If no one man is closer to God than the other, wtf is up with the Catholic church?

Question

I don't understand the hierarchy involved, and the term "father" for a priest rings kind of not right to me.

another thing that bothers me is the lavishness of their churches, with the gold and decorations. it's kind of contradictory, no?

no, i don't want to hear how the entire bible contradicts itself, you're beating a dead horse with that one.

i'm not trying to disrespect. i asked a question because i thought that's what this is here for?

as far as people telling me to read the bible, i am. i just discovered my religion and am in the process of reading it, it can't be done overnight. but passages that help me understand are more than welcome.

pardon my abbreviated cussing, to me words are words.

Answer 1

The Catholic church is a very interesting establishment. Much of it was ordained and built at a time when it had great political power. That's one of the reasons for the opulent churches. It was an intimidation factor to the people who went there. Also, to keep authority, the terms father, bishop, yada, yada, were instituted. It was all about keeping control of an ignorant people. By the by, as they lost political power, their terms just became tradition instead of something actively used. It's not hypocritical, it's a relic of a time gone by.

Answer 2

Protestantism and reading the bible only "sola-sciptura" as the rule of faith is a fraud. For the first 1500 years of Christianity before the Protestant reformation, the rule of faith was never only-the-bible (sola scriptura) and private interpretation of it.

Jesus didn't assemble and pass around a bible telling everyone make sure you read Matthew or certain other gospels, proposing that people read the bible to learn the faith. In fact, many parts of the bible (scriptures) weren't even written until after Jesus ascended. Jesus authorized people to teach authoritatively in his name. If one is looking for authentic Christianity, one has to look for the teaching authority that Jesus established. Only one Christian institution can trace its historical route back to the time of Christ and Peter (the first Pope) and through the lineage of the 265 Popes -- the Catholic Church. Protestantism and its false rule of faith has led to 1000's of different Protestant church's all interpreting the bible differently and proposing different things (contradictory) of what God revealed.

Since Jesus didn't pass around a pre-assembled bible I don't see how Protestants can even know that the current texts and translations of the bible are authentic (the original scriptural texts don't exist). Who put the bible together? Who made the translations? Who decided which scriptural texts were authentic? The only way to sort out what are the authentic scriptures from other spurious writings is an official authority -- one established by Jesus. The only way to have an authoritative interpretation of the bible is from an authority established by Jesus (an authoritative establishment -- the Church). The Church, with the Pope as its head -- its authority, is the only way to have unity in doctrine and teaching.

Answer 3

You answered your own question. You don't understand the hierarchy involved. Try doing a little learning first. For starters, in those days, they used to refer to the High Priest as God (not a diety as in 'a god' to be worshipped, but simply the highest representative of the hierarchy). So when they say 'So and So is closer to God...' it simply means that So and So is closer to the highest position within the hierarchy. See what a little light can do to lifting the veil of ignorance that leads to blind and wrong judgment? Try it sometime. You might even begin to understand a thing or two.

Answer 4

The hierarchy of ordained ministers in the Catholic Church mirrors how Jesus and the Apostles set up the original Christian Church.

There are three levels of Holy Orders, Deacon, Priest, and Bishop.

Bishops are the Apostles of today. Each one leads a diocese. Special types of bishop are archbishop, cardinal, and pope (who leads the whole Church).

Priests are co-workers of the bishops and can lead a parish. A special title for a priest is monsignor. Priests are called presbyters in the Bible.

Deacons assist the bishop and priests in the celebration of the Eucharist, in the distribution of Holy Communion, in assisting at and blessing marriages, in the proclamation of the Gospel and preaching, in presiding over funerals, and in dedicating themselves to the various ministries of charity.

For more information, see the Catechism of the Catholic Church: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt3.htm#iii

With love in Christ.

Answer 5

Short and to the point:

The Catholic Church is wrong when it comes to these things that you are pointing out. The bible even mentions that we shouldn't be calling anyone "father" here on Earth.

They contradict themselves a lot. Remember the true religion would have to base their beliefs on the Bible, if they don't then, well their simply not the true religion.

Answer 6

While we're on the subject of lavish churches, what about the mega stadium-sized churches with full video and sound production facilities that cost upwards of tens of millions of dollars?

How is Powerpoint going to spread God's word better than a good speaker that knows of God?

This religious entertainment is somehow misses something for me...

Answer 7

I believe that Catholics feel they are honoring God with thier decoration and lavishness. The hierarchy of priests being closer to God than "everyday people" and the Pope being closer to God than the priests is one of the reasons behind the split of the church during the time of Martin Luther. Luther did not believe in this hierarchy or the selling of "indulgences." He taught faith through grace . . . we are saved through Jesus' sacrifice and are all loved equally by God.

Answer 8

Jesus called Abraham a father of faith. Paul referred to himself as a father of the early churches. We call a priest "Father" because he is the head of the local faith community, the parish. Calling him "Father" does not mean that we consider him equal to God the Father.

The New Testament speaks of a heirarcy of Apostles, bishops, presbyters, and deacons. The Catholic Church has Cardinals, bishops, priests, and deacons.

Churches are built lavishly to show the might and splendor of God. The Temple in Jerusalem was also rather lavish. It is also a sign of our devotion to God. A church building is a visible sign of God in the community and the lavishness of the building is a reflection of our devotion and the glory of God.

Answer 9

Everyone is close to God, who is Jesus, if they believe the truth about Jesus, that He died for our sins on the cross and rose again, without our own works added.

Catholics are not saved, because catholics believe a false gospel of works that leads to eternal hell (Galatians 1).

Don't worry about the long blah blah speeches from the catholic cult members here. They are liars.

Answer 10

Deacon (greek - diakonos / διάκονος - from the Bible)
Priest (greek - presbyteros / πρεσβυτερος - from the Bible)
Bishop (greek - episkopos / επίσκοπος - from the Bible)

This is the hierarchy already described in "Acts" in the Bible. Try reading your Bible.

Other titles in the Catholic Church are honorary. For example, Cardinals are just bishops, but they can vote in a conclave. The pope is actually a bishop too, but since his diocese is Rome, where Peter last ministered, he is the successor of Peter, and therefore "pope". An arch-bishop is just a bishop of a large diocese. But it comes back down to the main three (above). The Catholic Church today is hierarchical, just like the Church began in the Bible.

As for the lavishness, you display the spirit of Judas, who got mad when the expensive oil was wasted on Christ's feet. If we wish to ordain our churches for the glory of God, then we shall do just that. BE GONE FROM ME JUDAS