Female priesthood and Galatians

[Pyrosapien]

1. The Declaration recalls and explains the fundamental reasons for this teaching, reasons expounded by Paul VI, and concludes that the Church “does not consider herself authorized to admit women to priestly ordination.”(3) To these fundamental reasons the document adds other theological reasons which illustrate the appropriateness of the divine provision, and it also shows clearly that Christ’s way of acting did not proceed from sociological or cultural motives peculiar to his time. As Paul VI later explained: “The real reason is that, in giving the Church her fundamental constitution, her theological anthropology-thereafter always followed by the Church’s Tradition- Christ established things in this way.”(4)

In the Apostolic Letter Mulieris Dignitatem, I myself wrote in this regard: “In calling only men as his Apostles, Christ acted in a completely free and sovereign manner. In doing so, he exercised the same freedom with which, in all his behavior, he emphasized the dignity and the vocation of women, without conforming to the prevailing customs and to the traditions sanctioned by the legislation of the time.”(5)

In fact the Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles attest that this call was made in accordance with God’s eternal plan; Christ chose those whom he willed (cf. Mk 3:13-14; Jn 6:70), and he did so in union with the Father, “through the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:2), after having spent the night in prayer (cf. Lk 6:12). Therefore, in granting admission to the ministerial priesthood,(6) the Church has always acknowledged as a perennial norm her Lord’s way of acting in choosing the twelve men whom he made the foundation of his Church (cf. Rv 21:14). These men did not in fact receive only a function which could thereafter be exercised by any member of the Church; rather they were specifically and intimately associated in the mission of the Incarnate Word himself (cf. Mt 10:1, 7-8; 28:16-20; Mk 3:13-16; 16:14-15). The Apostles did the same when they chose fellow workers(7) who would succeed them in their ministry.(8) Also included in this choice were those who, throughout the time of the Church, would carry on the Apostles’ mission of representing Christ the Lord and Redeemer.(9)

 

[Pyrosapien]

1. Furthermore, the fact that the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God and Mother of the Church, received neither the mission proper to the Apostles nor the ministerial priesthood clearly shows that the non-admission of women to priestly ordination cannot mean that women are of lesser dignity, nor can it be construed as discrimination against them. Rather, it is to be seen as the faithful observance of a plan to be ascribed to the wisdom of the Lord of the universe.

The presence and the role of women in the life and mission of the Church, although not linked to the ministerial priesthood, remain absolutely necessary and irreplaceable. As the Declaration Inter Insigniores points out, “the Church desires that Christian women should become fully aware of the greatness of their mission: today their role is of capital importance both for the renewal and humanization of society and for the rediscovery by believers of the true face of the Church.”(10)

The New Testament and the whole history of the Church give ample evidence of the presence in the Church of women, true disciples, witnesses to Christ in the family and in society, as well as in total consecration to the service of God and of the Gospel. “By defending the dignity of women and their vocation, the Church has shown honor and gratitude for those women who-faithful to the Gospel-have shared in every age in the apostolic mission of the whole People of God. They are the holy martyrs, virgins and mothers of families, who bravely bore witness to their faith and passed on the Church’s faith and tradition by bringing up their children in the spirit of the Gospel.”(11)

Moreover, it is to the holiness of the faithful that the hierarchical structure of the Church is totally ordered. For this reason, the Declaration Inter Insigniores recalls: “the only better gift, which can and must be desired, is love (cf. 1 Cor 12 and 13). The greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven are not the ministers but the saints.”(12)

1. Although the teaching that priestly ordination is to be reserved to men alone has been preserved by the constant and universal Tradition of the Church and firmly taught by the Magisterium in its more recent documents, at the present time in some places it is nonetheless considered still open to debate, or the Church’s judgment that women are not to be admitted to ordination is considered to have a merely disciplinary force.

Wherefore, in order that all doubt may be removed regarding a matter of great importance, a matter which pertains to the Church’s divine constitution itself, in virtue of my ministry of confirming the brethren (cf. Lk 22:32) I declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church’s faithful.

Invoking an abundance of divine assistance upon you, venerable brothers, and upon all the faithful, I impart my apostolic blessing.

From the Vatican, on May 22, the Solemnity of Pentecost, in the year 1994, the sixteenth of my Pontificate.

 

[Pyrosapien]

Rome has spoken, the matter is settled!

Isn’t it great to be Catholic

 

[vern_humphrey]

Pyrosapien:

Rome has spoken, the matter is settled!

Isn’t it great to be Catholic

Indeed it is – I would that others were so understanding of the Catholic faith.

 

[mercygate]

SPOKENWORD:

I really didnt see in scripture anything about their duties but thats okay. In reading the qualifications I did read that bishops, deacons ,ect were to be married. I guess you could throw that one out the window today? I guess it wouldnt apply for today. God Bless.

While the following passage in Acts 6:1-6 does not specifically call the seven “deacons,” tradition has accepted them as such, and their duties included table service:

Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists murmured against the Hebrews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the body of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."

This is a curious passage because, one might ask why waiting table should require one to be “full of the Spirit and of wisdom.” And the next time we see Stephen, he is preaching zealously!

As for Deacons being married, Deacons in the Catholic Church today may be married if they are not in the track to priesthood. You are probably challenging the idea of clerical celibacy.

We come to the discipline of celibacy in the context of the rest of the NT teaching on marriage and ministry, not just I Tim 3:12 (which doesn’t make sense if taken with I Cor 7:29 which counsels, “let those who have wiveslive as though they had none.”) Note that this verse lends credence to the tradition that married priests in the NT Church lived in continence after ordination.

In the NT, some bishops/priests/deacons were married. Some were not: Paul himself being the outstanding example. Our Lord counseled that “there areeunuchs who have made themselveseunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. He who is able to receive this, let him receive it.” Paul says it is better to be like himself (single) than married. Over time, the western Church embraced the Lord’s counsel to celibacy as a discipline for her ordained clergy. Deacons came under that umbrella because the office had been phased out as a freestanding ministry and incorporated into the formation process for priesthood.

The Eastern Churches in communion with Rome do not have celibacy as a universal discipline but only as an optional one, and many of their priests are married (but not bishops).

Now back to the original topic of women priests . . .

 

[SPOKENWORD]

vern humphrey:

Paul doesn’t say they HAVE to be married, he only says that if married, they may be married only once (no divorce.)

Celebacy is a 6th century (approximately) discipline. It has no scriptural or theological basis, and Catholic priests CAN under some circumstances be married,

Im sorry Vern. I believe you are not quoting correctly. I just read out of two bibles and that is not what it says. You might want to reread. God Bless.

 

[mercygate]

SPOKENWORD:

Im sorry Vern. I believe you are not quoting correctly. I just read out of two bibles and that is not what it says. You might want to reread. God Bless.

Spokenword, how do Protestants reconcile the celibacy of Paul and the “eunuch” passage in Luke with requiring clergy to be married?

Maybe we should start another thread.

 

[Pyrosapien]

Spokenword.

Please make an assertion and define your position. The post was originally about whether or not females can be priests.

Do you think it is possible, licit, or valid for females to be priests in the Catholic Church?

On what authoritative source do you base your assertion?

Steve

 

[SPOKENWORD]

mercygate:

Spokenword, how do Protestants reconcile the celibacy of Paul and the “eunuch” passage in Luke with requiring clergy to be married?

Maybe we should start another thread.

Im sorry.I dont want to derail the topic at hand. God Bless

 

[SPOKENWORD]

Pyrosapien:

Spokenword.

Please make an assertion and define your position. The post was originally about whether or not females can be priests.

Do you think it is possible, licit, or valid for females to be priests in the Catholic Church?

On what authoritative source do you base your assertion?

Steve

My personal position is that I would not have a problem with women serving as a ministers. In Gods eyes we are all equal. Yes it would be valid {RCC] if it chose to change the qualifications. I base my assertions on early church practices and conditions and culture of its time. God Bless

 

[vern_humphrey]

SPOKENWORD:

Im sorry Vern. I believe you are not quoting correctly. I just read out of two bibles and that is not what it says. You might want to reread. God Bless.

Since I didn’t “quote” anything, merely gave the sense of it, how do you get that?
Vern Humphrey:

Paul doesn’t say they HAVE to be married, he only says that if married, they may be married only once (no divorce.)

Are you trying to say a bishop MUST be married?

Or do you claim that Paul allows divorced men to be Bishops?

Which versions of the Bible say THAT?

 

[SPOKENWORD]

vern humphrey:

Since I didn’t “quote” anything, merely gave the sense of it, how do you get that?

Are you trying to say a bishop MUST be married?

Or do you claim that Paul allows divorced men to be Bishops?

Which versions of the Bible say THAT?

Hi Vern,Your right you did not quote any verses. Thats what it says that a bishop is to be married,with only one wife. Divorced men cannot be bishops.Im home now,not at work,but one has an impramateur on it, so its got to be ok. God Bless.

 

[AmyS]

SPOKENWORD:

Yes it would be valid {RCC] if it chose to change the qualifications.

I am sorry SPOKENWORD, you don’t know what you are talking about when it comes to Traditions and the Roman Catholic Church.

 

[SPOKENWORD]

AmyS:

I am sorry SPOKENWORD, you don’t know what you are talking about when it comes to Traditions and the Roman Catholic Church.

Hi Amy, That was only my oppinion. God Bless

 

[vern_humphrey]

SPOKENWORD:

Hi Vern,Your right you did not quote any verses. Thats what it says that a bishop is to be married,with only one wife. Divorced men cannot be bishops.Im home now,not at work,but one has an impramateur on it, so its got to be ok. God Bless.

No, it doesn’t say a bishop is to be married.

From the New American Bible, 1 Timothy, 3,1-3:

1 1 This saying is trustworthy: 2 whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. 2 Therefore, a bishop must be irreproachable, married only once, temperate, self-controlled, decent, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not aggressive, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money.

---

Nothing in this REQUIRES a bishop to be married – it merely prohibits divorced men from being bishops.

 

[SPOKENWORD]

vern humphrey:

No, it doesn’t say a bishop is to be married.

From the New American Bible, 1 Timothy, 3,1-3:

1 1 This saying is trustworthy: 2 whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. 2 Therefore, a bishop must be irreproachable, married only once, temperate, self-controlled, decent, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not aggressive, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money.

---

Nothing in this REQUIRES a bishop to be married – it merely prohibits divorced men from being bishops.

What does must be married only once mean? God Bless

 

[mercygate]

vern humphrey:

No, it doesn’t say a bishop is to be married.

From the New American Bible, 1 Timothy, 3,1-3:

1 1 This saying is trustworthy: 2 whoever aspires to the office of bishop desires a noble task. 2 Therefore, a bishop must be irreproachable, married only once, temperate, self-controlled, decent, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not aggressive, but gentle, not contentious, not a lover of money.

---

Nothing in this REQUIRES a bishop to be married – it merely prohibits divorced men from being bishops.

For Protestants, the KJV tends to be more trusted than a “Catholic” Bible:

1 Tim 3:2 KJV: A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

 

[AmyS]

SPOKENWORD:

Hi Amy, That was only my oppinion. God Bless

You can’t have a opinion on it… the big “T” Traditions in the Catholic Church never change, can’t, won’t, period… Your opinion doesn’t change that.

 

[SPOKENWORD]

AmyS:

You can’t have a opinion on it… the big “T” Traditions in the Catholic Church never change, can’t, won’t, period… Your opinion doesn’t change that.

Yes my oppinion doesnt change anything but its still my oppinion. God Bless

 

[AmyS]

SPOKENWORD:

Yes my oppinion doesnt change anything but its still my oppinion. God Bless

But, you said if the RCC choose to change the qualifications… Do you understand there is no choice? They CAN’T change it… And, I sure am glad too.