garee wrote:
But they are the first Bishops of the Church and the Catholic Bishops of today
trace their lineage back to them. 

There is no lineage, 12 as a remnant of all the Apotles is the number Christ was shooting for, end of story.
Every Bishop of the Catholic and Orthodox Churches can trace their lineage back to the Apostles. This was done through the laying on of hands. Can Evangelicals/Fundamentalists/Protestants do likewise?