Who is the lowest-ranking ordained member in the Catholic Church?

Answer 1

Currently it is the Deacon. Before the Second Vatican Council however, there were four minor orders: Porter, Lector, Exorcist, and Acolyte.

Below is a link to the Catholic Encyclopedia entry on the Minor Orders:

Roman Catholic AnswerThe first of the minor orders is now Lector, which would be considered the lowest "rank" of clergy in the Church. In the Extraordinary Rite, tonsure officially made you a member of the clergy, although the first real rank was Porter. Deacon would be the lowest rank of clergy of the major orders.

Answer 2

Minor Orders

Roman Catholic AnswerTraditionally there were seven "orders" of clergy in the Catholic Church. Initially, one was "tonsured", the tonsure was the round bald spot that was shaved on monk's heads in the old days. As an initiation into the clergy, just a lock of hair was snipped. Then there were four minor orders:

Porter

Lector

Acolyte

Sub deacon - this was the order in which you were bound to celibacy and the daily recitation of the Divine Office (The Breviary).

Since Vatican Council II, Porter and Sub deacon have been suppressed, and Tonsure has been moved to right before ordination to the major orders:

Deacon

Priest

Bishop

Thus the lowest rank of clergy used to be Porter, it is now Lector.

Answer 3

A deacon is the lowest ranking ordained minister in the Catholic clergy, in major Orders. The current lowest ranking minister would be Lector, unless they are ordained according to the Extraordinary Form, than it would be anyone tonsured (which officially makes one a member of the clergy and no longer a layman) or who has received Porter.

Answer 4

The serfs