"Ordain Women Deacons Now"/US Catholic/And Women Priests and Bishops

http://www.uscatholic.org/blog/2011/10/women-deacons-now-why-not

Bridget Mary's Reflection:
Ordaining women deacons could be a first step, but it must be followed by ordaining women priests and bishops. This is an issue of justice and equality in the church. It is a major reason that Roman Catholic Women Priests are ordained in apostolic succession so that justice is a reality for women in the church.
The Catholic Church needs women's experiences now in all three ministries and in a non-clerical model of priestly ministry united with the people we serve and with whom we serve. Scholars conclude that the church had women deacons and priests for the first twelve hundred years of church history, so church tradition supports this step. However, the most important argument is that women priests enflesh the teaching that by our baptism in Christ, all are spiritual equals. So for justice and equality to be a reality in our church, we need women priests now. We are visible reminders that women are equal images of God. The institutional church leaders, the hierarchy and Vatican cannot continue discriminating against women and blaming God for it! Women priests are the holy shakeup ushering in justice and equality in a more open, inclusive community of equals. The time has come and it is now.

Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP
Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests

http://www.associationofromancatholicwomenpriests.org/