Why doesn't God want Female Priests?

[Duesenberg]

Had God decided to have a daughter to do the exact same thing Jesus did, chances are absolutely no one in that era would have listened to anything being said. An more over it would have probably caused 1000 times more drama.

So God couldn’t handle the people had He wished to? These secular problems you speak of don’t impact God in the same manner as they do you or I.

The Catholic Church is the one that declared that the Monarchy will only be run by men.

Is not the Catholic Church is Earthly presence of Jesus Christ and thus God? If it’s good enough for God, it’s good enough for me…

 

[Duesenberg]

But didn’t Jesus choose a married man to be the first Pope?

Peter at least had been married – the Bible obviously mentions his mother in law. The Bible makes no mention however of his wife being anywhere near Peter as he is following Jesus Christ and then leading the Church as the first Pope. It’s likely she had passed before Peter came in contact with Jesus Christ.

 

[Duesenberg]

Jesus Christ was crucified nearly 2K years ago. Things have continually changed since thing. Not linearly per se, but in cycles. That’s why it’s always so stunning for voices to claim that here in the 21st Century we in essence know more than everyone that came before us on this matter.

We are a kinder, more intelligent, better educated, more progressive and more holy people that detect the error in God’s ways. We understand that God was constrained by secular culture and if given a chance, He would have done things differently – keep in mind this is God we are talking about.

What a load of malarkey! The fires of “reverse” sexism burn with such fury! The fact the Catholic Church has not been polluted by the man-made existence of female “priests” is one small indicator to me that the Church is indeed a sanctified, holy construct, impervious to the vapid secular forces of the world.

 

[billsannie]

There’s also an ancient story that Peter’s wife accompanied him on missionary trips and was martyred. And of course, for a long time priests were allowed to be married. So who knows?

 

[Duesenberg]

There’s also an ancient story that Peter’s wife accompanied him on missionary trips and was martyred. And of course, for a long time priests were allowed to be married. So who knows?

Were that the case, it’s hard to believe she wouldn’t have been mentioned in the NT.

 

[billsannie]

Most of the Apostle’s parents weren’t mentioned either, but I strongly suspect they had them, nonetheless.

And no, there is no official teaching. But the custom was for adult men to be married, so it’s quite possible many of the Apostles were married. Not relevant to the subject because no one says the wives were priests.

 

[Lea101]

Honest opinion: it’s kind of frustrating when catholics try to refute sexism with Mary, who is just one woman, sinless, virgin and a mother. Aka a woman who is nothing like any other woman here? I’m sure there’s a better way to defend the church?

 

[Lea101]

? I’m not saying women should be priests at all. I just think using Mary to silence accusations is lazy.

 

[Lea101]

For most, it seems to be the first defense

Many women find it really hard to relate to Mary because she’s literally perfect, and many sexist (like actual hostility, not the silly ones we hear of) men respect Mary.

 

[Lea101]

Love Joseph, but I don’t think he’s comparable to Mary. The woman is sinless, the immaculate conception. Nobody else on Earth can be like her. Jesus would be a better person, I guess, but he’s God so yikes, lol. I reeeaaaallly don’t know how to put it in words, but like here’s a flawed analogy: People praising the Queen, and then telling peasant women that there’s no sexism, because the Queen has the highest position in society. What would really matter would be how these people treat other women. So I think if we were to refute stuff like sexism or priesthood, other examples of women (eg his female followers, saints, etc) who are important to the Church and praised as well would be, I guess, more powerful.

I would also add that she is sometimes used as a tool to ‘oppress’ women, but I don’t really like to use that argument because people who say this tend to disregard her importantance as a whole. I don’t want to come across that way

 

[Tis_Bearself]

I love Mary and have no problem relating to her, but I relate to her as a mom. For my generation, there were a lot of things moms didn’t necessarily do because they were involved in the important job of being a mom. Pretty much everything Mary does is in a motherly way, which is fine, it’s her role, and a wonderful one. It doesn’t cover every single thing a woman might do in life though.

 

[Lea101]

Well, of course there are women who love her and can relate to her.

I can’t seem to love her or relate to her, she seems so disconnected from me. Maybe we are too different? It’s like an imaginary friend almost (someone you talk to but never hear from her back). But that’s more of my problem, nothing really to do with this topic.

Agree with the last sentence. People seem to think she’s all a woman must be. If she’s meek, then we can’t be loud and assertive. It’s a weird view to have imo, which is why I can’t get behind the whole traditional gender role thing in Catholicism.

 

[OraLabora]

The priest acts in “persona Christi” at the Eucharist, that is, he takes the place of Christ.

Poor analogy I guess, but imagine casting Meryl Streep in the role of Winston Churchill in a movie… it wouldn’t make any sense. Similarly, it makes sense if the priest is acting in persona Christi, that he be of the same human form that Christ took on for His mission on Earth.

Moreover, Christ, having instituted the Eucharistic Banquet, passed down that power to the men of his entourage.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

It’s not required that you get behind it, as long as you accept the final word of the Pope on subjects like women priests, whether or not you personally agree.

 

[jcm2017]

There are a couple of key concepts that are lost in our current thinking.

1. Human beings are a unity of body and soul. Our material-ness is not separable from our spiritual-ness. Our bodies have a profound meaning that is directly unified with our soul, or our spirituality. Ephesians 5 recognizes this.
   This is hugely important in Catholicism. In the Gospels Christ repeatedly exhorts us to be good observers: “you have heard it said…”, “if you have ears to hear…”, “look around you…”. We are asked to observe and affirm -what is-. This is the same philosophy that supports the marriage of man and woman as unique. Same reasoning. Denying reality leads to grasping, and strife, and insanity. (If only I could be a priest. Oh, wait, I have a wife and children to care for, and a job to do…)
2. Christian vocation is not about earthly authority. We tend to view authority as an accumulation of learning and responsibilities and esteem of position, such that one who does not have these things is a lesser person, or is discriminated against. That’s not what Christian authority is. ""servus servorum Dei “”, the Pope is the servant of the servants of God. That is the Christian model of authority and “power”.
3. The Catholic Church recognizes the unique vocations of women. The Church does not “give” these vocations, it recognizes what God gives. The esteem given to the Mother of God is the prime example. She is unique in grace and vocation. She has the deepest knowledge of God of any human being ever, and so she proclaims the Gospel with more servant authority than anyone. This is something no man can ever have.

 

[Crocus]

So I think if we were to refute stuff like sexism or priesthood, other examples of women (eg his female followers, saints, etc) who are important to the Church and praised as well would be, I guess, more powerful.

Excellent idea for a new thread.

Women in scripture Sacred Scripture

Continuing the discussion from Why doesn't God want Female Priests?: Are there women in the Hebrew Scriptures and in the NT who are strong role models for women of today, who are they and what are their characteristics? (Other than Our Blessed Mother)

If she’s meek, then we can’t be loud and assertive. It’s a weird view to have imo, which is why I can’t get behind the whole traditional gender role thing in Catholicism.

I don’t think “loud” partners well with assertive.

I see Our Lady as meek + assertive = very strong! But I also think I have a different view of “meek.” The picture in my mind is watching Jesus bend down on one knee, to the level of a small child so he can look directly into her eyes.

 

[Duesenberg]

Most of the Apostle’s parents weren’t mentioned either, but I strongly suspect they had them, nonetheless.

What? having parents and having them follow and take part in Jesus’ ministry are two hugely different things. It’s highly unlikely that Peter’s wife was still alive – else she would have been mentioned in scripture.

 

[Melodeonist]

The priest often takes the place of Jesus e.g. Confession. Jesus was a man. The Church never allowed female priests. God never changes. One cannot change God, but one can change oneself to be in tune with God.

Thus, female priests are impossible, and go against what the Church teaches. If the Church allows female priests, then the Church will be in error and God will correct the error by guiding the Pope, cardinals, bishops, etc. to once again prevent female priests.

 

[Duesenberg]

Honest opinion: it’s kind of frustrating when catholics try to refute sexism with Mary, who is just one woman, sinless, virgin and a mother. Aka a woman who is nothing like any other woman here? I’m sure there’s a better way to defend the church?

It’s very offensive when people equate what God set-up to be “sexist.” As if our 21st Century views somehow make our opinions correct and more worthy.

 

[johnnykins]

I don’t pretend to understand why God does anything. That being said, the best reason I’ve heard is that we are made in the Image and likeness of God. What we know about the nature of God is that God is One in Three Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. If we are in fact made in the Image and likeness of God, then in some respect we are an Image of the Trinity - an icon, if you will, of the Trinity. Each person of the Trinity is truly God - consubstantial/or of one Essence, separate but not 3 Gods. The Father begets the Son and the Spirit proceeds from the Father and (through?) the Son.

Human beings are made male and female, where we are told the female was taken from a rib (or created after) the male - rather like begetting a Son. Childbirth where the same essence from the father and(through) the mother comes the child - much like the Spirit from the Father and Son. Somehow, to me at least, the Image of God in this way is crystal clear.

So, God made us, male and female. Both are human of equal dignity, but like the Father and Son, both being God, yet have different roles. That the Son and Father have different roles diminishes neither since both are fully God. That men and women have different roles diminishes neither as both are fully children of the Most High with dignity and inestimable worth.

It’s, to me, a simple lesson that we are each imaging God, but God Himself in His Trintarian Essence has Persons, who in the Unity of God, nonetheless have different roles. Men are not meant to lord it over women, just as the Father does not lord it over the Son - they love each other in their proper Person-hood. Though the Father is father and the Son was eternally begotton of the Father, both are God. So, a woman is not a priest…not because of any defect or inability, per se, but simply by reason of her role in the imaging of God. The Son is not diminished because He is not the Father.

As for choosing Peter and the rest of the Apostles, with all their faults, I say, “Take heart!” If Peter could be a great leader and saint, there’s hope for us. If we deny Christ, we can nonetheless love Him and be his Apostle and Disciple. An old priest I know once said, 'I think God chose Peter rather than John as Pope because He knew very few, if any, of us would have the courage to stay at the foot of the Cross when things got tough. Violent, fighting, lying, craven Peter - who ultimately came through it all in the end - is a role model most of us can match."