Catholics believe that bishops are – by the intention of our Lord Jesus Christ – the successors of the apostles (the concept of apostolic succession). This is the methodology whereby the Catholic Church traces itself back historically in an unbroken succession to the apostles and the early Church. Catholicism thus greatly emphasizes both doctrinal and historical continuity. St. Clement, bishop of Rome (d. c. 101), taught apostolic succession, around 80 AD. (Epistle to the Corinthians, 42:4-5; 44:1-3), and St. Irenaeus... Read more














