Take Me to Your Leader

"When Christ instituted the Twelve, 'he constituted them in the form of a college or permanent assembly, at the head of which He placed Peter, chosen from among them.'" CCC 880

I don't understand the dilemma many have with the hierarchy of the Church. Non-believers often think we as Catholics somehow worship the Pope or claim him as our absolute head (in place of Jesus). Perhaps my Catholic upbringing as a child allows me to oversimplify this aspect, but is it so hard to accept that just as God appointed leaders in the Old Testament to speak on His behalf to His chosen people, so might He have a hand in appointing a man to guide His followers in the New?

Ultimately we, like all good Christians, recognize God (Jesus) as the head of our Church. I'm certain that any good Jew in the B.C. would have claimed the same for themselves. But like all communities -- faith, business, or otherwise -- the human person has always placed one among them as their head, if for no other reason than to act as moderator for disputes among otherwise equals.

Every faith group has some form of a leader, whether it be the local pastor, an archbishop, or a founding member of a house church. I believe that those who refuse to recognize the requirement of obedience to an authority figure appointed by God have a bigger problem then accepting the leadership of another person. Perhaps pride or envy is getting in the way of permitting another of God's chosen to guide you along your spiritual path. Refer back to 'A Church of One' if you think that you and God can handle your relationship without the help of another.