Excellent points, Frances.
The advocates of women priests try to present themselves as people who are attempting to somehow broaden the scope of the considerations pertinent to the question. In fact, they narrow the scope, and do so to a very marked degree.
They begin with the priesthood itself. The advocates inevitably greatly downplay, or even fully ignore, the Sacramental aspect of the priesthood. It is, to them, defined merely by function – a job, not a vocation. Not being a vocation, thoughts then turn to considerations pertinent to employee rights, and the betterment of the individual, which are simply not pertinent to considerations concerning the priesthood at all.
But perhaps worst of all, once started down that road, the advocates, or certainly their leaders, tend to carry this narrowness over into virtually every aspect of the faith. If one can disregard the sacramental aspect of Holy Orders, then why not the other Sacraments, too? Matrimony is a fairly obvious target, with the concept of divorce being thrust onto the table. And beyond the seven Sacraments, the whole Sacramental view of the universe is chucked. Nothing points to anything beyond itself to something greater. What a bleak, horrible world they would have us inhabit!
There is good news, though. These misguided guides have lost so much that it is getting nothing but harder for them to get a hearing. They are no longer able to pose as brave new pioneers; they are the same-old, same-old whiners and complainers who can only get any attention by attacking the Church which they claim (who do they think they are kidding?) to love. The spectacles that they generate when they gather on boats to mock the Sacrament of Holy Orders get more and more ridiculous, with one commentator describing a recent one as resembling a lesbian hallowe’en party. They have not prevailed. The Church has.
As long as our Holy Mother continues to provide her children with such an incredibly vast vista when showing them what God has created, these narrowers will not prevail. Sadly though, they can do, and have done, much harm to the souls of some of the faithful, and to their own.
By the way, did you know that the audio lecture that is based on your quote from Peter Kreeft (of whom I’m a huge fan) is on line at his web site? It is one of the most concise, comprehensive, and cogent summaries of why (in his words) “only boys can be the daddies.” And, Catholic gentleman that he is, he also includes compelling demonstrations on why a male priesthood is absolutely not a slight to women at all. I’d recommend it to all.
Blessings,
Gerry
As much as I feel called to be a priest I don’t see that ever happening. Or maybe I can join the Carmelites and become a nun. Let’s not genderize things now. Can’t have that.
It’s a selfish pursuit to prove women are equal or can do it as good or better as men. Coming froma single parent family has made me more sensative to women being marginalized in society, however, even my mother would have a problem with this and she’s not Catholic. In fact, many Protestants laugh at us over this issue. I’ll never get it:shrug:
