VATICAN - As being the continuation of “true Israel,” the Catholic Church was also structured in a hierarchal fashion. This structure was practical for the purpose of maintaining basic order in worship, as Israel had been practicing from the beginning. This structure was particular in that Jesus gave His apostles (especially the Twelve) similar authority as He had in order to govern His Church and safeguard the continuation of divinely sanctioned teaching. Accordingly, the apostles delegated and distributed this authority to others as the Church expanded and was confronted by a plethora of social and theological challenges. This authority — and great responsibility — was necessary in order to serve the faithful and to carry out Jesus’s teachings until His return. The office of bishop was considered the highest authority — equivalent to that of the apostles and, hence, Jesus Himself.