The highest grade of the Order was therefore ostentatiously refused to Bobadilla, until such time as the Emperor's attention was distracted from the cause of his disappointment.

With Le Jay and Canisius the case stood differently.

Ferdinand wished to make the former Bishop of Triest and the latter Archbishop of Vienna.
Ignatius opposed both projects, alleging that the Company of Jesus could not afford to part with its best servants, and that their vows of obedience and poverty were inconsistent with high office in the Church.
He discerned the necessity of reducing each member of the Society to absolute dependence on the General, which would have been impracticable if any one of them attained to the position of a prelate.

A law was therefore passed declaring it mortal sin for Jesuits to accept bishoprics or other posts of honor in the Church.

Instead of assuming the miter, Canisius was permitted to administer the See of Vienna without usufruct of its revenues.