I'm Not So Sure about Women's Ordination Anymore

[joanofarc2008]

See, the priest at my parish said almost the opposite. He said that since there has been no ex cathedra statement about it, the question is still open, and may change in the future. Discussion is still a possibility.

Report that priest’s statement to the Bishop.

 

[silicasandra]

Priests lead the parish organization.

It’s pretty clear that there are plenty, perhaps most, parishes in which the active life of the parish is managed by women.

It’s a mistake to think the Church is just made up of the priests in it. There are friars, monks, brothers, sisters, nuns, and there are also laymen.

Me, perhaps this is a reflection of my generation, I wonder why women always keep grasping for whatever bit or chaff of power they can find. Why so desperately unhappy? If you want real power, run a corporation.

This, to me, is the real problem. Women have been taught that the only way to have “real power” is to do what men do, and that work that has traditionally been feminine is lesser. (Before anyone says so, this view is not only the fault of the feminists. ) Even though I haven’t always felt this way, I think that I wield quite a lot of power when it’s me who’s primarily responsible for another human life, and when he’s old enough to understand, another soul! It’s so much sometimes I wonder why on earth it would have been me who was entrusted to do it!

I used to be super gung-ho on women’s ordination, too. I viewed it as a kind of glass-ceiling issue. But the priesthood isn’t about “merit” and it’s not about “if I want to, I should be able to” - for men OR for women. For me, as a Catholic feminist, there is enough sexism to deal with in this world without needing to invent it in places it doesn’t exist. And while people have used sexist arguments to “justify” a men-only priesthood in the past and today, the REAL reason isn’t sexist at all and has already been illustrated on this thread, with respect for the dignity of women. That’s what I’m looking for as a Catholic woman, and I am satisfied.

But if you say something sexist, I’m gonna come after you for it…