5 women approved to preach

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Dicerning

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That was the headlines for my diocesan newspaper.

5 women approved to preach.

I was hoping our new bishop would turn things around. It appears as though things are gradually getting more heterodoxical.

I wonder what 5 Women and no men?

I know one of the Women. She is very Pro Women’s ordination. She is also the Pastoral life administrator for two priesless parishes. Many people call her Father (name).

I am sure I will be accused of Misogyny but I continue to shake my head at the constant ignoring of priestly and religoius vocations. And the overt promotion of Lay leadership.

I wonder if the whole thing is by design.
 
I am sorry to hear that. While other dioceses in the US are acknowledging (and behaving in accordance with) the Church’s discipline on lay preaching (when it is and is not permitted), yours appears to be turning a blind eye.

I’m sure you don’t need to be told this, but…

Only an ordained man (who is not otherwise forbidden from doing so) may preach during the Mass at that part reserved for the homily (between the Gospel and the Creed or Prayer of the Faithful). The role of the laity (and religious brothers and sisters) is to listen to and receive the homily. To insert an opportunity for “preaching” elsewhere, whether by a layman or an ordained minister, is to institute a change in the liturgy. The Church is clear that lay “testimony” should occur outside of the Mass, or at least after the Prayer after Communion.
 
Based on the info you gave, I think I know what diocese you are from, and if correct, then you do have it rough.

Unfortunately I think it is going to be something you will have to just bite your tongue and deal with it, as obviously you cannot appeal to your bishop, and it would appear the Vatican has not yet taken interest
 
Contact the Apostolic Nuncio in Washington DC and send a letter to the Vatican.
 
buffalo said:
Contact the Apostolic Nuncio in Washington DC and send a letter to the Vatican.
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Actually, the nuncio is not the one who will take action. Your best bet is to contact the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Bear in mind that Francis Cardinal Arinze is no longer the prefect. It is now Antonio Cardinal Canizales Llovera of Spain, who is supposed to be a stricter displinarian, from what I have read.

As japhy posted, this is clearly wrong on so many levels. For example, Redemptionis Sacramentum notes that:
[64.] The homily, which is given in the course of the celebration of Holy Mass and is a part of the Liturgy itself,142 “should ordinarily be given by the Priest celebrant himself. He may entrust it to a concelebrating Priest or occasionally, according to circumstances, to a Deacon, but never to a layperson.143 In particular cases and for a just cause, the homily may even be given by a Bishop or a Priest who is present at the celebration but cannot concelebrate”.144
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[65.] It should be borne in mind that any previous norm that may have admitted non-ordained faithful to give the homily during the Eucharistic celebration is to be considered abrogated by the norm of canon 767 §1.145 This practice is reprobated, so that it cannot be permitted to attain the force of custom.
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[66.] The prohibition of the admission of laypersons to preach within the Mass applies also to seminarians, students of theological disciplines, and those who have assumed the function of those known as “pastoral assistants”; nor is there to be any exception for any other kind of layperson, or group, or community, or association.146
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The 1997 document issued by the Congregation for Clergy concerning the collaboration of the non-ordained faithful in the sacred ministry of the priest also says this:
§ 1. The homily, being an eminent form of preaching, qua per anni liturgici cursum ex textu sacro fidei mysteria et normae vitae christianae exponuntia,(68) also forms part of the liturgy.
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The homily, therefore, during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, must be reserved to the sacred minister, Priest or Deacon(69) to the exclusion of the non-ordained faithful, even if these should have responsibilities as “pastoral assistants” or catechists in whatever type of community or group. This exclusion is not based on the preaching ability of sacred ministers nor their theological preparation, but on that function which is reserved to them in virtue of having received the Sacrament of Holy Orders. For the same reason the diocesan Bishop cannot validly dispense from the canonical norm(70) since this is not merely a disciplinary law but one which touches upon the closely connected functions of teaching and sanctifying.
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For the same reason, the practice, on some occasions, of entrusting the preaching of the homily to seminarians or theology students who are not clerics(71) is not permitted. Indeed, the homily should not be regarded as a training for some future ministry.
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All previous norms which may have admitted the non-ordained faithful to preaching the homily during the Holy Eucharist are to be considered abrogated by canon 767, § 1.(72)
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These are definitely serious problems, indeed.
 
In all fairness, without the text of the article we do not know the context of the commission for these women to preach. It could be at prayer services, or, if the woman is a pastoral administrator at a priestless parish, to preach at a SCAP. If this is the case, then it shows great insight on behalf of the bishop who wants to assure that those preaching at non-Eucharistic liturgies are well qualified and that he knows who is preaching.
 
Joannm said:
In all fairness, without the text of the article we do not know the context of the commission for these women to preach. It could be at prayer services, or, if the woman is a pastoral administrator at a priestless parish, to preach at a SCAP. If this is the case, then it shows great insight on behalf of the bishop who wants to assure that those preaching at non-Eucharistic liturgies are well qualified and that he knows who is preaching.
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Yes, we’ve had homilies delivered by nuns (vetted by the authorities) with higher theology degrees; usually the preaching is about missionary efforts.
 
I have seen it at Mass only once. When I got to Mass, I had a feeling this was going to happen since we had a visiting priest from the parish downtown. The priest did the Gospel like usual and then introduce this lady. As soon as that happened, I got up and walked out. Since the church was on the small side and I usually sat near the front, everyone saw. However, I did not care. This was strike 2 for that parish and strike 3 happened only about a month or two later and I left for good.
 
peregrinus_WA said:
I have seen it at Mass only once. When I got to Mass, I had a feeling this was going to happen since we had a visiting priest from the parish downtown. The priest did the Gospel like usual and then introduce this lady. As soon as that happened, I got up and walked out. Since the church was on the small side and I usually sat near the front, everyone saw. However, I did not care. This was strike 2 for that parish and strike 3 happened only about a month or two later and I left for good.
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But how do they get by with this…doens’t the Bishop do anything? Does someone report it?
 
benedictgal said:
Actually, the nuncio is not the one who will take action. Your best bet is to contact the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. Bear in mind that Francis Cardinal Arinze is no longer the prefect. It is now Antonio Cardinal Canizales Llovera of Spain, who is supposed to be a stricter displinarian, from what I have read.

As japhy posted, this is clearly wrong on so many levels. For example, Redemptionis Sacramentum notes that:

The 1997 document issued by the Congregation for Clergy concerning the collaboration of the non-ordained faithful in the sacred ministry of the priest also says this:

These are definitely serious problems, indeed.
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The facts and circumstances seem to be these: “. . .met with the five parishioners to begin a one-year trial period in which the lay Catholics may preach in a priest’s or deacon’s absence. Preaching a homily during celebration of the Eucharist is reserved for clergy, but the lay people may preach at reconciliation or funeral services, a celebration of the Word or in other official situations as church representatives — with their pastor’s OK . . .”

Isn’t calling for the bishop’s head without knowing the facts as much of an abuse as some of the other things reported around here as “abuses?”
 
Mattapoisett64 said:
The facts and circumstances seem to be these: “. . .met with the five parishioners to begin a one-year trial period in which the lay Catholics may preach in a priest’s or deacon’s absence. Preaching a homily during celebration of the Eucharist is reserved for clergy, but the lay people may preach at reconciliation or funeral services, a celebration of the Word or in other official situations as church representatives — with their pastor’s OK . . .”

Isn’t calling for the bishop’s head without knowing the facts as much of an abuse as some of the other things reported around here as “abuses?”
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Correct - I assumed it meant preaching at Mass. My bad.
 
Assuming the article that was cited refers to the same event as the OP this is perfectly acceptable. The women will not preach at Mass – they will preach only in the absence of a priest or deacon. This indicates that they will be well trained to preach. I see no abuse here, nor any reason to be alarmed.

Deacon Ed
 
Mattapoisett64 said:
The facts and circumstances seem to be these: “. . .met with the five parishioners to begin a one-year trial period in which the lay Catholics may preach in a priest’s or deacon’s absence. Preaching a homily during celebration of the Eucharist is reserved for clergy, but the lay people may preach at reconciliation or funeral services, a celebration of the Word or in other official situations as church representatives — with their pastor’s OK . . .”
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There is internal contradiction in this article, though. First, “a one-year trial period in which the lay Catholics may preach in a priest’s or deacon’s absence” is suspicious. Surely the trial period requires the absence of both a priest and a deacon. A Mass (with a priest, obviously!) without a deacon is not a valid place for a layman to preach. In a “Sunday Celebration in the Absence of a Priest” at which a deacon presides, why would a layman preach instead of the deacon?

The article says that “the lay people may preach at reconciliation or funeral services, a celebration of the Word or in other official situations as church representatives”. Clearly, these must all be in the absence of priests and deacons as the article said, right? There is no such thing as a reconciliation service without a priest. In the other situations, hopefully there are no priests or deacons either. I’m curious what “official situations” they have in mind.
 
From the linked article:
the lay Catholics may preach in a priest’s or deacon’s absence.
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So far, no problem.
Preaching a homily during celebration of the Eucharist is reserved for clergy,
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ok
but the lay people may preach at reconciliation or funeral services, a celebration of the Word or in other official situations as church representatives — with their pastor’s OK, said Deacon Agnoli.
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How do you have a funeral or a reconciliation service without a priest (or a deacon at a funeral)?
 
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