Questions / The Church and the Pope

What should priests be like?

Church teaching

Answered on video by Fr. Mike Schmitz

Video: Fr. Mike Schmitz Answers the Internet's Top Questions About Priests, Ascension Presents, published Jan 29, 2020. Checked 10 October 2026. Loads from YouTube (privacy-enhanced mode) only when you press play. Watch on YouTube

In short: Like Christ: someone who loves enough to become the least and the servant of everyone. Measure them by that. CCC 1551

The answer, in writing

Church teaching

The Church calls the priesthood a ministry: in the strict sense, “a service.” CCC 1551

The Catechism is honest that ordination does not protect a priest from human weakness, a spirit of domination, error or even sin. CCC 1550

Our words

Measure every priest by Jesus washing feet. When they fall short, the Church’s own teaching gives you the right to say so, and to report real wrongdoing.

Watch another on this

Play video: Why Can Some Catholic Priests Marry? Discipline vs. Doctrine, Jimmy Akin, from Jimmy Akin, 10 min. Loads from YouTube when pressed.

Why can't priests marry?

Play video: Why Won't Catholicism Allow Women Priests? (#AskBishopBarron), Bishop Robert Barron, from Bishop Robert Barron, 2 min. Loads from YouTube when pressed.

Why can't women be priests?

Play video: Should Catholics Call Priests Father?, Ascension Presents, from Ascension Presents, 7 min. Loads from YouTube when pressed.

Why do Catholics call priests Father?

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Sources on this page

How we know · 2 Catechism paragraphs

1. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 1550, 1551 (official text on vatican.va).

Stone & Incense restates Church teaching in plain words and cites every teaching claim. Our own wording is not an official Church text. Found a mistake? Report an errorCorrections.