The Catholic understanding of the ministerial priesthood is deeply rooted in Scripture and Tradition and centers around several key themes: the establishment of the priesthood in the Old Testament, the fulfillment of that priesthood in Christ, and the continuation of Christ’s priestly ministry through the Apostles and their successors. All the Christian communities that can trace themselves to Christ and the Apostles (Latin and Eastern Rite Catholics as well as the Orthodox communities) have a hierarchical priesthood. In other words, 75% of the world’s Christians agree that many verses in the New Testament clearly demonstrate a Christian hierarchy of bishops, priests, and deacons.
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