AREA 5  - ASK FATHER            CIN ECHO   AMDG
  Msg No: 321.  Tue  6-30-92 11:14  (NO KILL)  (MAILED)
    From: Father Mateo
      To: Gayle Zickefoose
 Subject: Apostolic Succession

ÚÄ
³ FM>Dear Gayle,
³  
³ FM>Catholic doctrine and practice is that only bishops can ordain
³ FM>bishops.  This principle governed the choice of St. Matthias to take
³ FM>Judas's place, as it governed Paul in his choice of Timothy and
³ FM>Titus, and so of all the rest.
³  
³ FM>St. Irenaeus (died after A.D. 190) wrote: "We are able to count up
³ FM>those who were appointed bishops by the Apostles, and to show their
³ FM>successors to our own time.... But since it would be very long ...
³ FM>to count up the successions in all the churches, we ... (point
³ FM>out) the tradition derived from the Apostles of the greatest, most
³ FM>ancient, and universally known  church (i.e. the church of Rome),
³ FM>founded and established by the two most glorious Apostles, Peter and
³ FM>Paul, and also the faith declared to men which through the succession
³ FM>of bishops comes down to our times.  For with this Church on account
³ FM>of its more powerful leadership, every church, that is the faithful
³ FM>who are from everywhere, must needs agree; since in it that tradition
³ FM>which is from the Apostles has always been preserved by those who are
³ FM>from everywhere."
³  
³ FM>        This quote is from Irenaeus's book "ADVERSUS HAERESES". His
³ FM>concern here clearly is twofold.: 1) apostolic succession of bishops;
³ FM>                                  2) unity of faith among all
³ FM>churches.  Every church traces its episcopal lineage back to the
³ FM>apostles--it doesn't matter which apostle.  But for convenience's
³ FM>sake, he says, look to the church of Rome, founded by  Peter and
³ FM>Paul, and to the faith held by that church.
³  
³ FM>                                Sincerely in Christ,
³ FM>                                        Father Mateo
³  
³ Do I correctly surmise that Apostolic Succession and it's associated
³ validity may be traced to other Than St.Peter & St.Paul?.............
³ ---
ÀÄ[GZ=>FM]
 
Dear Gayle,
 
Please NB my last message: "Every church traces its lineage back to
the apostles -- it doesn't matter which apostle."
 
This is established in the cases of Matthias, Timothy, and Titus. 
Irenaeus declares so in some detail.
 
                                Sincerely in Christ,
 
 
                                        Father Mateo