why cant we allow women being priests in the catholic church?

Question

i could not find any reference in the bible that strongly manifest that women are not allowed to be priests? why do we not allow them to be priests? is this a case of too much masculinity in the catholic church?

Answer 1

in Catholic Canon Law it specifies the only valid Matter necessary for certain Sacraments to be valid. the use of any other Matter for the celebration of the Sacrament renders it null and void of effect.

The reason Canon Law specifies that a Male is the only valid Matter for Holy Orders is based in the lack of authority for the Church to change what Christ established by choosing 12 males as His apostles.

Answer 2

As a woman and a Catholic I believe that the Catholic Church is right in permitting only males to be Priests. Women simply have a different role in the Church.

Answer 3

The Bible clearly describes the fact that Jesus selected men to be priests, 12 times out of 12. That makes it pretty clear that it was His will to have a male priesthood. If He had wanted priestesses in His Church, surely He would have chosen at least one woman from among the many holy women of the time. Surely His own mother would have qualified? Jesus' actions in this matter are taken as as clear statement of His will {actions speak louder than words!), and His will cannot be violated. Given that the Catholic priest is an "alter Christi", one who stands in the place of Christ, it is most appropriate that He chose those who are men like Himself to fill that role in His Church.

However, unlike many Protestant churches, lay women in the Catholic Church can do everything that lay men can do - preach, teach, counsel, administrate, lead prayer assemblies, run retreats, etc. Apart from the priesthood and deaconate (another ordained ministry), there is no differentiation between ministries of women and ministries of men.

Answer 4

Women can't be priests because that isn't the way Jesus set up His Church. However, while on earth, Jesus did give other important roles to women. From "This Rock" magazine: "There were other roles that Christ had in mind for women. For example, they played a key role in the spread of the Gospel, being the first to spread the news of the risen Christ. They were also allowed to pray and prophecy in church (1 Cor. 11:1–16), but they were not to assume the function of teaching in the Christian assembly (1Cor. 14:34–38; 1 Tim. 2:1–14), which was restricted to the clergy." And let's not forget that God created women to give life. And He chose a woman to give birth to His Son, Our Lord and Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Answer 5

The catholic church is kind of slow to change. Men controlled everything for a long time, but now I think the average child is growing up believing a little more in equality. Perhaps by the end of my lifetime there will be women priests. Or God forbid, married priests.

Answer 6

Priesthood office is reserved for worthy males, that how it was in days of old and how it is today. I am LDS not Catholic but I am a priesthood holder. The priesthoods of aaron, the Aaronic Priesthood, and the Melechezidek priesthood have always been transfered through men. Priesthood means the permission to serve in the name of God. That is just the way we serve. Woman serve also, they simply don't have priesthood.
Gordon B. Hinckley, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said:
"[Women do not hold the priesthood] because the Lord has put it that way. It is part of His program. Women have a very prominent place in this Church. Men hold the priesthood offices of the Church. But women have a tremendous place in this Church. They have their own organization. It was started in 1842 by the Prophet Joseph Smith, called the Relief Society, because its initial purpose was to administer help to those in need. It has grown to be, I think, the largest women's organization in the world with a membership of more than three million. They have their own offices, their own presidency, their own board. That reaches down to the smallest unit of the Church everywhere in the world . . .

"The men hold the priesthood, yes. But my wife is my companion. In this Church the man neither walks ahead of his wife nor behind his wife but at her side. They are co-equals in this life in a great enterprise."

Answer 7

There is a verse (I forget where, Corinthians I think) where Paul says that women should be silent in church. But I think that verse is misunderstood; one pastor said that women in that day and age had never been allowed to listen to religious teachings because of Jewish tradition of separating men and women. And that they did not know they needed to be quiet and listen; they were leaning over and asking what the preacher meant lol.

The practical reason is that a lot of men will not take a submissive role to a woman; there would always be a small seed of doubt that the woman knows of what she speaks. Sad, but true.

Answer 8

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states:

The Lord Jesus chose men 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 Church recognizes herself to be bound by this choice made by the Lord himself. For this reason the ordination of women is not possible.

With love in Christ.

Answer 9

The Evidence:

1) 1 Corinthians 14:34, 35-37
"Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church. Or did the word of God originally come from you? Or was it you only that it reached? If anyone thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things which I write to you are the commandments of the Lord."

Answer 10

the same reason that priests cannot marry. this was dictated by the church in england. priests cannot marry or be women because they have heirs that could have stood to inherit the churches riches (which were the king's riches) and that would have been bad. the rules should be changed, we have better law enforcement now--embezzling is a jailable offense.