A fine Catholic Priest told me that “You should not put priests on a pedestal.” As a convert, I knew enough to never argue with a Priest, so I agreed. “Father, you are right.” I hope he will forgive me for adding, “Pedestals are not high enough.” But, that is what I believe.
Converts are continually amazed by ever-deeper understanding that Catholic priests operate at a vastly higher level. Priests differ from ministers.
Amazingly, most Protestants do not take their faith seriously enough to ask, “Pastor Bob says he cares about us, but he needs a raise so his kids can go to college. Why can’t our ministers be as self-sacrificing as Catholic priests?” Brighter Protestants ask a much deeper question: “Why can’t we Protestants expect the same level of self-sacrifice that Catholics take for granted?” That is a question!
Pity the poor Protestants who compare. “Pastor Bob has been married twice. Our donations support two sets of children in two separate households. ‘The laborer is worthy of his hire.’ he says, but that doesn’t make it any more affordable for our shrinking church. Catholic priests are celibate. Looking at our budget, we wish we had that!”
And, smarter Protestants worry about no one being in charge. “You know, Pastor Bob has been spending an awful lot of time visiting that wealthy, young widow who’s just lost her husband. Wish we had a Bishop who could tell him to stop giving the impression of getting more involved with helping some than others. He hasn’t visited an old, poor, home-bound person in our congregation since I don’t know when.”
When an intelligent Protestant thinks about Communion, he realizes more fully: Priests differ from ministers. “We pass out little pieces of bread and tiny glasses of grape juice. Pastor Bob knows it’s not really The Body and Blood of Jesus. We all know. It’s a pale imitation. Priests differ from ministers. A real priest, a living link with Jesus and the Apostles He ordained, provides the Real Body and Blood. Does knowingly receiving an imitation of that Holy Food help or hurt me?”
Sometimes, awareness of the self-serving nature of the schisms drives people into The Church Jesus Founded. Many become Catholic not because they love The Church, but because contradictions in the imitations have become too tiresome to bear.
When they knowingly support the false doctrines of denominations that fear to condemn abortion, it becomes even more apparent. Priests differ from ministers. A priest has the power to forgive a new Catholic, even for a sin like having once supported an abortion-neutral denomination.
So, many become Catholic. Priests differ from ministers.
