text: Many - and that includes most of the bishops themselves - like to portray it that way.  But it's a misapplication of the doctrine of Apostolic Succession.  The concept of bishops proceeding from the original apostles is all about the office, the ecclesial role of one who is ordained a bishop.  Besides the obvious problems with how the Church appoints its bishops now, Catholics (and Orthodox and  others) do indeed accept that we have the successors of the Apostles, the original teachers of the Faith, in our midst.  But, that does not mean they are always "good" men (there are examples of the very worst human beings in that role throughout our history - both past and present), or that they indeed listen to the Holy Spirit and act accordingly, or who fill the roles of teacher and shepherd with devotion and humbleness of heart.  Thank God we do have many who fit those requirements, but by no means does it come with the stole placed around their necks.