What is the level of power in the Catholic church?

Question

Theres deacon, priest and bishop, after that then what?

Answer 1

These are not levels of power, they are levels of service.

Answer 2

All ordained clergy in the catholic church are priests. There are two levels of priest:

Priest (includes priest and those who have, through service, earned the title Monsignor)

Bishop (these are the apostles of the church, still priests but with official seats and authority of decision making. The bishops increase in scope and title as follows:
Bishop (traditionally called "your excellence")
Archbishop (called "your grace")
Cardinal ( called "your eminence")
Pope (bishop of rome, called "your holiness")

Deacons lack the full power of ordination and fall below priests. They can say religious services, but they cannot be the celebrant of an actual mass because they lack the power to enact certain sacraments (like the Sacrament of Communion)

Nuns and Friars/Monks have their own independent hierarchies. They submit to the clergy insofar as any layperson is required to submit, but otherwise they fall under the directive jurisdiction of the bishop (unless placed under specific supervision of a priest, such as a nun who works as a teacher at a catholic school which is principalled by a priest)

Answer 3

It is important to remember there are over ONE BILLION- with a B- Catholics in the world. The Pope (and the Vatican) simply cannot have immediate responsibility for each of them- so the responsibility is delegated to the Bishops. Every square inch of the earth is part of a Diocese. Even in areas where there are no Catholics...this is where Auxiliary Bishops come in- they become the titular Bishop of one of the areas that doesn't need a 'real' Bishop. It would be far too cumbersome a process if every transaction had to be cleared through the Vatican. So the Bishop, when he takes control of a Diocese, becomes the land owner for the properties held by the Church in that Diocese. The Bishops have their governing bodies ( in the US it is the USCCB- The United States Council of Catholic Bishops), there is also a Papal Nuncio in Washington DC, as in other countries. The Bishop has authority and responsibility for his Diocese, but it is NOT absolute. He is govererned by his Cardinal, and ultimately by the Pope. Also, every Catholic has the right to take any grievance directly to the Vatican- completely bypassing any other level of Church authority.

Answer 4

That's it.

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

The Pope is a bishop ( the Bishop of Rome ) , Bishops are priests.

Answer 6

deacon,preist, bishop, pope

the pope is technically a bishop but he is the head

an arcbishop is an honoroary title, same as cardinal

Answer 7

archbishop, cardinal, pope


monsignor is also a kind of designation between priest and bishop - more of an honorary title than a position of greater power or influence.

Answer 8

jinenglish gave you what you needed. Best to you.