Priest Ordained in Albany and Joins Roman Catholic Diocese/ "God knows her calling is as valid as his calling" /Mary Theresa Streck to be Ordained a Priest is from Albany Area

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ALBANY, N.Y. -- Troy native, Scott VanDerveer said, "It feels like I've known for a long time that I was called to be a priest."
Surrounded by family and friends, "I'm here to support Scott. He's a wonderful, charismatic human being who will bring his giftedness to this Diocese," Mary Theresa Streck said.
In the presence of dozens of priests, deacons and two bishops, Scott VanDerveer begins his journey Saturday, into priesthood.
VanDerveer said, "I think in today's world, priests are more than just religious figures. I think they are figures of hope."
And it is that hope that has a Call to Action Witness group gathered across the street from the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Albany.
Streck explained, "We really feel that women should be allowed to be ordained in the Catholic Church...Call to Action Albany Leader, Steve Powers said, "The role of women in the Catholic Church has literally been erased over the centuries. We are hoping to reverse that trend."
But according to Father Kenneth Doyle, of the Albany Diocese "There is no tradition for women priests in the Catholic Church. Women play other prominent roles in the church, but have never been ordained to the priesthood."
"I do know, it’s the right step for me and it feels very much a calling that I should be following and I need to take," Streck said.
Scott VanDerveer will conduct his first mass as a priest Saturday evening at the Church of St. Vincent de Paul.
Bridget Mary's Response;
Father Kenneth Doyle's comment contradicts a twelve hundred year tradition of women's ordination in the church's history. (See Gary Macy, The Hidden History of Women's Ordination and Ute Eisen,Women Office Holders in Early Christianity. I think all diocesan spokespeople should read these books and study the archaeological evidence of theologians like Dr. Dorothy Irvin that depicts women deacons, priests and bishops in the early church. They could read the papal bull written by Pope Gelasius, in 494 AD. ( no kidding, that's the correct name!) In this decree the pope ordered the bishops in southern Italy to stop allowing women to preside at Eucharist. In 1976, the Vatican's own scholars, the Pontifical Biblical Commission's concluded that there is nothing in the Bible that would prohibit women's ordination.
 We look forward to Mary Theresa's ordination and appreciate the support expressed by so many Catholics in the Diocese of Albany.
I really like the sign "God knows her calling is as valid as his calling"
 The Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests' mission is a renewed priestly ministry in a community of equals. Our orders are valid because a male bishop in apostolic succession ordained our first women bishops. www.arcwp.org The full equality of women in the church is the will of God in our time.
Bridget Mary Meehan, arcwp