Priest
A Priest is a Roman Catholic or Eastern Orthodox clergyman ranking above deacon but below bishop, corresponding to a presbyter in the early church. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. (1 Timothy 4:14)
Priests preside at Mass and at the Sacraments of Baptism, Matrimony, Reconciliation, and Healing. From the early 4th Century a discipline of celibacy has been in place for Roman Catholic priests. In recent times the Church is finding it difficult to replace aging priests and there are pressures to retain priests even if parishioners have come forward with accusations against them.
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On July 15 2007 in Los Angeles, the Catholic church paid a $660 million dollar settlement over a priest abuse scandal. More than five hundred lawsuits dating back to the 1930's were filed in Los Angeles from abuse victims of over two hundred priests and lay people. The U.S. Catholic church has paid out more than $2 billion in abuse claims dating back to 1950.
