Priests.....?

Question

I was jw why are men the only gender that can become priests?

Answer 1

Jesus was the first Priest and passed that along to his Apostles
Woman are the same in dignity but have different rolls within the church. Do not despair the Church holds woman in high regard as Mary is the Mother of the Church.

Answer 2

Well, in the Catholic and Orthodox Churches, it is well recognized that Jesus only chose men to be Apostles. Jesus was not shy about saying something or doing something that was perceived counter-cultural. As such, it is recognized that the person being a male is an important part of the matter of the sacrament of the priesthood. Even if one said all the right words and believed that the candidate was a worthy candidate, if it's a woman, then they can not become a priest anymore than rice cakes can become the Eucharist or a man/man become a married couple. It doesn't mean at all that men are somehow superior to women, anymore than women are superior to men when it comes to giving birth. That's just the way it works.

Answer 3

It's complicated. Simply put, all of Jesus's closest friends were men, so when the early Chruch was founded it was founded by men. They ruled only men could be priestd to represent Jesus, and that;s why they don't marry. If he had married, then women might be priests. Plus the whole sexes thing plays in. Like I said, complicated.

Answer 4

The Scriptures quite plainly teach that Christ Jesus is the rightful priest between man and God.

(Hebrews 5:5) Christ did not glorify himself by becoming a high priest, but was glorified by [his Father]


Jehovah's Witnesses recognize that both men and women have the privilege to serve as ministers and 'fellow workers' with God.

(Philippians 4:3) Yes, I [Paul] request you too, genuine yokefellow, keep assisting these women who have striven side by side with me in the good news

(1 Corinthians 3:8-9) Each person will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9 For we are God’s fellow workers.


Jehovah's Witnesses recognize the biblical teaching that both men and women will be among those resurrected to heaven to rule mankind alongside Christ Jesus.

(Acts 2:17-18) God says, “I shall pour out some of my spirit upon every sort of flesh...18 and even upon my men slaves and upon my women slaves I will pour out some of my spirit in those days


Interestingly, the Scriptures also mention 'forbidding to marry' as a sure sign of apostasy from true Christianity. Sadly, some so-called "Christian" religions actually require priestly singleness despite the clear bible principle involved.

(1 Timothy 4:1-3) However, the inspired utterance says definitely that in later periods of time some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to misleading inspired utterances and teachings of demons, 2 by the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, marked in their conscience as with a branding iron; 3 forbidding to marry

(1 Timothy 3:2) The overseer ["bishop"] should therefore be irreprehensible, a husband of one wife


Jehovah's Witnesses have no clergy class.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/pr/article_04.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20040301/

Answer 5

They are "in persona Christi" They are in the person of Christ for the Sacraments. Jesus was a man and so the priest must be a man. Every Mass atones for sin with the sacrifice of Jesus on Mt. Calvary (the same sacrifice not a new one). The only gender of animal that was approved for sacrifice for the atonement was a male.

Answer 6

Well you can join the Episcopal, United Methodist, United Church of Christ, Unitarian and a few other Churches and be a priest and just about anything Else you desire.

Answer 7

the book of Hebrews tells us there is onlt one priest a high priest after the order of Malchesidec who has a ever lasting priest hood,Christ Jesus,and onlu ONE mediator between God and man,Christ Jesus.u cant confess sin to man man cannot forgive sin

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

That is the sexist evil of man's world--on paradise island we all live in peace, harmony and equality

Answer 10

That is the way it is in the Catholic Church, you are not allowed to ask why, now go do three Hail Marys and seven Our Fathers in pennance for asking that question.