Vatican's Rejection of Female Deacons Contradicts Jesus Example of a Love that Embraces All by Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP

 The Vatican’s recent declaration that women cannot be ordained as deacons—and that the priesthood is “definitively closed to women”—rests on the deeply disturbing claim that Christ’s masculinity is essential to ordained ministry. This argument is not only theologically weak; it reveals a profound failure to recognize the Divine shining through women’s lives, bodies, gifts, and Spirit-filled callings. It reduces the Incarnation to biology rather than proclaiming the Gospel truth that God became human—not male—to reveal a love that embraces all. This decree makes women second class-citizens in a male-dominant clerical Church. 

From the beginning, Jesus shattered the boundaries of patriarchal religion. He entrusted the first proclamation of Resurrection to Mary Magdalene, commissioned women as preachers and leaders, and formed a community of equals grounded not in gender hierarchy but in mutuality, justice, and love. To deny women’s full inclusion in sacramental ministry is to deny the very pattern of discipleship Jesus lived and taught. It is not women who are diminished by this exclusion—it is the Church itself, which shrinks its own sacramental imagination and silences the Spirit still speaking through the baptized.

All people are created in the full image and likeness of God. When the Church refuses to recognize women’s sacramental authority, it wounds its own credibility, distorts the Gospel, and turns away from the living Christ breaking bread in women’s hands around open tables across the world. This moment calls the Church not to double down on fear, but to rise into courageous fidelity to the radical inclusivity of Jesus, who never once excluded women from God’s call.

Near, Within, and Among Us” Matthew 3:1-12 December 7, 2025 Rev. Annie Watson, Holy Family Catholic Church

 “

 

John the Baptist said it first: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Then, later, after John had been arrested, Jesus took his message and made it his own: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 

Jesus may have struck a different tone than John the Baptist, one that is less harsh and judgmental, but he continued to proclaim John’s core message of renewing our lives, what he called“repentance,” and acknowledging that the kingdom of God is at hand. Because Jesus took this message and made it his own, we can assume that he thought it was important. 

Let’s focus on the second part of his message, about the kingdom of God (heaven). What does he mean when he says it is “at hand”? I tend to think there are three ways to think about this, all of which are true. The kingdom of God is near, within us, and among us. 

First, to say that something is “at hand” suggests that it is within reach. It is nearby in a spatial way. The realm of God is not some distant reality. We don’t have to travel across oceans orvast deserts to get there. We don’t have to go on a pilgrimage to some far-off place to find it. It is not hidden in secret places, like caves or deserted monasteries. It is always near us spatially.

It is also near to us in a temporal way. It is not something that is reserved for the future alone. Jesus didn’t teach that we should wait passively for heaven. We participate in it now by allowing God’s Spirit to reign in our hearts.

It is in the here and now. It is present wherever God’s love is lived, wherever mercy triumphs over judgment, and wherever forgiveness replaces resentment. It is not “just around the corner” because there is no corner in the kingdom of God.

Second, the kingdom of God is within us. By “us,” I mean us as individuals. The kingdom of God is within you. This means that every act of kindness, every prayer whispered in faith, every sacrifice made for love’s sake is a seed of the kingdom. 

When Jesus says the kingdom of God is as tiny as a mustard seed but grows into something big, he could be saying that it begins in each one of us. The kingdom is at hand because it is in our hands. 

Third, the kingdom of God is among us. The seed lies in each one of us, but just as seeds are sown together in a field, the kingdom of God becomes a community. It is a reality when we gather as a church, when we pool our resources together andcare for the poor, and when we reconcile with one another. 

It is not just about personal holiness, but about building a community where God’s justice and peace flourish. Every time we choose compassion over indifference, we extend the kingdom’s reach into the world. 

The kingdom of God is near to us, within each one of us, and among all of us. It is multidimensional. It permeates every part of our lives. Because of that, we are called to live differently: to forgive quickly, serve generously, pray faithfully, and love unconditionally. 

The kingdom of God is not a distant dream; it is a present reality waiting for us to embrace it. So, let us open our eyes to see it, our hearts to welcome it, and our lives to live it. Amen.

Vatican Says No, Women Priests Say Go, Response to Commission's Rejection of Women Deacons

 

In our recent media release, the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests (ARCWP) strongly rejects the Vatican's recent reaffirmation that women cannot be ordained, calling it a patriarchal distortion of the Gospel that ignores Jesus's commissioning of women like Mary Magdalene as apostles. Sadly their main argument is pure misogyny. A woman does not have the right male body part for the role!

ARCWP argues that denying women sacramental authority contradicts scripture, history (noting women's ordination for the first millennium), and the Spirit's call, with women in their movement already serving as priests and deacons in inclusive communities.  The Vatican's stance is stifling the Church's mission, hindering equality, and failing to recognize the divine call in women, calling instead for a return to baptismal equality where all are welcome in ministry. 

Scriptural Inaccuracy: The Vatican's claim that Jesus didn't choose women for priestly roles is false, given Mary Magdalene's role as the first preacher of the Resurrection, according to the Gospels.

Historical Precedent: For the first 1,000 years, women served as deacons with Holy Orders, a practice the modern Church unjustly ended. In addition, there is  evidence of women serving in priestly ministry in the early centuries of the Church's history. 

 Archaeology and inscriptions (2nd-6th centuries CE), strongly suggests women served as priests (presbyterae) and bishops (episcopae) in early Christianity with depictions in art showing women at altars and epitaphs naming female clergy in places like Italy, North Africa, and Asia Minor, though definitions of ordination and clerical roles differed from modern views. See  calendars with depictions by Dorothy Irvin and The Hidden History of Women's Ordination by Gary Macy.

Denial of the Divine: By excluding women, the Church denies God's image in women and diminishes itself, not just women.

Gospel vs. Patriarchy: The Vatican's decision reshapes the Gospel to fit a patriarchal structure, rather than embracing the truth of Jesus's inclusive vision.

Prophetic Obedience: ARCWP sees its ordinations as prophetic obedience, moving beyond talk to action by creating inclusive communities where women deacons and priests serve.

Call for Equality: They advocate for a model of Church rooted in baptismal equality, where all ministries, including ordination, are open to called and prepared individuals, serving God's people. 

What the Vatican Commission Said (Context):

A Vatican commission voted against ordaining women deacons but noted the discussion isn't settled, according to reports from December 2025.

The commission cited the "masculinity of Christ" as integral to sacramental identity, a point ARCWP finds theologically unsound and an insult.

Pope Leo is expected to consider the commission's findings, which came after years of study and consultation, including input from women's groups. 

ARCWP/RCWP have requested a meeting with Pope Leo to share our vocations to serve the people of God in inclusive communities and ministries. But so far, we have not received a response. I pray daily that Pope Leo will open the door to conversation with us.

All Are Blessed and Beloved- like Mary, Mother of Jesus - Feast of the Immaculate Conception by Bridget Mary Meehan, ARCWP

A Litany: Blessed and Beloved

St. Photios Greek Orthodox Church, St. Augustine, Fl. 

O Passionate Creator, today we celebrate  Mary, Mother of Jesus, as blessed and beloved from the first moment of her existence.
May we affirm our deepest reality as blessed and beloved from the moment of our conception. 

O Nurturing God may we see your feminine face. 
May we open our hearts, like Mary, to give and receive God's mothering love.

O Wisdom, Sophia, may we be contemplate our oneness in the cosmos.
May we like Mary, reflect the depths of love that connects us to one another and builds community

O Heart of Compassion, may we see you in the lowly and oppressed.
May we, like Mary, our sister, live as disciples and equals, in generous service to those in need.

O Doer of Justice  may we take action for justice and equality in our world.
May, we like Mary, act as champions of  the least and last, and transform unjust structures and policies.

O Giver of All Gifts,  may we give abundantly of our times, presence and treasure.
May, we, like Mary, serve  those who would  appreciate a listening ear, a loving heart and a good meal.

O Blessed and Beloved, we are the Body of Christ in our world today.
May, we like Mary, live peacefully, love tenderly and live simply, aware of our oneness and responsibility to all  living beings on earth. 

Bridget Mary Meehan, www.arcwp.org

Travel Light. Follow the Light. Be the Light By Rev. Dick Vosko

Travel Light. Follow the Light. Be the Light.
This homily was presented at the closing liturgy of a retreat.
The Second Sunday of Advent - Year A
Sister Joan Mary Hartigan, CSJ was the retreat leader
The Dominican Retreat & Conference Center, Niskayuna, NY

So. “How are you doing?” It is a friendly question isn't it? How often lately do we hear this reply, “Just hangin’ in there.” These times are difficult. And, for many people they are … just hanging in there. The problems are well known and weigh in on all of us — the affordability crisis, food insecurity, housing shortages, international conflicts, societal polarizations and a government that appears to have no moral bearing. If you’re frightened by this list, so am I.
Perhaps that is why a silent retreat feels so good to you right now? Advent, after all, is a season filled with great expectations, visions for humanity, for all of creation. This time is designed to fill us with rich and imaginative insights about our lives and the ways in which we empathize with others.
I read the notes from your retreat leader Sr. Joan Mary Hartigan, CSJ. She set the theme for your weekend — “Holy Visitation: Travel Light, Follow the Light, Be the Light.” I thought to myself, “what more could I say?” I wondered what can today’s biblical texts add to your retreat and to my Advent journey?
In the religious imagination mountain tops are thought to be close to where God lives. If you could just reach that summit you would be OK. The Hebrew word for such heights is pisgah -- a place from which you can see far into the future. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could see what is in store for us.
Last week the scriptures summoned us to that mountaintop, the eternal City of Jerusalem, a place where people could be safe, secure and live in harmony with other people. As we know, strife in the Middle East today challenges that prophetic expectation.
In the first reading today, Isaiah (11:1-10) continues to brim with the hope that someone might rise up to lead people up to that holy mountain. His concern was urgent. The Israelites were being pummeled again and again by a powerful Assyrian regime that would destroy the people and their cities.
Isaiah believed that the people would survive if only they had a leader who was wise, strong and who stood in awe of God; one who would maintain justice for poor and afflicted people. The “shoot of Jesse” rising up from the stump is a metaphor for the destroyed City of Jerusalem. And, it is a reference to military victories.
Christians have interpreted Isaiah’s reckonings to mean that Jesus of Nazareth will be the hero. Actually, biblical scholars remind us that Isaiah was referring to the dire need for a liberator for the Israelites at that time — the boy king Josiah would be that leader.
Josiah, a descendant of David, initiated a religious renaissance, rebuilt Jerusalem and the Temple. Sadly, the peace lasted for only about 30 years when the Babylonians recaptured the Israelites and placed them into exile.
Much later, John the Baptist (Matthew 3:1-12) also preached enthusiastically about a hero, the Coming One, who would be the liberator. John, the educated son of a priest, would be part of an elite class if he were alive today. Feeling the need to change his life he retreated to the wilderness where he lived off the grid.
John identified with those living on the fringes of society. He condemned the elite class for paying attention to their own agendas at the expense of others. His message to them was to repent, change their ways of living, experience a metamorphosis, have a change of heart.
Another way to grasp this challenge is found in the Hebrew word tikkun — to repair the world. The apostle Paul (Romans 15:4-9) sought to rectify the relationships between Jews and Gentiles as he addressed the tensions between classes and cultures. He called for endurance in working for harmony, ending divisions among people. Would his advice change hearts today?
The passage in Isaiah imagines opponents becoming friends. It is a call to make justice flourish. (Psalm 72) In Hebrew the word is tzedakah, which refers not merely to acts of loving kindness toward others but more poignantly to a social obligation to defend people from the ills of humanity and oppressive leadership. That is our vocation. To make things right again in our country and elsewhere. It is an Advent expectation.
On this retreat Sr. Joan Mary said, “In silence we hear God’s whisper moving like a feather through our being stroking and caressing timid souls into fiery passion for reconciliation, justice, and peace.”
Advent is a season not only to embrace the light of Christ for our own benefit but to shine it upon others. Pope Leo recently urged us to do so. During his recent visit to Turkey and Lebanon he focused on Isaiah’s call for a world at peace.
In Pope Leo’s words this call is urgent. He said, “How great is the need for peace, unity and reconciliation around us, within us and among us.” He then added: “What can our contribution be in response?” Pope Leo’s question is for you and for me to answer. The invitation is clear: travel light, follow the light, be the light.




0 Comments




Leave a Reply.

Catholic Women Priests Continue to Seek Dialogue with Pope Leo After Vatican Rejects Women Deacons by Bridget Mary Meehan ARCWP

Roman Catholic Women Priests in Rome for Spirit Unbounded Conference in 2023

At the heart of ARCWP’s vocation is a steadfast commitment to gospel-centered dialogue—the kind of listening that is rooted not in fear or control, but in trust in the Spirit who speaks through the whole community. Dialogue is not a strategy for avoiding conflict; it is a sacramental practice of mutual reverence, where we encounter Christ in one another’s stories, questions, wounds, and wisdom.

True dialogue calls us to stay at the table when it would be easier to leave, to listen across difference, and to resist the temptation to silence or dismiss voices that unsettle us. In this way, dialogue becomes an extension of our open-table Eucharistic theology: no one is excluded.

As a renewal movement, ARCWP grows through holy wrestling—the courageous exchange of perspectives held in mutual respect. We recognize that discernment unfolds through conversation over time, through prayerful questioning, through mistakes and conversions, through shared silence and shared speech. Dialogue is how the community listens together for what the Spirit is birthing among us.

In a Church culture shaped by centuries of top-down authority, ARCWP intentionally models a different way: co-responsibility instead of control, accompaniment instead of domination, relationship instead of regulation. Dialogue keeps us grounded in this vision. It protects us from becoming what we seek to transform. 

Many of our members have written personal letters, and the bishops of the international Roman Catholic Women Priests movement have formally written to Pope Leo with this same invitation—requesting an open and respectful conversation in which we may share our lived experiences of vocation and ministry, for the sake of a Church that can truly flourish as an inclusive spiritual home for all God’s people.