If Paul writes in the bible that men are supposed to be the leaders in their families, etc., then leave the Catholic church alone if it wants only men to be priests. He also writes for us to remain single if we can, but note the words if we can. I believe that priests should be allowed to be married. Doesnt the current policy attract a larger proportion of gays to the priesthood, knowing that they will never marry anyway? What women do for the churches is enormous, and they are not second class citizens and shouldnt be treated as such. However, in matters of church doctrine, the bible is always the best sourch of reference in making decisions.

I was raised a Catholic in a large family and owe my education to a good many wonderful nuns. Two of my aunts were nuns. It is absurd that the Church hierarchy still treats these dedicated women as voiceless slave labor. It is even more absurd that a group of celibate males, who won't even let celibate women join them, are directing the sex lives of millions of followers. We may as well have blind traffic cops.

Clay, Paul also says in scripture that women are not allowed to speak in church. And, the bible teaches that celibacy is the preferred model for ministry in the church (see 1 Corinthians, ch 7). As usual, the Catholic Church, and her doctrine, is profoundly biblical. Christianity, and Catholicism in particular, has raised the standards for women's dignity more than any other religion and/or political system in history.

Ah, the fruits of Vatican II! I can't wait until the Apostolic Visitation of US Nuns. Thanks be to God and his Holy Catholic Church!

That women cannot be ordained means that "the Church hierarchy still treats these dedicated women as voiceless slave labor." This is asinine logic. The Catholic Church has always upheld the dignity of women. Obviously, the Church holds in high esteem the Blessed Virgin, but she doesn't do this by insisting that she was a priest.

Nice try sisters, your letter is beside the point. No amount of protesting or opinion polls will change the fact that Pope JPII used his infallible authority to exclude women from being considered priests. Being somewhat liberal leaning himself, he at least admitted the truth that the sacramental matter does not allow Holy Orders to be confirred to women and that the whole history of the church supports this.
When I read this stuff, I realize that these sisters have not been Catholic for a long time and have entered a new church of their own mental creation.

Women are not treated as second class citizens. They can and often do achieve the highest level afforded in the Catholic Church to either men or women, that of canonized Saint. Celibacy did not contribute to the priest sex scandal. Homosexuality did. Public school teachers are allowed to marry, yet the rate of child sexual abuse in that profession is higher than with Catholic Clergy.

This nun couldn't care less about what Jesus taught. To the apostles He said "those who listen to you listen to me...." She doesn't listen to the bishops (apostles) and therefore doesn't listen to Him. Get out of the Church, sister. There's always the Episcopal church which ordains women and practicing homosexuals. But you better hurry up, as the Episcopal church may not exist for very long!

Hi Frank. My point was that a higher percentage of homosexuals may be attracted to the priesthood to begin with knowing that they cant marry anyway. More heterosexual men would perhaps be priests if they could marry. No doubt. I dont believe that the church should have absolute authority to tell anyone that they cant marry, including women. The bible says to stay single if we can. It shouldnt be an order from any church, just a suggestion. And Peter, if Paul writes that women shouldnt speak in church, then maybe they shouldnt. Thanks.

Obviously, Sr. Akers, and her WOC friends, don't believe in the sacraments. The priesthood is a sacramental role, not a functional one. Women can do most of the administrative and pastoral works of priests, but they can't be spiritual fathers, signs of Christ and thereby of the Eternal Father.

But, of course, that is what this is REALLY about, an overthrow of God, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in favor of the pagan Mother Goddess. Their conventions, their literature, and their allies in the movement make this abundantly clear. This is simply a new religion, or rather an old error, and they should acknowledge it.

Are these dear miguided nuns guilty of the grossest sin of all: Pride. To the soul of my being I and all true catholics believe women were not meant to be married or otherwise; clergy

Nice if these sisters would follow their vows for once and also take the time to actually read the documents. They use the words "spirit of Vatican II" for their claims. Show me where is says "spirit of Vatican II." This is the same order that is wondering why they are getting inspected. I hope they now understand why. Meanwhile, I will pray for Sister Louise Akers, that she sheds here heretical views, and embrace her faith, her Church, and her vows of obedience and charity once again.

Here is still another view. Jesus made the very first priests and all of them were men.He clearly had the opportunity to ordain women but that is something he did not do

I think it's time for the catholic church to liberate the women. When God began his new covenant he chose Mary and Elizebeth to first spread the good news. Jesus also chose women to spread the good news.
When God began the new covenant he obviously wanted things to change. He wanted the law fulfilled : women should be submissive to men when they spread the good news and men should be submissive to the women when they spread the good news, just as Joseph was told by God to be submissive to Mary.
It's time for a change. Forget pPaul of Tarsus who treated women like second class humanoids. Peter warned us about the Pauline letters 2000 years ago in the last 3 verses of his second letter. It's time to stop following the Pauline letters and start following the example that Jesus gave us.

I'm a firm believer in the lord.
And it's time that women are speaking out and telling it like it is.If you believe in the name of Jesus Christ that love that he gave for us all willbring us all back together again. That preacious little lady that you are shutting out loves all of us and if you are serving the Lord like you say you are you will let whomsever come into the Kingdom of God.
And let us all go to heaven together , I love you.

The catholic church base their belief "that only men can be ordained as priest" on the fact that Jesus chose twelve men as his apostles.
If I follow their line of reasoning I would have to say the following:
"only male circumsised orthodox Jews can be priest"
"communion can only be given to adault male circumsised jews"
" their must be only 12 people present at any re-enactment of the last supper and one of the twelve would have to be a known traitor like Judas.
Did it ever occur to people that Jesus was simply being expediant? He was trying to get the new covenant started in the fastest and easiest way pssible!

What a bunch of nincompoops! And some of you male chauvinist pigs will insist that Muslims are fanatics. God said this or God said that, Peter said this or that and long dead Paul ( Hail Mary for his death) said this or that--who the hell cares? Let the women rise in the church. At the very least they don't go around screwing children like the ordained men have through the centuries--wearing their splendid raiments, muttering their Latin masses through clenched teeth, mounds of sins under the falsehoods of their celibacy and elaborate rituals--all with a single thrust and purpose--control of women and children--overthrow the religious despots, rewrite the passages that say women cannot, must not or should not be ordained--shut down the Vatican and release the midget brains--the Catholic slaves from bondage--go Sister Louise--down with Pilarczyk--better called Pillory-Sick the Tyrant.

Just because some men have messed up doesnt mean that women should run the churches. If leaders in the Catholic church have too much power without enough oversight then let them have less power with more oversight. That doesnt mean that women should be the leaders. God wants one sex in charge because it leads to a well defined path of authority to Himself, and He isnt a woman so of course He picked men. That doesnt mean that any leader should be abusive. He isnt.

Hello everyone,

Ordination:
"Only a baptized man (vir) validly receives sacred ordination." The Lord Jesus chose men (viri) to form the college of the twelve apostles, and the apostles did the same when they chose collaborators to succeed them in their ministry. The college of bishops, with whom the priests are united in the priesthood, makes the college of the twelve an ever-present and ever-active reality until Christ's return. The Church recognizes herself to be bound by this choice made by the Lord himself. For this reason the ordination of women is not possible."
"No one has a right to receive the sacrament of Holy Orders. Indeed no one claims this office for himself; he is called to it by God. Anyone who thinks he recognizes the signs of God's call to the ordained ministry must humbly submit his desire to the authority of the Church, who has the responsibility and right to call someone to receive orders. Like every grace this sacrament can be received only as an unmerited gift."

Nuns & Religious (including monks and hermits):
"Many religious have consecrated their whole lives to prayer. Hermits, monks, and nuns since the time of the desert fathers have devoted their time to praising God and interceding for his people. The consecrated life cannot be sustained or spread without prayer; it is one of the living sources of contemplation and the spiritual life of the Church."

- Catechism of the Catholic Church

Each of these offices has a unique and integral part to play in the whole of the church. This is the structure of the church; the foundation. It has nothing to do "equality for women". This accusation is absurd. Woman are no less equal in the church and play a no-less important role in charitable work, ministries, prayer communities and countless other factions of church growth.

Sister Akers is in dangerous waters. She is acting on her "passions" and is not following objective orders. She has taken a life of prayer and it would do well for her to pray for the insight to see her unparallelled contribution to the spiritual world in her vocation. This is not a "I should be getting recognized" kind of profession. This is a serious business of praying for souls and doing charitable works. It seems her attitude towards the whole position is skewed and the bishop is in every right to remind her of this. Mother Theresa is an excellent example of a woman doing extraordinary works in the church. Woman being ordained has never been in the cards and she (Sister Akers) of all people should KNOW WHY and respect the authority of the church.

Clay - Here is the low-down on the reason priests cannot be married while committed to the priesthood.
First, we must establish that the sacrament of the priesthood is a vocational calling to serve as a representative to lead "Christ's flock" on earth so to speak. These priests receive special "graces" upon ordination to perform their special roles. This calling is the sacrament of "Holy Orders", and is one of SEVEN key institutions in the church.

"Adhering to the teaching of the Holy Scriptures, to the apostolic traditions, and to the consensus . . . of the Fathers," we profess that "the sacraments of the new law were . . . all instituted by Jesus Christ our Lord."
"Jesus' words and actions during his hidden life and public ministry were already salvific, for they anticipated the power of his Paschal mystery. They announced and prepared what he was going to give the Church when all was accomplished. The mysteries of Christ's life are the foundations of what he would henceforth dispense in the sacraments, through the ministers of his Church, for "what was visible in our Savior has passed over into his mysteries."
"Sacraments are "powers that comes forth" from the Body of Christ, which is ever-living and life-giving. They are actions of the Holy Spirit at work in his Body, the Church. They are "the masterworks of God" in the new and everlasting covenant."
"As she has done for the canon of Sacred Scripture and for the doctrine of the faith, the Church, by the power of the Spirit who guides her "into all truth," has gradually recognized this treasure received from Christ and, as the faithful steward of God's mysteries, has determined its "dispensation." Thus the Church has discerned over the centuries that among liturgical celebrations there are SEVEN that are, in the strict sense of the term, sacraments instituted by the Lord."

The Seven Sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation or Chrismation, Eucharist, Penance, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Matrimony.
The latter two, Matrimony and Holy Orders, are in a sense similar in that both are "joining" by love for another party (Marriage for spouse and Priesthood for the assigned "flock"). Priest are in a sense married to Christ as they offer their being,devotion and celibacy to Christ in return for the love and grace to lead on earth. This very special calling requires the whole (physical and spiritual) of the individual to a committed life in the church. Having said this, combining the sacrament of marriage into the equation would not be feasible as the two are DISTICT vocations requiring 100% commitment respectfully.

I hope this helps :)

I see the point but I think it makes it all much too complicated. If Christ didnt marry and Paul tells us to better serve the Lord as single, that should be enough. It doesnt have to be any ordinance coming from a church in any way. In addition, anyone who receives Christ into their heart is married to Him as much as any priest or preacher. Thanks.

Hi Clay - There are indeed monumental intellectual and spiritual differences (between Christ's "followers" and religious). You must first accept Christ, yes but the work doesn't just stop there. You are right to say it is not a walk in the park, but neither was Jesus' walk to Calvary. Wouldn't it be so much more wonderful if there was more to following Christ then just stating you believe?

This is the church and it's foundation. If you build on a rock you can't go wrong.

Thanks,

There is nothing wrong with building on the rock. Just keep it simple. Too many ordinances brings in the pride, and with pride comes the devil. Thanks.

It's Time for a change!
"Humble women's liberation"
"Macho men's humiliation"
Forget those useless vows, Louise!
Do not swear by anything in Heaven for it is God's throne.
Do not swear by any thing on earth for it is God's footstool.
You do not owe an allegiance to mortal men who claim they are a facsimile of God's true church,claiming they are infallible when in fact they are just like the rest of us humans filled with shortcomings and misgivings.
The only one who is infallable is God the Father and the only words that are infallable are words that proceed from the Father's mouth.
Who was the first to spread the good news of the risen Christ? Not that it makes that much differance but was it a man or was it that precious beloved companion to Jesus, Mary Magdalene. Not only was she a woman but a woman of ill-repute. Let God's will be done then Louise, not the will of mortal man.
Yes, you can ask God's blessings on the bread and Wine and you can tell the sinners they will be forgiven when they
ask the heavenly Father for forgivness. The priveledge of doing God's work on earth does not belong exclusively to men.
It's Time for a change!
"Humble women's liberation"
"Macho men's humiliation"