Does the Catholic church still have the priesthood?

I have no problem with someone who believes that the Catholic Church has a form of the Priesthood – especially in how we view the Aaronic Priesthood.

I certainly don’t believe in the strictest view of all Priesthood being lost from the earth in times of general apostasy – and I don’t believe the Melchizedek Priesthood was totally lost after Moses died, since our own scriptures say he was ordained by Jethro (his father-in-law, who was not an Israelite). There’s no reason, imo, to assume God hasn’t been calling (and “ordaining”) people throughout history of whom we simply don’t know (or about whose callings / ordinations we don’t know, even if we do know of the people themselves).

I don’t think its chain is as unbroken as thy’d like to think. They are also not the original church for a number of reasons. The first three/four centuries of the Roman Catholic Church are clouded in mystery, and there is no evidence that Rome was ever intended to be the center of the church.

When King Noah dismissed all of his father’s priests and called his own, they still had priesthood authority even though they were apostate. When Alma heard Abinadi preaching, he left the wicked priests and baptized people. From this story, it seems that priesthood authority can be passed on whether the people passing it on are worthy or not–whether they are preaching the truth or not.

In the case of the Catholic church, they claim to have an unbroken chain of authority clear back to Jesus (through St Peter). Even if they had gradually apostatized, wouldn’t they still be able to pass on the priesthood just like King Noah’s priests?

I asked this same question of my institute teacher. His answer was that the apostacy in the time of King Noah was recent (a generation or less) and therefore there were still valid ordinations being performed. Another way to look at it in a traditional method would be that they may still have the priesthood but they lack the priesthood keys.

How about everyone or no one has the priesthood. I am pretty sure the priesthood is simply a mechanism men use to to say they have authority. I do not see any evidence that God bestows it on people. Not that this is all bad. I think in any organization you have to have an authority structure to function. I just do not think this is some kind of unseen force or power bestowed on someone receiving the priesthood.

I think that’s a bit unfair. There is evidence of JS setting up RS as a kind of female priesthood.

Sorry I am missing your point?

When King Noah dismissed all of his father’s priests and called his own, they still had priesthood authority even though they were apostate. When Alma heard Abinadi preaching, he left the wicked priests and baptized people. From this story, it seems that priesthood authority can be passed on whether the people passing it on are worthy or not–whether they are preaching the truth or not.

I think this is a good point and good reference to how things happened in the scriptures that we don’t question or create angst about…this was one way the priesthood authority was passed on. Regardless of whether it was one generation or several, this did happen and we have no problem with it.

To me it supports the premise that things aren’t so cut and dry, or that the priesthood is either on the earth or its not, or that it is in one church (and no others) or it is not. Things have never been that cut and dry. Things just work their way through mortality, and God lets things happen, and sometimes even intervenes.

I think there is a lot of God’s work being done by the Catholic church.

I think a form of priesthood exists wherever people have individually (and collectively) dedicated their life to serving a god. A priest or priestess is a person who serves their god in a functional way, their “agent” for action in this reality or realm.

A good Catholic priest who serves God every day is a priest. A good Mormon Elder who serves God through serving others is a priest. A woman who dedicates and concecrates a portion of her life to serve is a priestess of God.

I think God should care more about the walk than the talk, more about the charity than the authority.

Who has more priesthood “power?” (power as in a force that causes action in the world) An agnostic, non-denominational woman who blesses her sick neighbor by dropping off dinner and folding her family’s laundry, or a man who has great faith and was officially ordained by the laying on of hands from a pedigreed chain of people; but sits around talking about plans to convert the whole world to the “truth?” (but never does anything)

In the early days of the church, up into the 20th century even, the women were encouraged to lay their hands on the head and bless and anoint each other before child bearing. They technically didn’t have the priesthood, yet they had “something” that allowed them to give “priesthood” blessings. Where did they get it from and what kind of authority does one need?

I think Brian is right on — priesthood comes from god – not mormon leaders.