What is the definition of maleness as it applies to the priesthood?

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Chesapeake

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So, if maleness is a spiritual characteristic, then how does one detect that, especially in the cases of persons with ambiguous genitalia or abnormal chromosomes or whatever?

And what about transsexuals? Could a man who had a sex change operation be ordained as a priest, because he/she is still spirtually male?
 
I don’t believe anyone would ordain a gay priest or a transexual priest in the Catholic Church, nor should they.
 
Chesapeake said:
So, if maleness is a spiritual characteristic, then how does one detect that, especially in the cases of persons with ambiguous genitalia or abnormal chromosomes or whatever?

And what about transsexuals? Could a man who had a sex change operation be ordained as a priest, because he/she is still spirtually male?
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In the first case, such a person would not meet the strict requirement of being a male, and so cannot be ordained. I don’t find this articulated in the current canon law (I did think it was in there, but couldn’t find it), but I believe it was in the old 1917 code. It would still apply though because such a person does not meet the required definition.

In the second case, canon 1041.5 would apply. A person who has intentionally mutilated himself is said to be “irregular” and is perpetually impeded from ordination.
 
FrDavid96 said:
In the second case, canon 1041.5 would apply. A person who has intentionally mutilated himself is said to be “irregular” and is perpetually impeded from ordination.
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Canonically according to Catholic law. However, aren’t Old Catholic and Orthodox ordinations also valid despite being canonically illicit?

I guess what I’m asking now is, if a bishop ordained a transsexual, whether or not it’s allowed, would the ordination “take”?
 
Chesapeake said:
Canonically according to Catholic law. However, aren’t Old Catholic and Orthodox ordinations also valid despite being canonically illicit?

I guess what I’m asking now is, if a bishop ordained a transsexual, whether or not it’s allowed, would the ordination “take”?
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Not quite the same thing. The Catholic Church recognizes Orthodox Canon law as applying to Orthodox Christians (with a few exceptions), so their ordinations are both valid and licit.

Actually, I think yes, it would be a valid ordination, though of course an illicit one; Unless I’m missing something and someone else can point it out to us.
 
so is this about the ordanation of a gay bishop in the Episcopal church?
 
melissa09 said:
so is this about the ordanation of a gay bishop in the Episcopal church?
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Just as invalid as the straight bishops of the Episcopal Church. Their whole apostolic lineage is questionable via vagante Orthodox; their Catholic line as broken centuries ago.
 
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