Female Priests in Sweden

[EvangelCatholic]

I have known many Roman Catholic nuns who would make excellent priests and in some cases they are priests in everything but the title. Nuns conduct the Mass and distribute holy Communion [pre-sanctified] where there is a shortage of priests; they hear confessions, baptize and preach the Gospel.

Among Lutherans, it was among the diaconate [deaconesses] where the first female priests were ordained. Wonderful women serving God and caring for His flock.

 

[adrift]

I have known many Roman Catholic nuns who would make excellent priests and in some cases they are priests in everything but the title. Nuns conduct the Mass and distribute holy Communion [pre-sanctified] where there is a shortage of priests; they hear confessions, baptize and preach the Gospel.

Among Lutherans, it was among the diaconate [deaconesses] where the first female priests were ordained. Wonderful women serving God and caring for His flock.

You say they are Catholic nuns. They cannot conduct Mass. What you are describing is a communion service. It is not possible for them to give absolution. Any one can baptize. I am not certain what you are referring to in preach the Gospel. Marion would have made an excellent priestess but God didn’t make her one He only made Aaron and the men of his tribe priest.

 

[adrift]

Women who want to be ordained say that it’s because God has called them to serve the Church in this way. Even if they are mistaken, you owe it to them to believe that this is their sincere belief and motivation, unless you have some clear evidence to the contrary.

Edwin

When ever I hear those who promote priestess, God is rarely mentioned. What is mentioned is equality and discrimination.

 

[Isaiah45_9]

I have known many Roman Catholic nuns who would make excellent priests and in some cases they are priests in everything but the title. Nuns conduct the Mass and distribute holy Communion [pre-sanctified] where there is a shortage of priests; they hear confessions, baptize and preach the Gospel.

Among Lutherans, it was among the diaconate [deaconesses] where the first female priests were ordained. Wonderful women serving God and caring for His flock.

You are very confused my friend.

Nuns are Nuns and Priests are Priests. No Nuns make excellent Priests and no Priests make excellent Nuns. Their roles are well defined. You can go and promote this doctrine at your Church - but please don’t bring your poison to my Church. I don’t go to your Church to contaminate it against the teachings defined by your hierarchy. Please do not do it to ours.

I find it offensive your insistence in promoting your female priests ideas for my Catholic Faith. I have repeatedly posted Blessed John Paul II final decree on this subject.

God created us male and female. Each with a role and a responsibility.

Could you please stop?

 

[MartinJordan]

I have known many Roman Catholic nuns who would make excellent priests and in some cases they are priests in everything but the title. Nuns conduct the Mass and distribute holy Communion [pre-sanctified] where there is a shortage of priests; they hear confessions, baptize and preach the Gospel.

Among Lutherans, it was among the diaconate [deaconesses] where the first female priests were ordained. Wonderful women serving God and caring for His flock.

I’d like to know who is the Bishop who allows this (hearing confessions in particular) Plus are you speaking for these nuns? Are they complaining why they can’t be priests?

MJ

 

[boomerang]

You “get” to. No one is going to haul you off to jail or forcibly silence you.

But you reveal yourself as clueless and rude when you do so, and you confirm the impression of more liberal Christians that people who reject women’s ordination do so because of prejudice.

If you had even said “women who want to be ordained clearly want to be male” I would still think you were wrong and had no business speaking for these women, but at least that would be worth discussing. One could see how, on your principles, one desire must include the other. It was the “more than” that was just inexcusable.

Women who want to be ordained say that it’s because God has called them to serve the Church in this way. Even if they are mistaken, you owe it to them to believe that this is their sincere belief and motivation, unless you have some clear evidence to the contrary.

Edwin

Aaahhh, the internet. Where opinions are like a certain unmentionable body part: everyone’s got one! Go in peace!

 

[EvangelCatholic]

It is silly to deny the obvious [something of a weakness on CAF]. Among the communities of nuns, some serve parishes as administrator, lead worship on Sundays, act as eucharistic ministers both in and outside the parish, bring the Word of God to those in need, hear confessions, console and pray for the children of God.

 

[april32010]

It is silly to deny the obvious [something of a weakness on CAF]. Among the communities of nuns, some serve parishes as administrator, lead worship on Sundays, act as eucharistic ministers both in and outside the parish, bring the Word of God to those in need, hear confessions, console and pray for the children of God.

they do not and can not hear confession

 

[EvangelCatholic]

they do not and can not hear confession

Have you ever been to a retreat led by Sisters? Or been among parish youth in a park who are being ministered to by nuns? Cursillos? Struggling Inner-city parishes that only the nuns can keep afloat?

 

[Millie123]

It is silly to deny the obvious [something of a weakness on CAF]. Among the communities of nuns, some serve parishes as administrator, lead worship on Sundays, act as eucharistic ministers both in and outside the parish, bring the Word of God to those in need, hear confessions, console and pray for the children of God.

1)Yes, some nuns serve as parish administrators, as well as lay people. But that doesn’t make a nun capable of being a Catholic priest

2)And as far as leading worship on Sundays—A communion service, which is most certainly not mass, may be lead by either a deacon, a male religious, or female religious, or an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion if a priest is not present and with permission of the Bishop. Again being able to perform a communion service is not the same as mass and most certainly does not indicate that a nun is capable of being a Catholic priest.

1. “act as eucharistic ministers both in and outside the parish”— Actually they are called Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion. And yes some do take holy communion to people in the community as well as properly trained lay people. My own father was trained in this ministry. When I was a teenager, from my Sophomore through my Senior years of high school, I would travel with my Dad to area nursing homes and Assisted Living centers in the community to bring Holy Communion to the sick and elderly who were unable to attend mass. For about two hours every Sunday, that’s how we spent our time, bringing Holy Communion to the sick and elderly. I’m sure there are nuns who do that as well but that does not mean that they are capable of becoming priests.
2. “bring the Word of God to those in need”—Yes we are all called to evangelize, but that does not mean that women are capable of being priests.
3. It is absolutely impossible for anyone other than an ordained priest to hear confessions. A nun is not capable of joining the priesthood, she is not capable to hear confessions.
4. “Console and pray for the children of God”—We are all called to have an active prayer life. And praying for each other is an act of love for each other…But how does that mean that a nun is capable of becoming a priest, I don’t see the connection, sorry.

 

[PeaceInChrist]

It is silly to deny the obvious [something of a weakness on CAF]. Among the communities of nuns, some serve parishes as administrator, lead worship on Sundays, act as eucharistic ministers both in and outside the parish, bring the Word of God to those in need, hear confessions, console and pray for the children of God.

You may be mistaking spiritual direction with confession. Absolution may only be administered by an ordained priest. Any nun who attempts to actually hear a confession and give absolution has fallen under automatic interdict, and may no longer participate in the Sacraments:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latae_sententiae (under ‘Interdicts’).

If the bishop is made aware of this activity, and it does not stop, excommunication is likely to follow.

In rebuttal of this argument, simply because someone within the Church does something, does not make it the accepted position. The Church of the living God is not a democracy. Truth does not change to suit a ‘progressive’ attitude or agenda.

As to the other functions you pointed out: you are mistaking ‘Sunday worship’ with a ‘communion service’. Only a priest may celebrate a true Liturgy. And, of course, they are certainly allowed to participate in extraordinary Eucharistic ministry, administration, care of the community, and prayers.

 

[Isaiah45_9]

It is silly to deny the obvious [something of a weakness on CAF]. Among the communities of nuns, some serve parishes as administrator, lead worship on Sundays, act as eucharistic ministers both in and outside the parish, bring the Word of God to those in need, hear confessions, console and pray for the children of God.

Cops hear confessions all the time as well. So do attorneys, and parents, and friends.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation, however, is administered by a Priest.

Your rhetoric is astounding…

 

[EvangelCatholic]

Sometimes I think I have had more experience among Roman Catholics than some posters who identify as such. Perhaps because of my involvement in inter-faith organizations such as Cursillos as well as my early experience among religious communities of Roman Catholic and Lutheran monks/ nuns. As a result, I have been blessed to have known several nuns from orders like the Sacred Heart of Mary and Dominicans.

Everything cited is true. Nuns lead worship but don’t consecrate the elements, hear confessions but don’t absolve. In Lutheran and Anglican churches, female priests function exactly as a male counterpart. I believe that will eventually be the case among Roman Catholics, as well.

 

[Contarini]

Sometimes I think I have had more experience among Roman Catholics than some posters who identify as such. Perhaps because of my involvement in inter-faith organizations such as Cursillos as well as my early experience among religious communities of Roman Catholic and Lutheran monks/ nuns. As a result, I have been blessed to have known several nuns from orders like the Sacred Heart of Mary and Dominicans.

Everything cited is true. Nuns lead worship but don’t consecrate the elements, hear confessions but don’t absolve. In Lutheran and Anglican churches, female priests function exactly as a male counterpart. I believe that will eventually be the case among Roman Catholics, as well.

If they don’t absolve, then it’s not a sacrament. When you say “hear confessions” to Catholics, they will assume you’re talking about the sacrament.

Edwin

 

[Isaiah45_9]

Sometimes I think I have had more experience among Roman Catholics than some posters who identify as such. Perhaps because of my involvement in inter-faith organizations such as Cursillos as well as my early experience among religious communities of Roman Catholic and Lutheran monks/ nuns. As a result, I have been blessed to have known several nuns from orders like the Sacred Heart of Mary and Dominicans.

Everything cited is true. Nuns lead worship but don’t consecrate the elements, hear confessions but don’t absolve. In Lutheran and Anglican churches, female priests function exactly as a male counterpart. I believe that will eventually be the case among Roman Catholics, as well.

You are very confused my friend.

Nuns are Nuns and Priests are Priests. No Nuns make excellent Priests and no Priests make excellent Nuns. Their roles are well defined. You can go and promote this doctrine at your Church - but please don’t bring your poison to my Church. I don’t go to your Church to contaminate it against the teachings defined by your hierarchy. Please do not do it to ours.

I find it offensive your insistence in promoting your female priests ideas for my Catholic Faith. I have repeatedly posted Blessed John Paul II final decree on this subject.

God created us male and female. Each with a role and a responsibility.

Could you please stop?

 

[adrift]

Sometimes I think I have had more experience among Roman Catholics than some posters who identify as such.

I wonder how you come to this conclusion

If you had so much “experience” than you wouldn’t have stated that they hear confession because you would have known what that would have meant to a Catholic. You would have known to state a communion service.

Perhaps because of my involvement in inter-faith organizations such as Cursillos as well as my early experience among religious communities of Roman Catholic and Lutheran monks/ nuns. As a result, I have been blessed to have known several nuns from orders like the Sacred Heart of Mary and Dominicans.

Perhaps this involvement gives you a false idea that you know more about Catholics than you really do

Everything cited is true. Nuns lead worship but don’t consecrate the elements, hear confessions but don’t absolve. In Lutheran and Anglican churches, female priests function exactly as a male counterpart. I believe that will eventually be the case among Roman Catholics, as well.

Lutheran and Anglican churches for the most part, as there are acceptations lost Apostolic succession so your right males and females function the same way. What you believe and what is truth is not the same thing.

 

[steido01]

Everything cited is true. Nuns lead worship but don’t consecrate the elements, hear confessions but don’t absolve. In Lutheran and Anglican churches, female priests function exactly as a male counterpart. I believe that will eventually be the case among Roman Catholics, as well.

I’d prefer that you’d qualify your statements with “progressive Lutherans” or “quatenus Lutherans,” or more accurately, “Lutherans in name and culture only.” More charitably, “some Lutherans” would be at least a little less untrue.

The liberal view that women can administer the Sacraments and hold the Office of Public Ministry is neither Scriptural nor representative of Lutheranism as taught in the Confessions. Instead, it is a product of the secular world’s interference with the church. We further see its influence in the gnostic and, yes, heretical (I can’t in good conscience call it heterodox) theology of Sweden’s new female bishop. The Confessio Augustana:

Article XIV: Of Ecclesiastical Order.
Of Ecclesiastical Order they teach that no one should publicly teach in the Church or administer the Sacraments unless he be regularly called.

In short,

Could you please stop?

 

[GKC]

I’d prefer that you’d qualify your statements with “progressive Lutherans” or “quatenus Lutherans,” or more accurately, “Lutherans in name and culture only.” More charitably, “some Lutherans” would be at least a little less untrue.

The liberal view that women can administer the Sacraments and hold the Office of Public Ministry is neither Scriptural nor representative of Lutheranism as taught in the Confessions. Instead, it is a product of the secular world’s interference with the church. The Confessio Augustana:

I’d say the same for Anglicans. As we all know, Anglicans are characterized by motleyness.

GKC

 

[manualman]

It is silly to deny the obvious [something of a weakness on CAF]. Among the communities of nuns, some serve parishes as administrator, lead worship on Sundays, act as eucharistic ministers both in and outside the parish, bring the Word of God to those in need, hear confessions, console and pray for the children of God.

Correcting the above “hear confessions” to “serve as spiritual directors” and you’d be correct. But if you define the above as priesthood, you simply reveal that you don’t comprehend what priesthood IS.

The major problem on this issue is that far too many people hear the word “priest” and hear the definition “spiritual leader.” Priests are A kind of spiritual leader, but far from the only sort. Priests are first and foremost ministers of the Sacraments, recipients OF a special sacrament that bestows on them the responsibility of serving as particular conduits of Grace in the life of the church. The spiritual fatherhood of a priest is a particularly sacramental form of leadership, not an exclusive franchise on leadership. The church recognized this clearly in earlier eras when we actually had sisters and nuns that were a visible part of the life of the church. Mother Superior wasn’t just mother to her nuns, she was generally mother to the entire church community in the area. Something happened along the way and that role got denigrated unfairly. Spiritual motherhood is real leadership and women are called to it. It’s just not the priesthood. **

I understand why Edwin criticized an earlier poster, but in a rude way that poster did raise a valid question: If so many women feel called to serve God in ministry, why are so few women DOING it in the way Tradition clearly established? Perhaps there is indeed a fundamental attitude problem (not remotely limited to women). Christianity is about sinners repenting and seeking Grace so that they can be conformed to Christ. An awful lot of modern churchgoers seem to find their convictions inside themselves and then seek to conform an allegedly sinful church to themselves. Seems a bit backwards to me…

** P.S. As an aside, I think this is why people are generally so delighted to witness the resurgence of a few women’s orders in the USA. The tattered remains of catholic culture still on some level miss having spiritual mothers in our lives. Seeing young, happy, spiritually vibrant sisters dressing like they aren’t embarrassed, living in faithful prayer community and being joyful in their outlook on life reminds us of what should be.

 

[ndismyhome]

I’d prefer that you’d qualify your statements with “progressive Lutherans” or “quatenus Lutherans,” or more accurately, “Lutherans in name and culture only.” More charitably, “some Lutherans” would be at least a little less untrue.

Valid points. I think that most of us get annoyed by someone’s painting Lutherans or, worse still, all Protestants with a broad, general stroke.

I would also add that not everyone in the ELCA agrees with women’s ordination. I have met several lay-people and even a few pastors who secretly bristle at numbering women among their pastoral colleagues. But, such opinions are best kept private in certain circles.