Article: Reactions to Pope Francis’ Interview on women’s ordination in America Magazine- a Jesuit Publication

 https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2022/12/21/francis-interview-letters-women-ordination-244397

My comment:

 Women will not be “incarnate equals in Christ” until the institutional Church opens all ministries to them including the call to serve as a priest. Roman Catholic Women Priests have offered a renewed model of priestly ministry in inclusive communities for over 20 years.  We have been creating a “ big tent”spiritual home- safe places for healing and renewal -where all are welcome to celebrate sacraments and would love to share our stories with Pope Francis.

Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP

Reactions in America:

‘The call to priesthood comes from God, not from one’s body parts’: Reactions to Pope Francis’ comments on women’s ordination.”

“Francis’ suggestion that “woman is more, she looks more like the church, which is mother and spouse” relies on a literal interpretation of the “spousal metaphor” that reduces the extravagance of one’s relationship with God and discipleship to plastic figurines on a wedding cake. Not just a disservice to the Catholic imagination, this literalism becomes a tool of oppression. The call to priesthood comes from God, not from one’s body parts.

The pope’s meandering defense is unsatisfying to anyone paying attention to the movements of the church today. Francis’ lack of understanding of women’s ministerial gifts stands in jarring contrast with synod reports from around the world, which reflect a collective longing for women in ministry.

“The synod has implored the global church to “enlarge the space of your tent.” We cannot continue to allow the institution to build walls of bad theology, decorated with stained-glass abstractions of women, instead of making room to encounter them as incarnate equals in Christ.”