Dear Editor: I commend the Vatican for reaffirming the attempted ordination of women as a “grave crime”.
At first sight it may seem that the demands of radical feminism in favor of a total equality between man and woman are extremely noble and, at any rate, perfectly reasonable. However, this kind of emancipation of women signifies that sexuality is no longer rooted in anthropology. It means that sex is viewed as a simple role, interchangeable at one’s pleasure. Logically this means that the whole being and the whole activity of the human person are reduced to pure functionality.
Women, who are creative in the truest sense of the word by giving life, do not “produce”, however, in that technical sense valued by a society that worships at the foot of efficiency. Ultimately, the emancipation proffered by radical feminists results only in women conforming themselves to a culture of production that seeks nothing but profit and power.
The catholic church holds that it is not admissible to ordain women to the priesthood, for very fundamental reasons. These reasons include: the example recorded in the Sacred Scriptures of Christ choosing his Apostles only from among men; the constant practice of the Church, which has imitated Christ in choosing only men; and her living teaching authority which has consistently held that the exclusion of women from the priesthood is in accordance with God’s plan for his Church.
In calling on only men as his Apostles, Christ acted in a completely free and sovereign manner. In doing so, he exercised the same freedom with which, in all his behavior, he emphasized the dignity and the vocation of women, without conforming to the prevailing customs and to the traditions sanctioned by the legislation of the time.
There are countless other ways that women might serve the church which are no less faithful to the Gospel. In fact, Pope John Paul II has stated in Ordinatio Sacerdotalis that “The greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven are not the ministers but the saints.”
@Paul Kokoski … Did it ever occur to you that the reason why ‘Christ chose his Apostles only from among men’, was because he was that way inclined. In other words, your Saviour really liked the company of other men. Perhaps, even in the Biblical sense.
sorry that this has taken this toll. A woman is the first to teach her boychild to pray. when he becomes a man he says mum you have no right to be on the alter what ashame. The church is you and I if there is no women there will be no church. now a .days women rule THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN’TDO.
@true ghoss
Are you for real ? Mary is not the highest position in the Church, God is. duhhhhhh
and on Earth its the Pope – A MAN , position women are barred from.
@Folks: Hahahaha. The Church likes women… hahaha, You meant the church likes boys. And the Vatican inherited its traditions from Jesus? hahaha, bigger joke again. When you go to Church take a good look around, then read the Bible. Not the Missal.
Who would you respect and revere more as a priest, Mother Theresa or the male clergy pedophiles convicted of molesting of children? It’s not the gender that counts, it’s the soul and purpose of the individual. The only reason men were the first priests was due to the traditional gender roles that applied during the time of Christ. They didn’t eat pigs either…do you? Christ changed the world, why can’t the Vatican change with the times? I don’t recall anything in the bible that specifically said No Women Allowed. That rule was made up by men.
@Anonymous: Surely women are created in God’s image also. Not only that, they give birth to men, not the other way round. Women can do anything men can and more: give birth! The ruling that women can not be priests is man made , exactly like the one that says that priests can not marry. How arrogant of us mortals to pretend to know the limits of the capabilities that an all -loving and all-forgiving Creator has bestowed upon us.
well if one would read the bible, it is stated in plain english the roles of both men and women in the bible, just because we women are not called to be priest does not mean we can’t be instrumental parts of the church. We cannot question God, and according to the bible women cannot be a priest or be a pastor.
That is lies from hell. God can use anyone to bring forth his message.
For the longest while the Vatican has been hiding secrets fromits followers, but its now the secrets are leaking!
Folks, the man only stated what is Sacred Tradition for over 2000 Years. Are you all asking the vatican to make a change on what they inherited from Jesus. Afterall, the church Love Women, look at the many prominent female Catholics out there. Dead and Alive. Afterall, it is not about having Male domination… not at all. Breaking from tradidtion is what created all these little denominations out there…. some totally lost…… Afterall, have a little respect for Jesus’ plan and the way he wanted his Church operated… starting from Peter…. Please Engineers and Pilots and Mason have nothing to do with Sacred Tradition. Common guys,,,, stop being soo rebelious because we were blessed with a little knowledge.
@RASTA:
I think you read the Gospels. It says the gates of hell will never prevail against the Church Jesus founded. I waiting for that Church to crumble? You fighting Jesus Man?
And males are the only ones the cannot bear children, how about that???? there are some things that only women can do ??
This is why i deny religion a position in my life.God and Spirituality is of the spiritual nature.. It is selfish, ignorant and totally physical to assume that ‘God’ looks at anything else beside the soul. this is the teaching of the church. Souls are genderless and perfect by nature. The body is meerly an encasement, a glove if you will, and is not a reflection of the soul that it carries. Just by logic alone one can see that God is not concerned with the physical attributes that make up man and woman when dividing power.
Secondly::::The Vatican is not a misguided bunch of religious fanatics. It is a very well constructed body of thinkers and teachers. It is responsible for the worl’ds current position on God and religion and this must take carefully thought out planning for both now and future generations so as to ensure the continuation of the church..Hence their position on the matter only puts up a red flag in my mind. My new area of research would now be. ” WHY would the Vatican say no women, FULLY knowing the rest of the world will see this as prejudice. What is so scary about the idea? is it a wrong turn in the premeditated future of the world as seen by them? WHAT about the church does it endanger??? WHAT ABOUT RELIGION does it endanger??
i try my best to read between the lines and there is NOOOO way i would say women can’t be priests unless there was another motive.. Surely ‘God’ wouldn’t deny women the honor-lest be he saying women are filthy and unfit-ALLL OF THEM!!
@RASTA: Easy on the caps lock now Rasta, it makes it seems like ur hysterical and screaming.
This is why this religious organization got so much happy boys.man man man.I adore woman.got to invest in my woman church..to much hypocrite.
i don’t see why women should complain. a woman has the highest position in that church being the mother of the very god they serve. you all should feel honored.
ONLY 5 COMMENTS? DE HYPOCRITES DEM FRAID TO TOUCH THAT 1? COME ON, MAKE ME HEAR WHA RUBBISH Y’ALL HAVE TO SAY TO TRY DEFEND THIS MAJOR DISCRIMINATION NOW.
WE IN THEM CRUCIAL TIMES NOW,ALL SECRETS GONNA START TO BE REVEALED, VATICAN CITY GONNA CRUMBLE REAL SOON, PROPHECY WILL BE FULLFILLED.
I recently graduated with an engineering degree, a traditionally male profession. I am sure that in this day an age the Church will frown on any institution of education that will refuse to accept women into an engineering program or a company that would refuse to hire me as an engineer because I am female. Then why is it that Church has the right to refuse capable, intelligent, baptized, blessed and annointed human beings into the clergy on the count that they are not male ? I also graduated from the first Catholic University in the US to accommodate co-ed education. The Catholic Church at the time was slowly accepting the importance of women as equals, why stop there ?
I have heard the argument that Jesus chose only men as disciples to continue his tradition as well as the fact that since Jesus is a man a priest would be a better representation of Jesus during consecration. This in fact offends me, that because I am a woman that someone would be unable to see Jesus in me. Moreover there are several instances in the Bible where women are seen as role models to the church, as leaders, and even founders of the Church.
We know of Deborah the only woman Judge in the old Testament often referred to as the “Mother of Israel” and who delivered fair judgments under God’s rule despite her being a woman. Mary the WOMAN we honour so much in our faith from whom was born the Saviour of the world. Are those of us who model our lives after her unable to join among God’s anointed priesthood ? In the gospel of Luke it is reported than Jesus sent out 72 to bear witness. It does not state whether these were 72 men, but it sounds like they were doing the work of the apostles in the breaking of the bread and spreading the good news. It is also a historical fact that WOMEN would take the role as priest in leading the early Christians in fellowship and the breaking of their bread in their homes. It is a historical fact that their were priestesses in the early church. What happened ? What happened ?
Come again Vatican. Don’t worry the empowerment of women is God’s Will being unfolded and Priestesses shall return ! Now that is God’s will.
Anyone that invests in religion needs to study its’ origins and purpose. It is not a balanced situation. Totally one-sided (male). Look at nature……..it is a lot more balanced.
Stupes. I doh know why women even bother with the church. It’s a man’s club if you know what I mean that is why they will fight tooth and nail to keep it that way. In any event, the scriptures were written by men from memory who saw it fit to exclude the very important role women played in Christ’s reign. One big fat lie that has been perpetrated is that Mary Magdeline was a prostitute. No she wasn’t. Historians have found out that she was a widow and an apostle who factored prominantly in Christ’s life even supporting him when Christ took his message on the road. If Jesus Christ is who we say he is, a man who was immensely devoted to his mother, then we can see how he would give equal credance to women. It was hundreds of years after Jesus died that the male chauvenists began rewriting history to suit themselves, excluding and defaming women and making Christ out to be like them. One last thing, the reason there are no women priests and that priests are not allowed to marry is an economical one. If priests marry, the church would have to share its wealth with the many heirs of the priesthood. Hence, priests don’t marry. There is no other reason.
God’s plan Paul? I thought God only told me his plan, and this wasn’t part of his plan, as a matter of fact Paul, I dare you to find me a better leader than Mother Teresa in your Vatican. Is Paul Kokoski actually the “nice guy” in disguise, cause they spit the same s%@t. Man are u eva gonna sit back and let your mind evolve from the dogma of the past.
One more thing Paul, if your Christ came thru today, I’m pretty sure he’d kick down the Vatican and head for the hills, cause many of your priests/leaders are no followers of him, and that’s coming from a male perspective.
Disagree strongly with the Vatican position. The chuch is maintaining the old cultural tarditions of the “macho” world. I predict that within 50 years even the Vatican will be “enlightened”
chuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuupes.