We Catholics believe that God works similiarly on the natural and supernatural plane. This goes back to our concept of Sacramentalism. If you want to understand Catholicism, you must understand this term. It means that God works invisibly through the visible creation. Thus, when God directed the Apostles to baptize, they used WATER, not mud or wine. When a person SEES a baptism, it is supposed to call to mind, through a visible action, what God is doing in the spiritual realm - cleansing someone in this case.
With this in mind, FK, God works at giving spiritual AND natural gifts on different levels to different people. Thus, some people, He makes naturally smart - but perhaps, their spiritual knowledge of God is lacking. To some, He gives certain spiritual gifts, to others, He doesn't - just as in the natural world.
What do the bishops have that we don't have? God has place people in authority over other men. Whether this is in the secular world or in the spiritual, we are called by God to obey them. Remember what Christ said to Pilate? "You wouldn't have any authority over me unless give from Above"? Thus, the Bishops claim to have been given this authority, the power to bind and loosen. As to discernment, this would vary.
Well, since we know that even many Fathers had problems with the consensus, is holiness something that comes and goes? And assuming you say "yes", then this holiness is really only recognized through the voting process, at any particular time, right?
Holiness and knowledge are not necessarily related. You think that the holier one is, the more knowledgeable they become. On the intellectual plane, this is false. Holiness has very little to do with intellectual knowledge - and as Paul says to the Corinthians, it PUFFS UP! We grow in EXPERIENTIAL knowledge of God - but not necessarily being better able to describe the Trinity. Certainly, you are aware of people who appear quite holy to you - do you think they could fully explain the Trinity do to their "experiential" knowledge of Christ's Abiding Presence within them? God doesn't impart this type of knowledge to everyone. The knowledge He gives us is the Knowledge of our sharing in the Divine Nature, that communion of Love that exists between the Father and the Son.
Regards
OK, so spiritual and natural gifts do vary among all humans. The difference with priests and bishops is in the authority granted, not the gifts? So, a layman could actually have "better" spiritual gifts than a priest or bishop?
Holiness and knowledge are not necessarily related. You think that the holier one is, the more knowledgeable they become. On the intellectual plane, this is false.
No, I don't think that. I know people who couldn't begin to attempt to post on a thread like this whose holiness, only by my personal perception, I admire and strive to achieve. I know that difference. And I know that knowledge is not a bad thing either. I think for some people, knowledge really helps for becoming more holy because of an innate thirst that comes from God and wants to be met. Once that particular mind is fed what it needs spiritually, sanctification and holiness can proceed. I see nothing wrong with this.
For other people, they can more easily rest in truths without exhaustive examination and questioning. Good for them too. :) It all depends on how the model was built, and the beauty is that God will provide just what is needed in every case for a believer.