2. Another Position of Others

30. Others [William of Militon, Questions on Sacraments, tr.4 q.74; Thomas Aquinas, Sent. IV d.24 a.3 a.2; Richard of Middleton, Sent. IV d.24 princ.5 a.2] contradict the conclusion that these two ways hold to [nn.26-29], because they deny that episcopacy is an order properly speaking; and so neither do they posit it to be an order superior to the priesthood (as the first way says [nn.26-27]), nor inferior to it (as the second way says [nn.28-29]).

31. Nor do they say that a character is there imprinted.

32. But whether a character can be deleted by the Pope when he deposes a bishop, or cannot be deleted because of the consecration with which it is conferred, they dispute among themselves [Ord. IV d.6 nn.201, 233-237].

33. But the dispute seems empty when denying episcopacy to be an order; for any jurisdiction in the Church can by a superior either be suspended (so that if he attempt to do anything during the time of suspension, he does nothing), or totally taken away for all time.