Catholic "hierarchy"

[BrendanMcIntyre]

Depending on the speaker, I believe that referring to the Catholic Church as having a “hierarchy” can mean two different things. To proud Catholics, it can simply refer to the different roles within the church (priests report to bishops that report to the pope, etc), while to critics of the Chirch, it can be said with a negative connotation (as if to imply some evil power ranking system for the corrupt brainwashers, where those most adept at misleading others and hiding the ‘failings of the church’, the higher up you will move).

Can anyone please recommend some sort of alternative phrase or way of describing the Catholic Church’s structure? I just don’t care for the baggage the word hierarchy can carry, even though I don’t automatically have a problem with it being used to describe the organization of the church.

 

[1ke]

Well,hierarchy is the word the Church herself uses. So, I do not think it productive to try to find some other word.

vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P2A.HTM

 

[Equites_Christi]

In line with 1ke’s thought; this is unfortunately another case where an inoffensive word, even one which is in the official lingo of the Church, has been given negative connotations by society.

Another example is “dogma”. Society gives the impression that a dogma is oppressive, ignorant, close-minded, etc…

This is, of course, something which the up-to-date thinker must accept as true, which is to say, a dogma…oh, whoops

 

[Tsuwano]

Hierarchy is indeed a funny word for the Church to use since Jesus himself has promised that the first shall be last and the last shall be first. What exactly does hierarchy refer to anyway?

 

[Potato_Skillet]

In line with 1ke’s thought; this is unfortunately another case where an inoffensive word, even one which is in the official lingo of the Church, has been given negative connotations by society.

Another example is “dogma”. Society gives the impression that a dogma is oppressive, ignorant, close-minded, etc…

This is, of course, something which the up-to-date thinker must accept as true, which is to say, a dogma…oh, whoops

Why not create robots for pure pleasure an then we can inhabit their souls? Dogmatically, it works out.

 

[Potato_Skillet]

Depending on the speaker, I believe that referring to the Catholic Church as having a “hierarchy” can mean two different things. To proud Catholics, it can simply refer to the different roles within the church (priests report to bishops that report to the pope, etc), while to critics of the Chirch, it can be said with a negative connotation (as if to imply some evil power ranking system for the corrupt brainwashers, where those most adept at misleading others and hiding the ‘failings of the church’, the higher up you will move).

Can anyone please recommend some sort of alternative phrase or way of describing the Catholic Church’s structure? I just don’t care for the baggage the word hierarchy can carry, even though I don’t automatically have a problem with it being used to describe the organization of the church.

It is likened to the mind. The church is unified. How does “meritocracy” sound?

 

[DavidFilmer]

The Church uses the term “curia,” a term which is of ancient origin in the governance of the Roman Empire.

The Church, however, does not usually refer to the Bishops as the “Senate” (or to individual Bishops as “Senators”), though these terms are of similar origin. These particular terms are usually applied in the United States to one of the Legislative Branches of Congress.

 

[TimothyH]

Structure is a better word than hierarchy.

The structure of Christ’s body for sanctification of the world and salvation of souls is not the same as the structure of the Church which has been established for governing the worlds largest religious organization.

The Church has esablished a hierarchy for governance, with the Holy Father as the Supreme Pontiff, the ruler of the Vatican state. The Bishops in communion with the Holy Father govern the individual Churches in each diocese. Priests and deacons sit below the Bishops and then the laity. This hierarchy has been established (and evolved) so that the Church can function as an organization on earth.

Christ’s Body is not structured for governance but for the sanctification of the world and the salvation of souls, and this has a much different structure. The Mysical Body of Christ has Christ at the head. The poor with whom Christ had a particular affinity are just below Christ. Then the laity who are to serve the poor. Priest serve the laity and bishops serve the priests. The Holy Father serves the bishops - we need only look at Pope Francis to see his spirit of humble service. Blessed Pope John Paul II used to sign his letters, “The Servant of the Servants of God.” Below the Holy Father are the deacons, who are the servants of the whole Church.

There is a hierarchy for governance. The Church is a HUGE organization and is governed with an incredibly small number of layers, much fewer than just about any organization in the world, and it governs itself very efficiently. But the structure of the Church for governance should not be confused with the structure of Christ’s Body for the salvation of souls and the sanctification of the world. This is a structure of service, of mercy and bearing with the faults of others, of mutual assistance, of seeing the least and lowest as the most valuable, and of putting the last first and the first last. This is very different than governance.

You could say that there is a structure for governance and a structure of service or pastoral care, as a shepherd cares for the sheep.

-Tim-

 

[AmbroseSJ]

Can anyone please recommend some sort of alternative phrase or way of describing the Catholic Church’s structure? I just don’t care for the baggage the word hierarchy can carry, even though I don’t automatically have a problem with it being used to describe the organization of the church.

I don’t think the word hierarchy itself is the problem. It may be that there is an anti-authority issue with the use of that word.

However the hierarchy is established by God Himself. God is at the top. There is a whole hierarchy of Heaven. Jesus told James and John, that it was not His to give when it came to the highest position in Heaven. (At the immediate right and left hand of Jesus enthroned)

Jesus says the first shall be last and the last first IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. However, There WILL be a first and last position hierarchy.

There is also a Hierarchy here on earth, established by Jesus Himself. Jesus is the Head of the Church, with the chair of St. Peter being his vicar on earth. The successors of the Apostles (the Bishops) are united to St. Peter’s successor in ruling and teaching in the Church. The remainder of the Faithful also have various functions.

Now as ST. Paul reminds us, one’s position in the hierarchy of the body does not make us better or lesser, or indispensable, just more or less visible here on earth. That is why the Pope is the servant of the servants of God. (an ancient title.) But there is still a hierarchy of authority even here on earth, established by Jesus Christ.

It is very important to recognize that hierarchy of authority, as it derives from God Himself. The denial of that hierarchy of authority is the source of all schism and heresy.