Rev. Fr. Cyprian Tata, a Priest of Kumbo Diocese has said that the Roman Catholic Church is hierarchical.In a sermon at the Tobin Catholic Church marking the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Fr. Tata said the Church is stratified with lots of hierarchical segregation that must be strictly respected.
He added that there are certain posts that are not elective.
He cited the posts of Catechist, Parish Priest, Bishop and Pope.
In the Church, he explained, there is no authority above that of the Catechist.
He explained further that at the parish level, the Priest reigns supreme and his authority can only be surpassed by that of the Bishop.
"A Bishop is appointed by the Pope on the dictates of the Holy Spirit," Fr. Tata said.
He said the Bishop represents Jesus Christ, but when the congregation murmured in apparent disapproval, he quickly added that as human beings, Bishops are equally vulnerable and likely to make mistakes.
The man of God said the Church begins from the individual Christian who must necessarily belong to a family.
He said for a better understanding of the workings of the Church and God, Christians must belong to small Christian communities, SCC.
Fr. Tata said henceforth, no Christian would be admitted in Church if he/she does not belong to an SCC.
The Priest accused the Christians of abandoning the substance and chasing the shadow.
He said a Priest is not simply anyone in a cassock but a Pastor of the word.
He urged the over 1000 Christian faithful to right the numerous societal wrongs as proof of their service to God.
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