We understand the decision made in conscience by Norma Jean Coon, now a former RCWP deacon (California Catholic Daily, February 24, 2011, http://calcatholic.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?id=67472154-7019-4ee0-8b1b-d7880809a907). She has every right to change her mind and has an obligation to follow her conscience. We remain ordained Roman Catholic Women Priests who continue to follow our informed consciences and, simply put, obeying God trumps obeying the Pope.
It is the firm conviction of the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests that women who are ordained into a renewed priestly ministry are following primacy of conscience. According to official church teaching, "the final authority in any moral decision-making must always be one's conscience, even if said decision is contrary to church teaching. As the church teaches, "the gospel has a sacred reverence for the dignity of conscience and its freedom of choice" (GS, 41) and "in all activity [one] is bound to follow [one's] conscience faithfully." (See: Vatican Council II, Gaudium et Spes (GS) 16, 41.
Roman Catholic Women Priests follow Jesus who treated women and men as equals and partners in contradiction to the religious establishment of his times. Scholars have found evidence of women deacons and priests in the early centuries of the church’s history. (See Gary Macy, The Hidden History of Women’s Ordination) We stand in the prophetic tradition of holy obedience to the Spirit’s call to a renewed priestly ministry in a community of equals. We are challenging an unjust law that discriminates against women. Roman Catholic Women Priests are leading the church into a new era of justice and equality for women.
http://www.associationofromancatholicwomenpriests.org/
Living Gospel Inclusivity and Empowerment Now
You know, I really, really wish you would provide the sitation that says "When making a moral decision, Conscience in isolation of Church teaching reins supreme."
ReplyDeleteIt is true that moral theologians (including Aquinas) have long since held the primacy of Conscience---BUT they always presupposed that Conscience was ILLUMIATED by Church teaching.
One can NEVER make a decision of Conscience in ISOLATION from Church teaching. Remember: Conscience DOES NOT determine Truth, but rather determines HOW the Truth applies in a particular situation, and it CAN be errenous.
I see you conveniently ignore this part of section 41: " Since it has been entrusted to the Church to reveal the mystery of God, Who is the ultimate goal of man, she opens up to man at the same time the meaning of his own existence."
ReplyDelete& as for section 16 you conveniently ignores these parts: "the more right conscience holds sway" & "Conscience frequently errs from invincible ignorance without losing its dignity. The same cannot be said for a man who cares but little for truth and goodness, or for a conscience which by degrees grows practically sightless as a result of habitual sin."
The full teaching of the Church talks about a properly formed consceince.
& as for history, let me remind you that ALL the pagan religions of that time had priestesses. NOT the Catholic Church, despite what Macy claims, no definitive evidence has been found. Nor will it ever be because there never was & never will be any authentic evidence.