The Catholic Church has a well-defined structure. by fada Ugwu

The Catholic church is one of the most organized institutions in the world.

Even as a priest, I cannot go to any diocese (place) and begin to operate without the diocesan Bishop of that place giving me the authority to do so.

I may be so gifted, possessing the powers to celebrate the sacraments as a priest, but I need what is called faculty (authority) to exercise those gifts or powers.

As a Catholic fellow, the chief shepherd of your diocese is the Bishop. If there is any priest or lay faithful who is operating a prayer ministry that is not approved by the Bishop in your diocese, you are bound not to go there. If you do, you are living in disobedience.

And if you want to reflect on this deeper, you can think of Adam and Eve. Their sin is not that they ate the fruit, but that they disobeyed the command given to them not to eat it.

So when there is a prayer ministry springing up, as a faithful Catholic, what you should first ask is, did the bishop approve of it? If NO, whatever you do there, as long as you are a Catholic, is disobedience and disobedience is a sin.

Priests or laypeople can open a prayer ministry, but they have to get approval from the Bishop. There are procedures to go about this, and they all know that. The reason is to safeguard the faith of the people from errors and deceit.

Hate me if you want. Say anything you want to say. Threaten me if that makes you sleep well at night... As far as being Catholic is concerned, that is the teaching. And is a Full Stop!

This is why I told you, there is nothing like I am Catholic BUT...

It is either you are in or out. Don't confuse yourself