Catholics: Why are gentiles permitted to join the priesthood, but not women?

Question

"The Lord Jesus chose men to form the college of the twelve apostles ... 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."

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt3.htm#1577

Jesus did not choose women to be amongst the 12, so women are not permitted to be priests.

Jesus did not choose gentiles to be amongst the 12, but gentiles are permitted to be priests.

Obviously, "The Church recognizes herself to be bound by this choice made by the Lord himself" is a convenient excuse to bar women, but is ignored when it comes to gentile men.

How do you explain this double-standard?

Why does the church not select only Jewish priests in accordance with the example Jesus set?

Why does it feel "bound by this choice made by the Lord himself" only when it comes to women, but not when it comes to gentiles?

Jesus ministered to women as well as gentiles. Whom he included in his ministry obviously has no bearing on the question (see the quote I've provided).

Answer 1

You did not quote the entire line:

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 apostles did choose gentile men to succeed them in their ministry.

http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt3.htm#1577

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

The priesthood isn't like voting someone into office. It has nothing to do with inteligence. It is a HUGE responsibilty that the Lord has given to the men that are worthy. It is their role in life. If women had the priesthood, than that would mean that a woman could be a prophet. (which Jesus has never had, biblical times or recent) There would really not be a role for the men, their exsitance would not be necessary, except to maybe doante some sperm to have children. There would be no need for a man in the family. The priesthood provides special blessings to a family. If women could bless the family, run the family, have adn rear the children have a job- basically have it all- why even have men? It undermines the direct set up of the gospel plan. I personally AM NOT looking to ever have the resposibilty of the priesthood. I have too many other things to be taking care of.

Answer 3

Read the story of the Syrophenecian woman (all the way through). . . . . . .Jesus ministered to the Gentiles

Read Acts 13. . . . .

Read the last supper acccount (all of them)

Read a little Tacitus (there were always Gentiles that worshipped with Jews, but the break came after Christ and the followers Gentile and Jew were cast off after expulsion from the temple.) They were all considered Gentile then (even those of Jewish heritage).

We all know the circular arguments for non ordination of women are stupid and wrong.

However it is only very recently any CHurch began ordaining women (period). And the Catholic Church moves slowly (being the oldest) it thinks in eons not our short life span. The short time women's ordination has been allowed in ANY Church that is like 15 minutes in Catholic Church time. It will take them a while.

If it upsets you so much buy a purple stole from the support women's ordination forum and wear it.

Answer 4

There is no double standard. Jesus began the New Covenant, which included both Jews and Gentiles. It superceded the Old Covenant, so any parts of the Old that apply specifically to Jews no longer apply. Jesus ordained only Jews because all of His original followers, including the Apostles, were Jews. He also ordained only men, but He had female Jewish followers whom He could have ordained if He had wanted to. The Apostles (the first bisops of the Catholic Church) recognized that He intended that only men be ordained as priests and that has been the practice of the Catholic Church from then until now and it will continue until the end of the world.

Answer 5

It's a mans world out there and christianity has unforutnately helped with that a bit.

Blame it on Eve, or blame it on the men and women that believe it. Women are supposed to submit to men. Men are still supposed to love and honor us, however, they are the head of the household and I guess that stems into the church as well. Women are not supposed to speak in church either if I can remember correctly.

There are fortunately now some branches of christianity now that accept women as complete equals and ignore the gender roles placed in the bible.

Answer 6

corinthians/14-34
"The women are to keep silent in the churches; for they are not permitted to speak, but are to subject themselves, just as the Law also says".

Answer 7

What cind of crap is this? The Catholics can change the rules any Time they want to. ( RIGHT)

Answer 8

Gentiles?
I resent that term.
It sounds so racist and discriminatory....

Answer 9

Shhhhh!! They'll find out !

Answer 10

WOMEN IN THE PRIESTHOOD:

Gen. 3:15; Luke 1:26-55; John 19:26; Rev. 12:1- Mary is God's greatest creation, was the closest person to Jesus, and yet Jesus did not choose her to become a priest. God chose only men to be priests to reflect the complimentarity of the sexes. Just as the man (the royal priest) gives natural life to the woman in the marital covenant, the ministerial priest gives supernatural life in the New Covenant sacraments.

Judges 17:10; 18:19 – fatherhood and priesthood are synonymous terms. Micah says, “Stay with me, and be to me a father and a priest.” Fathers/priests give life, and mothers receive and nurture life. This reflects God our Father who gives the life of grace through the Priesthood of His Divine Son, and Mother Church who receives the life of grace and nourishes her children. In summary, women cannot be priests because women cannot be fathers.

Mark 16:9; Luke 7: 37-50; John 8:3-11 - Jesus allowed women to uniquely join in His mission, exalting them above cultural norms. His decision not to ordain women had nothing to do with culture. The Gospel writers are also clear that women participated in Jesus' ministry and, unlike men, never betrayed Jesus. Women have always been held with the highest regard in the Church (e.g., the Church's greatest saint and model of faith is a woman; the Church's constant teaching on the dignity of motherhood; the Church's understanding of humanity as being the Bride united to Christ, etc.).

Mark 14:17,20; Luke 22:14 - the language "the twelve" and "apostles" shows Jesus commissioned the Eucharistic priesthood by giving holy orders only to men.

Gen. 14:10; Heb. 5:6,10; 6:20; 7:15,17 - Jesus, the Son of God, is both priest and King after the priest-king Melchizedek. Jesus' priesthood embodies both Kingship and Sonship.

Gen. 22:9-13 - as foreshadowed, God chose our redemption to be secured by the sacrificial love that the Son gives to the Father.

Matt. 26:26; Mark 14:22; Luke 22:19 - because the priest acts in persona Christi in the offering to the Father, the priest cannot be a woman.

Mark 3:13 - Jesus selected the apostles "as He desired," according to His will, and not according to the demands of His culture. Because Jesus acted according to His will which was perfectly united to that of the Father, one cannot criticize Jesus' selection of men to be His priests without criticizing God.

John 20:22 - Jesus only breathed on the male apostles, the first bishops, giving them the authority to forgive and retain sins. In fact, the male priesthood of Christianity was a distinction from the priestesses of paganism that existed during these times. A female priesthood would be a reversion to non-Christian practices. The sacred tradition of a male priesthood has existed uncompromised in the Church for 2,000 years.

1 Cor. 14:34-35 - Paul says a woman is not permitted to preach the word of God in the Church. It has always been the tradition of the Church for the priest or deacon alone (an ordained male) to read and preach the Gospel.

1 Tim. 2:12 - Paul also says that a woman is not permitted to hold teaching authority in the Church. Can you imagine how much Mary, the Mother of God, would have been able to teach Christians about Jesus her Son in the Church? Yet, she was not permitted to hold such teaching authority in the Church.

Rom. 16:1-2 - while many Protestants point to this verse denounce the Church's tradition of a male priesthood, deaconesses, like Phoebe, were helpers to the priests (for example, preparing women for naked baptism so as to prevent scandal). But these helpers were never ordained.

Luke 2:36-37 - prophetesses, like Anna, were women who consecrated themselves to religious life, but were not ordained.

Isaiah 3:12 – Isaiah complains that the priests of ancient Israel were having their authority usurped by women, and this was at the height of Israel’s covenant apostasy.


THE AUTHORITY TO BECOME A PRIEST DOES NOT DEPEND ON FAMILY LINEAGE. AUTHORITY IS TRANSFERRED BY THE SACRAMENT OF ORDINATION:

Acts 1:15-26 - the first thing Peter does after Jesus ascends into heaven is implement apostolic succession. Matthias is ordained with full apostolic authority. Only the Catholic Church can demonstrate an unbroken apostolic lineage to the apostles in union with Peter through the sacrament of ordination and thereby claim to teach with Christ's own authority.

Acts 1:20 - a successor of Judas is chosen. The authority of his office (his "bishopric") is respected notwithstanding his egregious sin. The necessity to have apostolic succession in order for the Church to survive was understood by all. God never said, "I'll give you leaders with authority for about 400 years, but after the Bible is compiled, you are all on your own."

Acts 1:22 - literally, "one must be ordained" to be a witness with us of His resurrection. Apostolic ordination is required in order to teach with Christ's authority.

Acts 6:6 - apostolic authority is transferred through the laying on of hands (ordination). This authority has transferred beyond the original twelve apostles as the Church has grown.

Acts 9:17-19 - even Paul, who was directly chosen by Christ, only becomes a minister after the laying on of hands by a bishop. This is a powerful proof-text for the necessity of sacramental ordination in order to be a legitimate successor of the apostles.

Acts 13:3 - apostolic authority is transferred through the laying on of hands (ordination). This authority must come from a Catholic bishop.

Acts 14:23 - the apostles and newly-ordained men appointed elders to have authority throughout the Church.

Acts 15:22-27 - preachers of the Word must be sent by the bishops in union with the Church. We must trace this authority to the apostles.

2 Cor. 1:21-22 - Paul writes that God has commissioned certain men and sealed them with the Holy Spirit as a guarantee.

Col 1:25 - Paul calls his position a divine "office." An office has successors. It does not terminate at death. Or it's not an office. See also Heb. 7:23 – an office continues with another successor after the previous office-holder’s death.

1 Tim. 3:1 - Paul uses the word "episcopoi" (bishop) which requires an office. Everyone understood that Paul's use of episcopoi and office meant it would carry on after his death by those who would succeed him.

1 Tim. 4:14 - again, apostolic authority is transferred through the laying on of hands (ordination).

1 Tim. 5:22 - Paul urges Timothy to be careful in laying on the hands (ordaining others). The gift of authority is a reality and cannot be used indiscriminately.

2 Tim. 1:6 - Paul again reminds Timothy the unique gift of God that he received through the laying on of hands.

2 Tim. 4:1-6 - at end of Paul's life, Paul charges Timothy with the office of his ministry . We must trace true apostolic lineage back to a Catholic bishop.

2 Tim. 2:2 - this verse shows God's intention is to transfer authority to successors (here, Paul to Timothy to 3rd to 4th generation). It goes beyond the death of the apostles.

Titus 1:5; Luke 10:1 - the elders of the Church are appointed and hold authority. God has His children participate in Christ's work.

1 John 4:6 - whoever knows God listens to us (the bishops and the successors to the apostles). This is the way we discern truth and error (not just by reading the Bible and interpreting it for ourselves).

Exodus 18:25-26 - Moses appoints various heads over the people of God. We see a hierarchy, a transfer of authority and succession.

Exodus 40:15 - the physical anointing shows that God intended a perpetual priesthood with an identifiable unbroken succession.

Numbers 3:3 - the sons of Aaron were formally "anointed" priests in "ordination" to minister in the priests' "office."

Numbers 16:40 - shows God's intention of unbroken succession within His kingdom on earth. Unless a priest was ordained by Aaron and his descendants, he had no authority.

Numbers 27:18-20 - shows God's intention that, through the "laying on of hands," one is commissioned and has authority.

Deut. 34:9 - Moses laid hands upon Joshua, and because of this, Joshua was obeyed as successor, full of the spirit of wisdom.

Sirach 45:15 - Moses ordains Aaron and anoints him with oil. There is a transfer of authority through formal ordination.