Checks and Balances

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Roger12345

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In most protestant churches that I’m aware of the board of elders has a degree of authority over the minister. If the minister turns out to be a bad apple the board of elders can ask him to resign. What kind of checks and balances does the Catholic church have over the quality of it’s priests? I know the media is full of stories of abuse in the priesthood, but I’m talking about something less dramatic, like if he develops an alcohol problem, or just turns out to be a really bad minister?
 
Roger12345 said:
In most protestant churches that I’m aware of the board of elders has a degree of authority over the minister. If the minister turns out to be a bad apple the board of elders can ask him to resign. What kind of checks and balances does the Catholic church have over the quality of it’s priests? I know the media is full of stories of abuse in the priesthood, but I’m talking about something less dramatic, like if he develops an alcohol problem, or just turns out to be a really bad minister?
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You can always alert the diocesan chancery.
 
If a priest does something or is teaching something that he shouldn’t be, one can first talk directly with the priest about it. If the priest doesn’t change his ways, you can contact other priests at the parish, if there are any, especially the pastor, to then talk with the priest. If he still doesn’t change his ways, contact the bishop who has authority over him and let the bishop take it from there to discipline him.

If a bishop is out of place, the same concept follows. Talk with him individually, if that doesn’t work, take it to another bishop, and if that doesn’t work, the other bishop can take it to the pope if necessary.
 
A priest is required to appoint a lay commission regarding Parish fiances. A priest may optionally appoint a commission regarding pastoral matters. Such a commission is advisory only. There is no authority among the laity in the Catholic Church. That would be like imagining that the early Corinthian Church (upon whom St. Paul heaped scorn and criticism in 1Cor, having scarcely one good thing to say about that community) could somehow exercise authority over Paul or those whom he appointed. It’s not gonna happen, either then or now.

Ultimate authority in the Catholic Church rests with the Bishops, not with the laity (or the priests).
 
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