catholic church hierarchy

Women cannot hold high positions.
Members must confess sins to a priest.
The pope overseas all.

Let it be known that I am not a Christian. However I understand general Christian beliefs, and am a bit confused on why the Catholic church has this hierarchy.

Shouldn't all be equal under "Christ" and "God"?
Shouldn't sins be confessed to "Christ" and not to another person?

There is a strong hierarchy because the Church itself is strong. Hence, the organization of it has become strong. That organization has evolved, and continues to adapt to challenges. In Africa, where Muslim and other non-Christian beliefs were gaining a toe-hold, the Church continued its ministry first and foremost among all Christian initiatives and has grown by incredible leaps and bounds. They always pick up the slack where short-term ministries and missionaries leave behind a vacuum. So Catholicism in Africa, Brazil and many other areas is skyrocketing. In America, where there is a shortage of priests, the Church has seen incredible growth in the numbers of lay ministers and deacons. Astounding growth there. They pick up the slack because there simply aren't enough priests to serve all the Catholics who need them. Did I say serve?

The Catholic Church grew from Rome first, and it adopted many things from the Greek intellectuals and Roman administrators. Hierarchy may be one of them. But remember what the hierarchy is in the Catholic world. Christ instituted the Sacrament of Holy Orders on the night of the Last Supper. He gathered his Apostles and Mary together after a few disciples had gone ahead of him to secure the secret meeting place. The first thing he did in that room was to get on his knees and wash their feet. Christ was showing through this deeds what his priesthood would be all about. Priests are servants. So you question power? Woman can't hold the highest position of servitude you think because they cannot be Pope, the head servant for all Catholics and Christians and heck, all mankind for that matter. No way. Woman are constantly at service through motherhood or other feats. Saint Mary again serves that example. Mother of Christ himself! Women serve a critical role in the Catholic Church. Ever heard of Mother Teresa? Know anyone who has been as great a servant to mankind as her? What you think she needs a badge? A brass nameplate? Chevrons? What? What are you thinking? Are you thinking? I hope this answer helps since of course you are. You asked! The idea is you SERVE. Love one another as I have loved you. That's what Christ implored above virtually all else. He showed you what to do. Do it. The Catholic Church is built around his orders. Orders of servitude and obedience. The flock obeys the shepherd. The shepherd guides the flock through the gate. By serving the obedient. Priests and popes don't save people. God does. Priests devote their lives toward serving God in the Apostolic Ministry that Christ set up. Clearlyl in the Bible. That is why many priests give up possessions (and nuns as well). They do not want to be encumbered by things of this world. Others maintain what they may have earned or been given. They are not paid to be priests. They are provided for for sustenance and general living. They serve. Not money. But God's will.

YOU are called to serve as well. So am I. WE are part of a different ministry. Not less than a priest or pope or nun. Different. Is the hand a lesser part of the body than the eye? You want equality? Fantastic, get on down to your Catholic Church and sign up. Maybe you can serve as a missionary in India or Baaghdaad? You like that idea? Local soup kitchen maybe? We do want you to be equal now. Get on board!!!

Now look at what the Pope overseeeeees. He oversees matters of morality and doctrine to SERVE as the focal point for decisionmaking. But he never makes a decision by himself. God reveals decisions through the entire Church, not through one individual. That is a common mistaken thought, and oh so tediously aired opinion. Are you aware of the incredible number of people involved at The Vatican on a daily basis? The academies of science, the wealth of human resources worldwide from EVERY religion, EVERY corner of the world? The Pope serves all. No one is richer in connections and poorer in material wealth than him. As humorous as it is, he is not a Sith Lord seeking omnipotent power. That childish depiction -- while hilarious given the current image of our beloved Pope Benedict XVI -- is a good anti-description. Popes serve. And we have had some great ones in recent decades. Truly great men.

As for confession, that has been well established and all the carping on earth isn't going to change a thing. You confess to God always. You do that even during your practice of the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Penance. Then you vocalize to the priest your sins. He assures you of God's forgiveness. He doesn't forgive you himself. He's just a bro like you and me man! You have a friend, a servant and a witness before God in that priest. One who has power given to him. Not power to overwhelm or to control or perform tricks. Power to SERVE. Power to Love. As Christ loved us.

On earth as it is in heaven. That's what we're moving towards. Get going now. The Catholic Church needs you and everyone else to follow suit. YOU are the new boss. Same as the old boss

2010-02-28 09:48:53 by Spiral

This is just a [very] quick rundown of the institution of the catholic church.

Can someone please help me with my question which is
whats the order of the Catholic Church Hierarchy. These are the wrods that i need to put in order. No this is not a homework question, i was reading and i just came apon a question
Words:
Priest
Archdiocese
Pope
Cardinal
Diocese
Bishop
Parish (Church)
Archbishop

EVEN A WEB SITE THAT WOULD HELP ME ANSWER MY QUESTION. THAT WOULD ASLO BE GREAT
THANKS!
AND WHEN I ASK FOR THEM 2 BE IN ORDER I MEAN LIKE MOST IMPORTANT TO LESS IMPORTANT OR IN OTHER WORDS GREATEST TO LEAST

A Priest serves a Parish (Church)

A Bishop serves a Diocese

An Archbishop is a bishop that serves an Archdiocese (a big or important Diocese)

A Cardinal is a special type of bishop and serves a Diocese or Archdiocese. Cardinals under the age of 70 can vote for Pope.

The Pope is a special type of bishop and serves the worldwide church

With love in Christ.

2006-11-20 18:52:08 by ♥dnt_trip♥

Price: $5.95 $5.95

Is it biblical? Traditional? Pro's/Con's?

One cannot deny that the foundation of all Christianity through His Church is based on Christ’s words to St. Peter before the disciples. There is no doubt from the construction vernacular that Jesus was instructing them to build a Church with them as the foundation stones and Himself as the cornerstone. He built no other Church as no other was needed because the One, Holy, Apostolic, Catholic, Church derives its perfection from Him through His promises. He prayed that we all be one within this Church. He said this Church would endure until the Parousia. He said of this Church that the gates of hell would not prevail against it. He said that He would be with this Church until the end of time. The Scriptures confirms these promises saying that this Church is the “pillar and ground of the truth”. He did not plan for the Church to be without leadership after the apostles died but provided that they choose successors to replace them in the enduring Church. This is confirmed it the book of Acts.

One can suggest that this Church is not the Church that Christ gave these promises and authority to but who else can support a claim that they are the true church represented by these promises if not the Catholic church. Some will suggest that the true church is the Gnostics or the Arians? Certainly remnants of those churches remain in modern incarnations of these heresies but can one claim the enduring characteristic promised by Christ? There is certainly no evidence that anyone can make a legitimate claim to Christ’s promises other than the Catholic Church. Some critics may claim that the reason that the Catholic Church has endured is because of political connections, but the truth is that it has endured because of the miracles of our Lord who persuaded a Pagan emperor to stop his persecution of the Church and not by some agreement of men. It is hard to persuade someone who is intent on your annihilation. Only God could convict the heart of the Pagan Emperor Constantine.

I would agree that there have always been those believers known to God who will be saved and I agree but I do not agree that those people are outside of His Church nor do I believe that it is possible for salvation without His Church but that it is possible only through his Church, Although I acknowledge, as does the Church, that this union may be imperfect, as with our separated brethren with different degrees of the fullness of truth which is perfected in His Church. All believers are taught by God through His Church. This is from my blog and gives the Scriptural support for the structure of the Church:

http://fiatvolvntastua.blogspot.com/2009 /06/how-important-is-apostolic-successio n.html

God bless!

In Christ.
Fr. Joseph

2010-01-26 11:48:27 by mesrop b

Price: $40.00

I'm not sure how to phrase this question.

I know that there are bishops, cardinals, deacons, and the Pope -- but I'm wondering what the hierarchy is within the church. The... "pecking order," for lack of a better word.

The Church's highest earthly authority in matters of faith, morality and Church governance is the Pope, currently Pope Benedict XVI, who holds supreme authority in the Church in concert with the College of Bishops, of which he is the head. Collectively, these bishops make up the Holy See in Vatican City in Rome.

Let's start from the bottom. One or more priests with the help of deacons (generally religious in training to be priests) hold services at the local parrish churches. Each parrish church belongs to a diocese. In 2008 there were 2,795 Catholic dioceses worldwide headed by a bishop. These dioceses then are group into an archdiocese with a cardinal or archbishop heading the archdiocese.

Said another way, the local priest reports to a bishop, who reports to an archbishop or cardinal, who reports to the Pope.

Godspeed.

2009-06-12 00:03:21 by Charlie Marno

This is truly a sick story: http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/53750 29/vatican-defends-brazil-excommunicatio n/

Upshot is a nine-year-old girl in Brazil was raped by her stepfather and wound up pregnant with twins. Her mother arranged for her to have an abortion as she likely would not survive the pregnancy. The church excommunicated the mother and the doctors who performed the abortion, expressing grief for the "two innocent persons" who were "eliminated". Brazil law only allows abortion in cases of rape, incest, and to save the life of the woman (or, in this case, girl). The person responsible for the girl's abuse was not excommunicated because his crime was not as serious, as heinous, as the girl having a life-saving abortion.

This is the same group who have conspired for decades to protect priests who sexually abuse children by moving them from parish to parish.

What on earth is wrong with the Catholic Church that raping a child is not as severe a sin as that child having an abortion to save her life?
Lesbin, of course I don't. But considering the history of the church, and that doctors said the child would not survive the pregnancy, I think we have to go with their opinion, not those of misogynist clerics who know bupkes about medicine.

I heard this story on the news last night, and sadly I wasn't so shocked! The catholic church has done even worse things than this (let's not forget the inquisition). It has nothing to do with God and what he wants, it has nothing to do with Jesus. The church is worse than any mafia! They're only there to manipulate, to frighten, and to control. It makes me sick.

I believe in God with all my heart, but these people have nothing to do with him. And since you asked, it seems like they do have a lot of sympathy for child abusers!

2009-03-09 20:32:48 by VeggieTart -- Praise Seitan!