2006-06-20 06:00:03 · 4 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
To really be objective, you have to look at the reason that women have been mostly excluded from the clergy for so long.
The Episcopalian church has had female priests for a long time - and has never had an actual rule against female bishops. This is just the first time one has been promoted, and so it's the first time people have had to deal with it.
So why hasn't it happened sooner? Because the Episcopal church is closely related to the Catholic church, and the Catholic church does not allow female priests. Why is that?
Because when it was founded, and for a long (long) time after that, only men could be land owners. The church needed land. So, when a man joined the priesthood he brought with him whatever land he owned. He wasn't allowed to marry because that would give him an heir to the land. Since he had no heirs, he would leave the land to the church on his death, and the church's land holdings grew. It made a lot of sense.
None of that happens anymore, and so there is no practical reason for the prohibition of female priests or married priests. However, the dogma is still there that says only unmarried males can be priests.
Personally, I'm Roman Catholic - and I'd love the see my church do away with that antiquated law. The Episcopalians already have. And for that, I say, "Good for them!" Hopefully the Catholic church will eventually follow.
Wayne
2006-06-20 06:12:57 · answer #1 · answered by Waynez 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I am not an episcapalion, but I think its great! Its about time women were allowed in. Men are no better or more holy then women.
2006-06-20 06:03:28 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If I was part of the Church, I would.
2006-06-20 06:02:08 · answer #3 · answered by Samuel J 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yup going to druidism
2006-06-20 06:03:40 · answer #4 · answered by jyd9999 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋