How much authority and power do you personally give a priest

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Sure, but it doesn’t really work that way in the Church. John q or Susie are the ones teaching catechism, being a DRE, a youth minister, an RCIA director, a marriage prep instructor, a teacher etc. So do we give them the authority and power over our formation and our marriages and kids that we give the priest?
 
I try to be respectful and obedient, but always within the realms of rationality. I’ve been given bad advice by priests that I knew was outside the realm of moral teaching. Even then I was respectful, but inside I knew they were wrong and didn’t act on their advice.
 
Not really thinking of anything specifically. But are you sure that a priest would never make a mistake?
 
I think this response could be seen as black and white. I love Catholicism, and priests have been some if the best men I’ve encountered in my life. I also fully believe in the principles of faith.

However. I’ve met a few priests who are, to be honest, dismissive, overly curt, and, honestly, either unwilling or unable to be faithful to doctrine itself. In such cases I don’t think blind obedience is always the answer.
 
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So the priest who has authority over me is not the one where we attend, where my children receive instruction and sacraments, not where we attended marriage prep, it lies with someone who does not have our baptismal records and who has not met us? He has authority on these “go ask a priest” situations?
 
redcatholic said:
Sure, but it doesn’t really work that way in the Church.
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Have you ever seen a pastor get installed at a parish before?
redcatholic said:
John q or Susie are the ones teaching catechism, being a DRE, a youth minister, an RCIA director, a marriage prep instructor, a teacher etc.
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John and Suzie are appointed as such by the pastor and can be dismissed by him. They assist the pastor in his duties charged to him by the bishop.
redcatholic said:
So do we give them the authority and power over our formation and our marriages and kids that we give the priest?
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Are John and Suzie the pastor?
Servant31 said:
However. I’ve met a few priests who are, to be honest, dismissive, overly curt, and, honestly, either unwilling or unable to be faithful to doctrine itself. In such cases I don’t think blind obedience is always the answer.
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Where did I say we should do whatever they said? Is a pastor installed by the bishop at his parish or is he not? Is the bishop charged with the pastoral care of his diocese or is he not? Is the pastor charged with the care of his parish or is he not?
 
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Depends. If I think what the priest said is heretical or inconsistent with Catholic teaching, I will confirm with another trusted priest.

But in general, I will grant him totally authority as long as I’m sure he’s consistent with Catholic teaching.
 
redcatholic said:
So the priest who has authority over me is not the one where we attend, where my children receive instruction and sacraments, not where we attended marriage prep, it lies with someone who does not have our baptismal records and who has not met us? He has authority on these “go ask a priest” situations?
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I’m not one of those who throws out the “go ask a priest” stock answers. I thought you would have gathered that from my responses so far.

But yes, that is correct. If there was a marriage involved, and you were not asked to speak with your geographical parish priest, it was probably taken care of behind the scenes. In all likelihood, the pastor of your territorial parish would have been at least contacted, because, again, he has authority over you. A pastor’s authority is not determined by your chumminess with him or lack thereof. It’s determined by canon law, which in turn determines which parish you’re a member of. And canon law defines your parish as that in whose territory you live. Not where your favourite or preferred priest serves, or which appears on your envelopes, even if all your money and paperwork goes there. I have envelopes from two parishes myself, but I’m a member of only one.

If you were to ask for a dispensation, say, from Mass, you would have to approach your territorial parish priest, because only he could grant that. Your familiar priest would not have that power.

And again, it’s very limited for the average parishioner. Mostly where issues of law and governance reserve powers to the pastor. For day to day advice, sacramental service such as Mass, Anointing and Confession, any suitable priest will serve nicely.
 
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Fauken said:
Why is a priest who you can talk to in real life so questionable, but John and Jane layperson on this site such a better bet?
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I read this as challenging. I’m sorry if I read it incorrectly. However I’m ambivalent tbh.

Generally speaking I agree priests should be given deference on certain matters. However if one priest is particularly political or overly opinionated, etc… I try to listen to the advice as best I can. I think we have to remember where authority comes from and that there are limits on those authorities. Rights and responsibilities…
 
Yes I’ve seen a pastor be installed. I’ve also been a youth minister, a teacher and a catechist. I’ve also seen 23 year old youth ministers or 58 year old youth ministers who have no training and who are not well versed in the faith. I’ve also seen and heard priests who are in need of instruction on certain subjects themselves. I’m just struggling with the idea that by the seminary instruction and the ordination itself we somehow ask far too much from a human being. I have no problem with sacramental authority. I think it should be employed and recognized more. This whole thread is really about this idea that we say go ask a priest a lot. When that seems to place an unfair burden on priests when half the time people aren’t asking us to preform sacraments, but rather just need to properly form their conscience and education. Kinda seems like the purpose of this site.
 
redcatholic said:
Yes I’ve seen a pastor be installed. I’ve also been a youth minister, a teacher and a catechist. I’ve also seen 23 year old youth ministers or 58 year old youth ministers who have no training and who are not well versed in the faith. I’ve also seen and heard priests who are in need of instruction on certain subjects themselves. I’m just struggling with the idea that by the seminary instruction and the ordination itself we somehow ask far too much from a human being. I have no problem with sacramental authority. I think it should be employed and recognized more. This whole thread is really about this idea that we say go ask a priest a lot. When that seems to place an unfair burden on priests when half the time people aren’t asking us to preform sacraments, but rather just need to properly form their conscience and education. Kinda seems like the purpose of this site.
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For myself, I usually tell a poster to ask a priest or deacon if the answer is going to be very dependent on voice infection, body language, personal history, etc.

Otherwise I try to answer the question based on the information at hand.

And I agree, that sometimes there are a few people who are quick to simply say “go ask a priest”

I think there are plenty of times where we can give an answer based on the info at hand, and still instruct the person to confirm what we are telling the poster with their local pastor.

God bless!
 
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redcatholic said:
This whole thread is really about this idea that we say go ask a priest a lot. When that seems to place an unfair burden on priests when half the time people aren’t asking us to preform sacraments, but rather just need to properly form their conscience and education. Kinda seems like the purpose of this site.
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This forum is for apologetics. It is not to substitute pastoral counseling, which is a policy of this site. I’ve been on this forum for about five years now and have seen over a hundred threads of people asking if what they committed was a sin. And they get conflicting advice: some say it is, some say it isn’t, and sometimes we get an obnoxious Protestant who quips they don’t need confession either way. Some of them are minors asking about masturbation or porn. Some of them are scrupulous and make those threads once a week. Such conflicting advice is harmful, and we have no business telling them whether what they did was mortal or not. That’s what a priest is to do in confession, especially if the poster is scrupulous.

You are welcome to ask @camoderator about more details regarding why we tell “is it a sin” posts to go to their priests.
 
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Fauken said:
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redcatholic:
This whole thread is really about this idea that we say go ask a priest a lot. When that seems to place an unfair burden on priests when half the time people aren’t asking us to preform sacraments, but rather just need to properly form their conscience and education. Kinda seems like the purpose of this site.
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This forum is for apologetics. It is not to substitute pastoral counseling, which is a policy of this site. I’ve been on this forum for about five years now and have seen over a hundred threads of people asking if what they committed was a sin. And they get conflicting advice: some say it is, some say it isn’t, and sometimes we get an obnoxious Protestant who quips they don’t need confession either way. Some of them are minors asking about masturbation or porn. Some of them are scrupulous and make those threads once a week. Such conflicting advice is harmful, and we have no business telling them whether what they did was mortal or not. That’s what a priest is to do in confession.

You are welcome to ask @camoderator about more details regarding why we tell “is it a sin” posts to go to their priests.
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I agree with this too.
 
This is so odd to me. I’ve worked in a parish office I’m good friends with the priest who married us. I can day with certainty that my “parish” has zero contact with my geographical parish in regards to any sacraments at all. Zero. My geographical parish has changed over the years. (Most people move) and only once, (my second daughter’s first communion in another state did they contact my former parish. But even then it wasn’t our former “geographical” parish. My geographical parish. Would have no record of my name, my address, my religious affiliation, my sacraments etc. are you saying that the priest In my “registered” parish does not have the authority to do what he has done for my family?
 
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