Priest – Bishop Relationship.Theological-Pastoral View

Život svake mjesne Crkve uvelike ovisi o odnosu biskupa i svećenika, tj. o odnosu onih kojima je povjeren narod Božji. U prvomu dijelu članka autor istražuje odnos biskupa i svećenika prema dokumentima Drugoga vatikanskog koncila kao i najvažnijih postkoncilskih dokumenata. Potom, u drugomu dijelu, istražuje odnos između biskupa i svećenika tijekom povijesti, od apostolskih vremena do Drugoga vatikanskog koncila čije dokumente analizira pod vidom dogmatske teologije te osobito u odnosu na Tridentski koncil. Autor dolazi do zaključka da je teološki gledano nemoguće utemeljiti neku veliku razliku između uloge biskupa i uloge svećenika. Riječ je o razlikama koje su plod povijesnoga razvoja života Crkve te su ustanovljene crkvenim pravom. Potom, u trećem dijelu članka, autor promišlja ulogu biskupa i svećenika u životu mjesne Crkve kojoj su i jedan i drugi pozvani služiti. Naglašava kako bi u odnosu između biskupa i svećenika trebala vladati međusobna suradnja, poštivanje i suodgovornost, kako to, uostalom, zahtijevaju i crkveni dokumenti posvećeni životu i djelovanju biskupa i svećenika. Na kraju, u četvrtom dijelu članka, autor upozorava na neke moguće konkretne probleme i poteškoće u odnosu između biskupa i svećenika te nudi sugestije kako izgraditi dobre odnose na dobrobit mjesne Crkve u kojoj žive i djeluju.The life of every local Church greatly depends on the relationship between the bishop and the parish priest i.e. on the relationship of those who are entrusted with the people of God. In the first section of the article the author examines the relationship between bishops and priests according to the documents of the Second Vatican Council as well as according to the most relevant post-Council documents. Then, in the second section, he explores the relationship between bishops and priests throughout the history, from the apostolic times up to the Second Vatican Council, whose documents he analyses in terms of dogmatic theology, particularly in relation to the Council of Trent. The author comes to conclusion that, from the theological point of view, it is impossible to establish a greater difference between the role of a bishop and the one of a priest. The differences are a result of the historical development of the life of the Church and are established by the canon law. In the third section of the article the author reflects on the role of bishops and priests in the life of the local Church to which they are called to serve. He emphasizes that their relationship should be characterized by mutual cooperation, respect and joint responsibility, which is required by the Church documents dedicated to life and work of bishops and priests. Finally, in the fourth section of the article, the author points to some concrete problems and difficulties in the relationship between bishops and priests and offers suggestions on how to develop a good relationship for the benefit of the local Church in which they live and work