Pope Francis Closes Door On Women Priests/Definitive and Discriminatory Policy Continues/Roman Catholic Women Priests Are Leading the Way toward Gender Equality

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2013/07/29/pope-says-ban-on-women-priests-to-remain/2595365/
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/07/29/pope-says-catholic-ban-on-women-priests-definitive/
Bridget Mary's Reflection:
Pope Francis sadly closed the door on women priests, declaring it was definitive teaching. While Pope John Paul 11 declared the ban of women in the priesthood definitive, some had hoped that Pope Francis would open the window to a new dialogue on women as equals in all areas of church ministry. Others have said women should be giving leadership roles in the church, but decision making roles in the church are tied to ordination in canon law. Women are and have been working in pastoral ministry. 80 percent of parish workers are women in the United States.  So what jobs, does Francis have in mind, the head of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith? Chancellors in dioceses around the world? Judges in the Sacred Rota, Vatican top court? Which top jobs in the Vatican are women going to fill?
Bridget Mary Meehan, www.arcwp.org