WHY CAN’T WOMEN BE ORDAINED PRIESTS?

This issue was raised in the Australian Catholic Bishop’s Conference Consultation with women, as published by the document: "Woman and Man: One in Christ,"

This is an extract from the Executive Summary of that document:

"The Survey found that the great majority of Church attenders (women) have a strong sense of belonging to their parish and feel that it is adequately meeting their spiritual needs, have never felt unwelcome in the Church in recent years, and have been given sufficient assistance to complete a task when they have accepted responsibility. Respondents suggested that the best ways to increase women's participation were through prayer, increasing women's involvement in decision-making and Church administration, and reforming beliefs and practices that do not promote the equality of men and women. Three quarter said they have neither experienced nor observed barriers to women's participation in the Church but more than a quarter said they did not accept the Church's teaching on the ordination of women.

By contrast, the overall findings of the written submissions, public hearings and targeted groups revealed a strong sense of pain and alienation resulting from the Church's stance on women. The results of these research approaches highlighted the enormous contribution of women to all aspects of the life of the Church, except in the ordained ministry, leadership and decision-making. It was perceived that little assistance and support were received from the institutional Church to undertake anything other than ancillary and support roles. Significant barriers to the full participation of women were experienced. The fundamental barrier concerned traditions and attitudes which were seen to be inconsistent with the person and message of Jesus Christ and especially his relationship with women. The major suggestions to increase women's participation were the involvement of women in decision-making at all levels, a re-examination of the nature of ministry with exploration of the possibility of more inclusive roles for men and women, and reform of beliefs and associated practices that do not promote the equality of men and women.

There was much agreement, even among those with different views on the question, that there should be open discussion of the issue of women's ordination."(executive summary from the document: "Woman and Man: One in Christ."

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The official reason given by the Vatican for non-ordination of women is this:

Only a baptised man validly receives sacred ordination. The Lord chose men to form the college of the twelve apostles, and the apostles did the same when they chose collaborators to succeed them in their ministry. The college of bishops, with whom the priests are united in the priesthood, makes the college of twelve an ever present and ever active reality until Christ’s return. The church recognises herself to be bound by this choice made by the Lord himself. For this reason the ordination of women is not possible. (Catechism #1577; Inter insignores(1977)

A few comments need to be made in relation to this. The teaching on women’s ordination has been declared as “to be definitively held by all the faithful.” The teaching that women are unable to be ordained priests must in no way be taken to imply that women are unequal in dignity and value as compared to men. Also, this decision cannot be taken to mean that women are incapable of conveying the "humanity" of Christ as opposed to the "maleness" of Christ. This is true because we believe that both women and men were made in the image and likeness of God.

Another issue re womens’ ordination in the Church is that ordination is not really an issue of rights, since the church has consistently stated that no one (man or woman) has a right to receive the sacrament of Holy Orders. Indeed no one can claim this office for himself; he is called to it by God (Heb 5:4). Anyone who thinks he recognizes the signs of God’s call to ordained ministry must humbly submit his desire to the authority of the church, who has the responsibility and right to call someone to receive orders. Like every grace, this sacrament can be received only as an unmerited gift. (Catechism # 1578). An attempt to raise the issue as a question of rights and equality may experience frustration from the outset by what appears to be a totally different philosophical approach. This approach states that priesthood is not an affirmation or improvement on a person’s worth, human dignity, equality with all other people etc. Priesthood is a ministry of leadership and service that is not properly for the purpose of affirming the true dignity of the person ordained. At times it seems that proponents of the different arguments are speaking from very different standpoints and understandings. A dilemma occurs when womens’ ordination is put forward as a necessary test-case for enhancing the dignity and equality of women when the Vatican maintains that women indisputably do have equal dignity with men.

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