Time for Prayer and Growth in Charity

"Catholic" Women’s Ordination Conference Lays Out the Case for Women Priests

WASHINGTON, April 12 /U.S. Newswire/ -- At this pivotal time in the Catholic Church, the Women’s Ordination Conference (WOC), a feminist voice for women in the church, provides the theological, biblical, and historical reasons for ordaining women.

This, of course, is in direct opposition to Inter Insigniores from the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith under Pope Paul VI and, most recently, Pope John Paul II's Ordinatio Sacerdotalis. One might presume that those in the WOC have yet to read and understand what the Church teaches.

“First and foremost, God calls women to be priests. Women and men are equally created in the image of God; therefore, the church should embrace the gifts of women in all levels of ministry,” stated Joy Barnes, WOC’s executive director. “This is not simply an issue of women’s rights, this is fundamentally about fulfilling Jesus’ gospel message.”

God, Himself, calls those who will exercise the function of the priesthood. No man makes this decision for himself - the Church discerns which men have been called by the Lord for His ordained ministry. It is as impossible that a woman could be called to the priesthood as it would be for a man to become a mother. One must see, however, that there is an equal dignity of a man and a woman, even though there is no equality in function - there exists a 'complimentarity' between the two.

As unbecoming as it may be to certain people whose understanding is flawed or deficient, God, in fact, chose men -exclusively- to be His priests. This can be seen in the Old Testament in Aaron and in the New Testament in Christ.

This is not a question which pertains to one's worthiness, superiority or some other attribute. This pertains to God's plan, His providence, His gift, His will, His grace. The call to the ordained priesthood is not a matter of "rights" since no man or woman has any rights before God. There is no such thing as a "right" to be a priest. Nor is this a matter of justice or equality as some continue to bellow and wail.

God's choice of males for His ordained priesthood cannot legitimately be viewed as an 'accident' just as the sending of His Son to become man for our salvation was no accident or coincidence. The totality of His ultimate reasons are hidden from us in the wisdom of His Godhead. Given this fact, we are obliged to follow our Lord's commands and examples, especially in His gift of the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

Despite the continued irrational rants of some who are unable or unwilling to listen to reason or accept the teaching of the Church, we must continue to reaffirm the Church teaching in charity, trusting that someday, the emotionally confused or willfully ignorant may be enlightened by God's infinite grace.

All Catholics should be able to give a reasoned defense of the faith we have, as St. Peter advised. We would do well to review the documents above as well as the Catechism, beginning at paragraph 1536 on Holy Orders. We should also continue to pray for those who oppose the Church and, in so doing, oppose our Lord.