Remember when the priest lived like a prince and the priesthood was considered a very privileged vocation? What happened?
One of the definitions of "privilege" is "the advantages, rights and prerogatives enjoyed by a small usually powerful group or class, especially to the disadvantage of others." When the Roman Catholic Church was politically powerful, there was a tendency for its leaders (popes, bishops, priests) to build up both their own power over others, and their residences and possessions. The priest was "spiritually powerful," being the only one who could hear confessions or confect the Eucharist. Such specialness in church was also marked out by where he lived, what he owned, and how he expected others to treat him.
This was not always the case, and there are examples of poor and saintly priests (for example, St. Vincent de Paul or St. John Vianney, and soon Saints Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II).
But in western Europe and northeastern U.S., the Catholic Church over time gained riches and power. Some of those riches went into beautiful and ornate churches. Some of those riches went into the houses for the bishops and priests.
As it did in so many other areas of church life, the Second Vatican Council took another look at priestly life, through the lens of the life of Jesus and the apostles. Vatican II identified the role of the priest as a "servant," one who minsters to others. Yes, the priest's role in the life of the church was spiritually important, but he was to exercise ministry in the manner of Jesus Christ, who came to serve and not to be served. The pastor as a leader in the parish (and the bishop as a leader in the local church, or diocese) was to follow in the footsteps of Christ, who specifically instructed the apostles not to lord it over their subjects as did pagan leaders. "Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave." (Matthew 20:27)
Vatican II also said that priests are not to be separated from the people they serve, but should live among them as a good shepherd. (Famously Pope Francis said last year that priests "should have the smell of the sheep on them.") Priests, like all baptized Christians, are called to holiness, in and through their ministry and life. Diocesan, or secular, priests make promises of obedience to their bishop, and in the Latin Church, of permanent celibacy. Diocesan priests do not make a promise of poverty, like members of religious orders. But priests are urged to live a simple life of voluntary poverty. In the words of Vatican II, "By voluntary poverty priests become more clearly conformed to Christ and more ready to devote themselves to their sacred ministry. For Christ being rich became poor for our sakes, that though his poverty we might be rich." (Presbyterorum Ordinis, 18)
The priesthood as a vocation remains a very special calling. Over and over again I have witnessed Catholics, Christians, Jews and even atheists give great respect to the priesthood. The clergy sexual abuse scandal of the past decades has revealed the horrible sins of a small but significant percentage of my brothers. The scandal has also unfortunately lowered the esteem people have for the priesthood. But the "spiritual specialness" of the Catholic priesthood is not seen in privilege or wealth, nor diminished by sin. It is lived out in humility, personal prayer, service for others and leadership of parish communities toward closeness to Jesus Christ.
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