Anthony T. Padovanv
Ecclesiatical Authorily and the Senale of Priesls
The local bishop: ls he the one who unifies the authority of the presbyteri.um or the only one in the local ChuTCh with inherent authority?
Wherever there is human !ife, there is change. In fact, !ife cannot continue unless there is change. Correlatively, wherever there is human society, ecclesial or civil, there must be change. A community has no other choice except renewal or rigidity. By changing continually, a community preserves its identity and vitalizes its tradition. This change must be in accord with itself but it inust also be constant. Wherever there is faith, there is the Church. Wherever men assemble in the force of this faith, the Church becomes a believing community. This believing community bears a re203