why can't there be a female Pope?

Question

what are the reasons that there can't be a female Pope, and why don't women fight stronger for equal rights at these higher catholic jobs?

(i know, i would also rather die before i took the job as Pope, but i'm just wondering)

Answer 1

It is interesting how women have been given rights, but still denied certain places to be equal to man. Yet there was a woman pope that was almost written out of history. Infact she personated herself as a man and evenatually got elected pope. Even popes are not innocent people and during that time...i can't quote the exact century, but I believe the 16th century....popes had lovers. She ended up pregnant. Before anyone was to find out she tried to flee, but it was too late. She was found out and on her escape out she was given birth to a baby. She and the baby were stoned to death on their way out. The scholars were trying to write her out of history, but like anything the truth can't be totally erased. The church tried to keep money in power in the church thus forbidding priests to marry and keeping it totally male. It wasn't about equal rights, but money and power/politics. Now adays it has been so established that priesthood should only be for men, that Im not sure how well accepted a woman would be as a cardinal let alone a pope. We are still trying for a woman president. Because of the social stigmas we have so much to overcome. There is no overnight fix. Infact women got most of their rights after our rigths to vote...the sufferage. It took us that long just to get there....it will take us that much longer to get where we want to be.

Answer 2

In order for one to be Pope, one must be a Priest and since a Priest acts in Persona Christi (the person of Christ) at the Holy Mass, a woman can NOT be a Priest (to make a woman a Priest, the Church would have to change the fact that Jesus could have been a woman), therefore can not be Pope.

I very much doubt that there will ever be a woman Priest in the Catholic Church. The Church has all but closed the door on that debate.

Answer 3

Thats the biggest duality of Christianity. Even in modern world Christians can write reams about equality of sexes in the constitution and human rights forums, they can look down upon Islam as a religion that exploits women but if you see the history of Churches and religious leaders , you will see all all men. There may be 1000 reasons that can be given but the facts are all visible. Even in a Country like US no women has ever been the president which is rather strange considering the long history of democracy. Its impossible that in the last 200 years no women was found worth the post of the President whreas much more smaller and conservative countries like India, Srilanka, Phillipines have had women at important positions.
I think Hinduism is much more respectful to women as most of the Hindu Gods are women

Answer 4

In both Catholic and many Protestant Churches, women's responsibility is not to be leaders. But that doesn't mean that they don't have responsibility. God has given different responsibilities to different members of the body. With a few notable exceptions in scripture (with excepting reasons as well), men were designed by God to be the leaders. This doesn't mean that they are better, or even necessarily more powerful. This is their responsibility, and therefore they have a higher standard which they are held to than women. Women have responsibility to encourage and strengthen the men as they serve in these position, and also help teach the younger members of the church. Women are more often given compassion as a spiritual gift than men are. If you want to be great in God's kingdom, you must be a servant of all. God made the roles for reasons that we don't always fully understand, but the men are to be the leaders, and the women keep them intact to fulfill those roles. If you have leaders without support, then the leaders will fall on their head. You can't have a bridge without support beams.

Answer 5

Basically it is just against the church laws. It has been and always will be this way. I think there have been enough changes to the church as it is...I don't think having a female pope would sit well with me. Even a female priest would be something I would find difficult to accept. There are plenty of other religions out there where women can become religious figures if they so choose. There are other choices.

Answer 6

Recently, Popes are elected from the Cardinals through out the world. There isnt any female Cardinals, so, it would be a very rare case for a female to become pope. It would be easier if a female became a Cardinal first, and that doesnt seem to be happening soon since our current pope is very conservative.

Also, to counter other answers, there are female priests, they are very uncommon though.

Answer 7

Because every religion degrades wpmen but Islam.Islam has gien women all the right and they r considered equal to men unlike Christianity

It is said that four out of every five Western converts to Islam are women.
Find out why. Why? Because of equal rights
Women’s rights in Islam (INTRO) it’s very well known of the struggle of women across the world to be "equal" with men. They faced discrimination in jobs, pay, education, and more. They weren't hired in certain jobs, were paid less, and just in 1972 in America were a law passed for equality. They couldn’t own property, write wills, or vote. Luckily for women today, many of these rights have finally been gained through their constant struggle. This is a world-wide battle throughout the world. But amazingly, Islam gave these rights to women ever since it was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (S)! ‘

Answer 8

Because the Pope must be a Catholic priest, and so far, the Catholic church has not allowed any females to become priests.

Answer 9

Because the whole Catholic church despises women. So they won't give a woman their highest position. Anyway, they say that at least once, a woman passed off as a man and was elected pope.

Why don't women fight? Well, I guess you can't convince someone who's already made up their mind and isn't changing it.

Answer 10

Who cares. The catholic religion is a joke anyway. Why do all these people treat the pope as if he were God. Why do catholics confess their sins to a priest. There is only one man that I confess my sins to and that is my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.