A great deal was said in the opinions put forth on the issue of ordaining women as priests in the Roman Catholic tradition. There seems to be the mistaken notion that this is a doctrine of the church especially when the words 'never' and forever' are used. Actually this is simply an approach, a practice or discipline stating that only men can be ordained!. In the Jewish culture of Jesus time this would have been anathema! Crucifixion would have happened much earlier had this man Jesus suggested such an abomination
We are now 2000 years later. Our understanding, even based on Paul's epistle "there is neither male nor female -----we are all equal....... except in the eyes of a patriarchal hierarchy who incidentally are here because we "unworthy" women birthed them!
Pope Francis did not use the 'chair of Peter" known as 'ex cathedra' to make this pronouncement. Therefore it is not infallible and can be changed if not by him then by the next generation of cardinals in a council in union with the Pope where the
teaching authority of the church exists.
Rev. Rita Lucey,MA
Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests
Rita Lucey ARCWP and Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP in Orlando, Florida at Rita's Ordination, www.arcwp.org |
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