Former Nun becomes Pastor

[Riley259]

Her life is celebrated but if you read it is sad. A series of failures.

forestparkreview.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=1721&TM=10693.96

This is really sad. After all those years as a Catholic nun you would think that at least she would know for sure that the Catholic church was the fullness of truth. I hope she didn’t leave the Catholic church for the Lutheran Church simply because the latter ordained women and didn’t put any restrictions on those who are divorced.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I can’t know the state of the woman’s soul, of course, but it kind of looks to me like she fell in love with herself.

 

[Nebuchadnezzar]

The priest has his work and I have mine. One is not more valuable in the eyes of God.

I think youi misunderstand. No work is unimportant if it is done for God and is the will of the Lord. But the Priesthood and religious life is both work and a marraige.

In terms of importance, I guess that depends on your view of the World and salvation.
No Priests, No:

Confirmation
Eucharist
Reconcillation
Anoiting of the sick

All important sacraments that keep us in communion with our Lord and on the Path to paradise.

 

[kbmorri]

The priest has his work and I have mine. One is not more valuable in the eyes of God.

His work is total devotion. Is yours?
Is all you do on a daily basis is to serve others with no other distractions like maybe a job, family, other priorities? If you can say yes to these questions that God bless you you are doing a much better person than me and I will strive to do better in the future.

 

[water]

Pride and disobedience can lead one person, who thinks he knows all that, to become somewhat blind.

Pray for those who are called to be able to follow their calls according to God’s will - not their own will.

 

[fix]

I No work is unimportant if it is done for God and is the will of the Lord. But the Priesthood and religious life is both work and a marraige.

In terms of importance, I guess that depends on your view of the World and salvation.

I think Rome agrees:

In this priestly people, the Lord instituted a priestly ministry to which some are called so that they might serve the faithful in pastoral charity through the potestas sacra. The common priesthood and the ministerial priesthood differ from each other not only in grade but also in essence[16]. The difference between the two priesthoods is, therefore, not simply one of greater or lesser participation in the priesthood of Christ, but one of essentially different ways of participating in that priesthood…

In recent times, the Church has experienced problems of “priestly identity”, deriving sometimes from an unclear theological understanding of the two ways of participating in the priesthood of Christ. In some areas, these difficulties have progressed to the point of losing that profound ecclesiological balance which is proper to the perennial and authentic Magisterium.

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cclergy/documents/rc_con_cclergy_doc_20020804_istruzione-presbitero_en.html

 

[rpp]

I think Rome agrees:

  	 				 In this priestly people, the Lord instituted a *priestly ministry*

 

[KathleenElsie]

I found the whole article sad.
A family that did not support her vocation. An adviser that was not true to the faith. A marriage to her former adviser. A belief that cancer or illnesses are made worse with “unhappy” life decisions.
A decision to leave Holy Mother Church for the opportunity to become a “preacher”.
And the saddest thing is that her life decisions are made public and applauded by many.

 

[vern_humphrey]

The irony of it is, if the Church did have the power to ordain women, this is exactly the sort of person who shouldn’t be ordained. Instead of a humble priest, steadfastly adhering to the discipline of the Church and teaching the constant message of Christ, we see someone here quite willing to leave the Church – if the Church doesn’t agree with her – and go to a false and heritical church. We see a person ever willing to bend and contort the truth to conform to her wishes and inclinations.

 

[JKirkLVNV]

The irony of it is, if the Church did have the power to ordain women, this is exactly the sort of person who shouldn’t be ordained. Instead of a humble priest, steadfastly adhering to the discipline of the Church and teaching the constant message of Christ, we see someone here quite willing to leave the Church – if the Church doesn’t agree with her – and go to a false and heritical church. We see a person ever willing to bend and contort the truth to conform to her wishes and inclinations.

Yes, ironic. You can follow God’s will by entering into schism? By disobedience to the Churchy you’re supposedly called to serve? I kind of draw a blank on this.

 

[Writer]

I believe the December issue of “This Rock” discusses this topic, but I have not had a chance to read that article as yet.

 

[vern_humphrey]

I think we should ask what would happen if this woman (and many like her in the forefront of the women’s ordination movement) were to become a priest?

What happens the next time she decides the Church is wrong?

Do we really want pastors who teach Mary was not a virgin, Jesus was not God, or there is no Real Presence in the Eucharist?

 

[Franze]

The catholic faith is complicated and hard for many, obeying is difficult and it costs but it worths it, in addition we have the eucharisty. We are lucky.

 

[dafalax]

The irony of it is, if the Church did have the power to ordain women, this is exactly the sort of person who shouldn’t be ordained. Instead of a humble priest, steadfastly adhering to the discipline of the Church and teaching the constant message of Christ, we see someone here quite willing to leave the Church – if the Church doesn’t agree with her – and go to a false and heritical church. We see a person ever willing to bend and contort the truth to conform to her wishes and inclinations.

You are so right. St. Catherine of Siena wasn’t even a nun, just a lay Dominican. She did not seek glory in the priesthood, but God Himself elevated her because of her humility. She got the papacy moved back to Rome. She didn’t need to be a priest to do that, just God working through her. Mary didn’t become Queen of Heaven and Earth by working for that title. God gives titles to those who are worthy. I count myself eternally blessed to be “mother” to two beautiful earthly children. I am sorry that “sister” or “mother” weren’t good enough for this woman; she needed to be “father” too. I also take stories like these as great evidence that feelings are subjective and not good to base major decisions on. I think she confused emotion for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

 

[vern_humphrey]

You are so right. St. Catherine of Siena wasn’t even a nun, just a lay Dominican. She did not seek glory in the priesthood, but God Himself elevated her because of her humility. She got the papacy moved back to Rome. She didn’t need to be a priest to do that, just God working through her. Mary didn’t become Queen of Heaven and Earth by working for that title. God gives titles to those who are worthy. I count myself eternally blessed to be “mother” to two beautiful earthly children. I am sorry that “sister” or “mother” weren’t good enough for this woman; she needed to be “father” too. I also take stories like these as great evidence that feelings are subjective and not good to base major decisions on. I think she confused emotion for the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

We often forget God is not an elected official. We can’t vote Him out of office if we don’t like the way He runs His universe. And perversely enough, some of the people railing to vote Him out are the ones who claim the highest callings – as in this case.

 

[Kendy]

I am sorry that “sister” or “mother” weren’t good enough for this woman; she needed to be “father” too.

Well, she’s technically not father, but pastor.

 

[mickey_doolan]

The one thing that struck me is her inability to ride out the storms in her life.
She appears to be unstable and honesty no regard to real committment.
Woo hoo ,her marriage failed. alot of us don’t give up that easily and try hard to make it work.
Those events she talks about are God’s calling but she has disregard them completely.

 

[OriginalJS]

I don’t see all the hoopla. Nuns leave orders all the time, priests get married, married protestant ministers with children become priests, this is and has always been a fact of life.

 

[Mimi]

Her life is celebrated but if you read it is sad. A series of failures.

forestparkreview.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=1721&TM=10693.96

Some may want to check out:

search.catholiccompany.com/search?w=women+in+the+priesthood

I’ve also been reading What Will Happen to God? Feminism and the Reconstruction of Christian Belief by William Oddie, Ignatius press. It’s an oldie, but goodie; give a lot of historical info on what drives a prideful feminism (and desire to change the Church via dissent). Be warned; there is an obscene figure of a (nude) woman in a crucifixion position on the cover. This ‘art work’, “Christa”, was created by Winston Churchill’s granddaughter, Edwina Sandys. I put a post-it over my copy. I found it through Alibris.com where they have a lot of used books that may be out of print.

Be informed and be able to defend Holy Mother Church!

Mimi

 

[vince2paul]

My brother is a priest in the Pittsburgh area and from the dedication of starting the path at the age of 13 to this day at 40 years old. His and other priests like him are living only for God. It’s not a job. It is their dedication to serve for the glory of God and I don’t think you are giving them their due credit for their sacrafice to be married to the church. Their commitment is far greater than you have considered.

Some people have a JOB in the church; others involve themselves in a MINISTRY.
What’s the difference?

If you are doing it just because no one else will, it’s a JOB.
If you are doing it to serve the Lord, it’s a MINISTRY.

If you quit because somebody criticized you, it was a JOB.
If you keep on serving, it’s a MINISTRY.

If you’ll do it only as long as it does not interfere with your other activities, it’s a JOB.
If you are committed to staying with it even when it means letting go of other things, it’s a MINISTRY.

If you quit because no one praised you or thanked you, it was a JOB.
If you stay with it even though nobody recognizes your efforts, it is a MINISTRY.

It’s hard to get excited about a JOB.
It’s almost impossible not to be excited about a MINISTRY.

If our concern is success, it’s a JOB.
If our concern is faithfulness, it’s a MINISTRY.

An average church is filled with people doing JOBs.
A great and growing church is filled with people involved in MINISTRY.

If God calls you to a MINISTRY, don’t treat it like a JOB.
If you have a JOB, give it up and find a MINISTRY.

God does not want us feeling stuck with a JOB,
but excited and faithful to Him in a MINISTRY.

–Author unknown–