[livius]

About two years after he came into the job, our bishop here sent out a survey to the priests asking their opinion of the usefulness of various diocesan offices ("Social Justice," etc.). We had a lot of them and it was by no means clear what they did, other than cost money. Based on the responses, he got rid of/consolidated or reduced the budget for the vast majority of them (including "Social Justice!"). Some bishops do realize that the changed structure of the Church after Vatican II has simply led to even more bureaucraticization and less personal responsibility.

I once saw speculation that our current Pope would like to see the national bishops' councils disbanded. That would be wonderful: all they do is suck up money, relieve bishops of personal responsibility for their decisions, and put another layer of resistance between the bishops and Rome. They have no canonical status, btw.

[neb52]

"I once saw speculation that our current Pope would like to see the national bishops' councils disbanded. That would be wonderful: all they do is suck up money, relieve bishops of personal responsibility for their decisions, and put another layer of resistance between the bishops and Rome. They have no canonical status, btw."

Being a newbie I was wondering on how the Vatican viewed these councils. I can see the Bishops of a specific country or region getting together, but this council seems to be some small level of authority outside of the Vatican. Doesn't each Bishop report to Rome directly? What is the relationship between an Archbishop/Cardinal and a Bishop. It seems that a Cardinal is a Bishop over a large Diocese(not for sure what the criteria is) and has special responsibilities like the College of Cardinals.

[Salvation]

**I once saw speculation that our current Pope would like to see the national bishops' councils disbanded.**

All the bishops answer to the Pope in a Synod, correct? So why are there even national bishops' groups?

Too much like the government.