text: The 'in persona Christi' stuff is the basis for much of the clericalism. It comes from the Vulgate translation of 2 Corinthians 2:10 which has 'in the person of Christ,' now better translated in the NABRE Bible on the Vatican and USCCB websites as 'in the presence of Christ.' I know of no valid basis for the idea that the priest is a Jesus. Of course we are all supposed to follow Jesus and be members of the Christ, but the priest is not more a member than anyone else, despite 'in persona Christi Capitis,' an idea that blossomed fairly recently historically. 'In persona" is not mentioned in the Baltimore Catechism. But the later supposedly progressive Vatican II documents are rife with this nonsense. Not to say the priest should not have authority. If he was selected or affirmed by his congregation, he would have even more authority. See #1548 in the Catechism for history of Aquinas and 'in persona.'