What is a Roman Catholic Priest?
351666
Alright people. Enough with the jokes on the priests and little boys. It's extremely immature. People make mistakes and yes it was wrong. The pope and clergy are trying to fix this problem. GIVE IT A REST!\n\nA Catholic priest is the person who conducts the Mass and the sacraments. They are the "shepherds" of the church and are to help the "sheep" find their way in their faith.\n\nOn the subject of presbyteral ministry I have never heard that before and I am a Catholic so I can't help you there.
289588
Depends on the church.\n\nIn most cases there is a Board of Deacon's or a Vestry Committee that is made up of church members. They work with a budget based on past collections or members pledges. From that they pay the pastor a salary.\n\nThis may not apply to Catholic churches.
515629
There are three levels of Holy Orders, Deacon, Priest, and Bishop.\n\nBishops are the Apostles of today. Each one leads a diocese. Special types of bishop are archbishop, cardinal, and pope (who leads the whole Church).\n\nPriests are co-workers of the bishops and can lead a parish, and celebrate the sacraments.  A special title for a priest is monsignor.\n\nDeacons 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.\n\nWith love in Christ.
918699
Non-practising Roman Catholic
77596
There was a time when the priest of Israel where the only means of communicating with God.  They abused their priveledge and then it was no more.  Catholic priest also have abused their power.  They are not your father.  They seek to deceive you.  You speak of the scriptures and say you understand their meaning.  Then do what is asked of you.  Many will persecute you and call you all kinds of names.  But for Christ sake endure these things.  For your treasures are not on this earth.  We will discuss this more when we get there.
48278
You need someone to talk to.  Talk to a counselor, your mother, a close friend, a police officer, fireman, librarian or a church member.\n\nI no longer recommend priests.  Seems that there are too many problems with folks being taken advantage of...
542512
Semantics...\n\nChristian = "little Christ", and according to scripture, a Christian is one who by GRACE through faith is saved, not by works, by believing on Jesus Christ and having faith that God will keep His promises.\n\nRoman Catholicism teaches that good works are the qualifiers for heaven, which counters the truth of scripture. \n\nThe Roman Catholic Church teaches many false doctrines that are simply NOT in scritpure.  Since they teach a completely different way of obtaining "heaven" than scripture does, most Roman Catholics are not saved, even though most are very nice people.  \n\nCatholics in general are not true Christians, according to scripture's definition.  \n\nThe dictionary's definition is just that...the dictionary's definition.  \n\nSalvation is by grace, not works.  No amount of good works could ever merit eternal life for anyone.  That is why most Catholics are not true Christians.  \n\nRoman Catholicism is pagan, and those who abide by the tenets of it are far from the truth.
57692
priests dont really have a "salary". the parishiners donate to the church and part of that money goes toward the housing of the priests.
352964
Most simply - the clue is in the question:\n\nAll Priests are men; and all Priestesses are women. :)\n\nBut seriously, it tends to be only the Roman Catholic Church who ordanes that all of its priests are celibate men.  Anglicans are willing to accept women priests (see the BBC's "Vicar of Dibley").
630236
catholics are christians
567276
Yes, most Catholic deacons currently being ordained are married men who will never become priests.\n\nWith love in Christ.
1182876
He is said to have a direct line, so to speak, with God.\n(I am not Catholic, but was raised as one.)
402879
very witty.......\n\ncant understand the whole priest thing myself. its unnatural not to have sex
727272
I've done something like what you described... setting down my journey in writing. There are some differences in the experience for me, of course, since I am Catholic. We call our little spot in the house a 'prayer corner' instead of an altar, since altars have specific meaning for us. \n\nBut in real sense we are all priests, as St. Peter describes us as a "royal priesthood", and it is good to reflect in writing on how well you are doing at the job. :-)
448446
The parishoners do. The priest gets paid a set salary that is usually taken out of the donations collected in church.
558665
Like the answerer above me, I too went through the RCIA and none of my immediate family is Catholic. In fact, my mother is still very much against religion and against Christianity in particular.\n\nIf you are baptized, confirmed, and believe in the authority given by Jesus to the Church, and to the office of the Pope in particular, and therefore fully accept all dogma and doctrine that the Magisterium of the Church teaches then you are a true Catholic.\n\nCatholic means universal. So Catholic Church means universal Church. To be Catholic means being of one mind and one faith in communion with the Church which is the body of Christ. \n\nIf one insists on following their own individual beliefs apart from the dogma or doctrine of the Church then they are not Catholic because they are isolating themselves from the universal family of the Church. They are not universal, so they are not Catholic.
187298
The focus of a priest is the people. The focus of a spiritual master is himself.