Why do Anglicans say "female priest" and not "priestess"

  • Thread starter Thread starter GreenLantern
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
I’ll bet. 😉

Words have power. Words have meaning. Words have emotional connotations beyond their dictionary definitions.

In English, “priest” means an ordained man within a religious practice. “Priestess,” however, means something less mainstream Christianity to most people than just a woman who has been ordained, something more along the lines of ancient tribal rituals.

If I were Anglican, I would use the term “female priest.”

I’m Catholic, however, and we don’t have that particular issue. 😃
 
The Catholics call the Priest as “Father”, “Pater”, or may be “Padre”. What do the Anglicans call the female priest? “Mother”, “Mater” or may be “Madre”?
 
At my church, we call our male priest Father Bill and our female priest Mother Kathryn.

God Bless!
 
That is Good. Eventhough I cannot accept the female priest, they way you call the female priest as “Mother” brings the church into a big family.
 
IrishAm said:
I’ll bet. 😉

Words have power. Words have meaning. Words have emotional connotations beyond their dictionary definitions.

In English, “priest” means an ordained man within a religious practice. “Priestess,” however, means something less mainstream Christianity to most people than just a woman who has been ordained, something more along the lines of ancient tribal rituals.

If I were Anglican, I would use the term “female priest.”

I’m Catholic, however, and we don’t have that particular issue. 😃
Click to expand...
And some Anglicans don’t say either. I occasionally will refer to a female in sacerdotal garments, but that’s about it.

GKC

Anglicanus Catholicus
 
GreenLantern said:
Is it because the latter has pagan connotations?
Click to expand...
We don’t normally speak today of an “aviatrix” or a “schoolmistress.” We don’t call female college students “co-eds.” We tend to use gender-neutral terms for vocations whenever possible. We don’t assume that the male is the norm and the female the exception.The deliberate use of a specifically feminine version of such a noun is both archaic and demeaning. In this particular case the demeaning connotations of the word are almost always deliberately intended.

Edwin
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top