But Arrieta allowed that some changes to bishops’ role are in order. In October, hundreds of Catholic bishops convened for the Synod on Synodality, joined by nuns, brothers and laypeople, to consider the concerns and demands of Catholics worldwide. In its report on its discussions, the synod suggested ways to revise the code of canon law to promote greater lay involvement and more flattening of the church hierarchy.
“There are some questions of participation, very small, that could be easily introduced without changing a thing,” Arrieta said, adding that many bishops at the synod were surprised to know how much leeway canon law already provides to satisfy the report’s suggestions.
Arrieta cautioned, however, that the code can’t be changed if its laws are based on doctrine. “I can think of a lot of things that need reforming,” the bishop said, “but there are limits to how much the hierarchical structure of the church can be reformed.”
This article originally appeared here.
 the protocols for disciplining a bishop, saying any failure to act in communion with the church and the pope can be cause for dismissal.){kind=link}