For women, it’s a little more basic.
Not at all. The fallacy of the belief that there should be female priests is that the priesthood is viewed in a purely political light. The truth is that the nature of the priesthood is organic. We can’t change it anymore that we can change the fact that only females give birth. If we decided to start “ordaining” female priests, it wouldn’t make any difference. They wouldn’t be priests even if we decided to call them such.
I didn’t see any suggestion that women should be priests.
FNDRB58;
The competency of girl altar servers of course was not the point I was making but I think you knew that.
Where I read about “feminization” was an article written by a woman. It was a tract on this website. I can get the link for you if you want. The term is not demeaning if you put in the context in which it was given.
**GraceDK : Of course it was demeaning. you didnt try to describe a positive trend in the church but a negative one and used the word “feminization” to do so.
I have heard this insulting expression severel times on Catholic radio severel times over the last 5 years… I have heard it by men, but that a woman might buy into using it doens’t surprise me. It doesn’t make it right though. **
But your sensitivities to this subject are apparent. Also, I never said femininity is a bad thing and I never criticized femininity to describe “all ills”. In fact, if you have read any of my comments you would see that I have yet to mention anything negative about women, as there are none to make. Your arguments make no sense. Accusing me of woman bashing just because I think altar servers should be boys…
No, I take your word “feminization” and from this word of yours I see you don’t appreciate whats feminine. You have said now that this is not your oppinion, and I am happy. Please don’t use this word any more just like you wouldnt use such expressions about other groups in the population.
as is practiced in my own parish, is mighty bold indeed. Surely, you can come up with a better rebuttal than to go into attack mode with unfounded assertions.
VATICAN COMMUNICATION ON FEMALE ALTAR SERVERS
Congregation for Divine Worship
*2) The Holy See respects the decision adopted by certain Bishops for specific local reasons on the basis of the provisions of Canon 230 2. **At the same time, however, the Holy See wishes to recall that it will always be very appropriate to follow the noble tradition of having boys serve at the altar. As is well known, this has led to a reassuring development of priestly vocations. ***Thus the obligation to support such groups of altar boys will always continue.
What is this?.. its saying something without saying something.
Local reasons? All over Europe we use girls as alter servers… because we find it appropriate I guess. It will be appropriate to use boys, yes, but it doesn’t say anything about the inapropriateness of using girls as alter servants. It tells me to support alter boys… I do, and I support alter girls too. i think its great when I see children helping in the Church per se. like Jesus said: Do not hinder them!
Maybe these girls will feel appreciated by the Church and later bring up strong Catholic families or enter religious life because they were welcomed at the alter… Don’t you think?
Why would you believe that girl altar servers might be motivated to raise children who become priests, yet you said earlier that you don’t believe boys being altar servers motivates them to be priests???
I at least believe both could happen, but the pressing need is for priests. Having boy altar servers only, thus more boys on the altar, more readily fosters this vocation. We need vocations! Why you would want to compromise this for the sake of “equality of the sexes” for children is beyond me.
The main point of the quote I cited was this:
"As is well known, this has led to a reassuring development of priestly vocations."
Are you for women priests? If not, would you characterize those who want female priests as trying to feminize the Church? It was in this context that the word “feminization” was used. The use of altar girls is a baby step in that direction and we all know that every big change starts with baby steps.
This is ridiculous. No one has suggested that women should be priests. It’s no wonder so many women get frustrated and want to give up.
Where in my post above did I say that she did? Did you just read the first sentence then stop? You could see that it was asked rhetorically as I stated in the next sentence that I actually ASSUMED she DID NOT by following up with another question.
I am offended that you would even accuse me of such.The original post talked about female priests. To say that is not the issue is to change the subject of the thread.
Just because we don’t complain about our problems all the time doesn’t make them any less real or important than yours. Big surprise here, but the grass ain’t no greener on the other side of the fence.
I love being a female I think there are benefits for both genders but prefer the benefits of being a female. I like how women are treated.I’m curious as to why you see your life as much easier.I like my shoes
I have carried, given birth and breastfeed four beautiful children. Having children is an amazing experience. I would never want to give that up. I love being a mommy and wife. Being a wife has been a struggle but I would not want my husband’s responsibilities. My life is much easier. And I have plenty of time for my spiritual life. Daily masses, praying and volunteer work.
I have no problem confessing my sins to a priest. I find it easier to discuss my problems with my priest or spiritual director than my therapist who is female. In fact, I am completely open with my spiritual director but have told my therapist that I am not ready to cover certain parts of my life.
I think that goes along with slaves obey your masters. St. Paul was telling the first Christians not to rock the social boat with what would be widely interpreted as outrageous insubordination. But I don’t think that if you suddenly found yourself enslaved today that you would have to follow that edict. The point is, even though social hierarchies have no ultimate significance (there is no slave or free, male or female, Jew or Greek in Christ Jesus), that doesn’t excuse us from compliance because we would only hurt the cause of the Gospel by failing to comply. So, today, for example, you wouldn’t tell your supervisor at work to take a hike when he asks you to do something on the ground that the two of you are equal in the eyes of God. But in today’s Western society, there is no reason for a woman to be subordinate to her husband in the way you describe, unlike the ancient world where a wife’s insubordination would have been a serious outrage.
He is responsible for supporting the family. He is a CEO of a company and has a very stressful job. Even when we are on vacation, he has business phone calls. I just wouldn’t want all that pressure. Dealing with employees, customers, investors and board members. I prefer dealing with teacher, coaches, other parents and kids.
I agree with you. Women can experience the most sacred experience on earth, having life grow within them. Every moment of every pregnancy I had was a testament to the wonder of the miracle of life! No other role or job could be more important or fulfilling than that.As a woman, I have no idea what it would feel like to be a man in that situation, but I can say one thing for certain: I’d miss the awesome, God-given ability and responsibility of bearing children. As a good friend of mine puts it, women have much more important things to do than being priests… RAISING priests.
Even Our Lord showed deference to His Mother, and He still does. God truly honors women in a very special way, and I have no problem letting my husband, priest, bishop, and Pope take the brunt of the responsibility for my protection and provision. They can have the pants. I don’t want them.
Hope this helps!
That is an incredibly naive and presumptuous position. I don’t have to be a man to know that men can and do suffer greatly. I see it in my husband, my father, my priests, my brothers, and my friends.
Who invented this idea?
Grace,Alan.
Women also have issues they don’t talk to men about but only to girl friends.
I think that in the confession what matters is that Jesus is there. On a human level, yes I would prefer to tell my embarrasing sins to another woman.
Confession is great because of the feeling you have during and after absolution
Respectfully Alan, I think your posts are just too darned long to read. Often you go off on tangents too. Keep them short and to the point and you should get more replies.
