Why is it that Catholic Nuns are not allowed to become priestess?

Question

Serious answers please. The reason why I ask is because there are a few people I know that are considering becomming Catholic and they are asking me these questions, and I would like to give them a legitimate answer. I'm learning myself. Are there any references in the bible, I can present to them.

Answer 1

Even though Jesus had ample opportunity to ordain many good women as priests, he never did.

The apostles never ordained any women priests.

None of the successors to the apostles (the bishops ... right up to the present day) have ever ordained women priests.

Looking back to ancient times, there were never any old testament female Levitical priests, either.

Based on all of this and more, the Catholic Church does not believe it has the authority to ordain women as priests.

The Pope has spoken similarly on the matter.

And since this has been settled policy for the last 2000 years, it's not likely to change any time soon.

Answer 2

On the theoretical level, Pope John Paul II pointed out that Jesus himself chose 12 men to be his apostles, so John Paul II didn't feel that the Church really was in a position to change that and start putting women in positions of leadership.

On a more practical level, women already tend to be more religious than men. Look around the church. What is the ratio? 2 women for every man? 5 to 1? Ten to one? It's already difficult enough to get men involved in church. Then if you put a woman up there as the leader, how many men will come at all? Are men going to be more likely or less likely to follow a woman priest?

Society is gradually changing, and it's the church that usually is the last to make that change.

Personally I feel that the first thing the Church should do to address the vocation crisis is to allow priests to have families. Then they can allow nuns to gradually take more and more responsibility in the parish, if there are any nuns left by then. But ordaining women as priests is probably still quite a way off.

Answer 3

Women in the Catholic Church cannot be ordained. Even with nuns, it is very clear by the Vatican that they are part of the laity.

Pope John Paul II, in 1994, decided the matter was settled for the Catholic Church. "I declare that the Church has no authority whatsoever to confer priestly ordination on women and that this judgment is to be definitively held by all the Church's faithful"

The Catholic church points to the fact that Jesus chose 12 men to carry out the ministry of the Church.

Opponents of this, however, are quick to point out that Mary Magdalene was the first to preach about the resurrection.

I did a report in one of my Theology classes on this, but it's been 10 years or so. From what I remember, there used to be 7 or 10 reasons given for why women could not be ordained. Don't ask me what they were...I totally forget. Now there are 2: Jesus only chose males and the Tradition of the Church. (I think those were the 2. I can look into it more if you want me to. Just E-Mail and ask)

Matt

Answer 4

The monastic life is a more difficult one than the priestly life when it comes to the vows. Monks and nuns can and have taken vows of silence, of obeisance and of poverty that priests do not have to take. I have heard of one instance on some South Pacific island, where a woman was in charge of the prayer life of the islanders after the missionary had left. I am not sure if she was ordained or not, but she did the rosary with everyone using shells on the beach. (I am not sure if this is a Catholic "urban legend" or truth though, just some random article I've read). Also, there were rumours that there was a woman bishop in the early church, but again, I'm not sure. I think that either it wasn't true, or the church doesn't like making it known. As for me, I'm quite content to have priests be men.

Answer 5

Actually, Jesus said to follow his example for the temples - and in his example, the women RAN the temples as high priestesses, and the men travelled and taught as evangelist teachers - the men were NOT ALLOWED to be the priests of the temples - only the women were.

Of course, all the societies of that time were no longer matriarchal and felt threatened by women being in power, so when new temples were built in those territories where women had no rights, men were put in charge.

Eventually, the organization called the Vatican was created. During this time, Rome destroyed practically everything related to the Christian religion - all the books, all the teachings, all the heads of the temples, so that the next generation bought up would have nothing to fall back on. Constantine, a battlefield hardened warrior, became Pope after converting to Christianity on the battlefield and inscribing the symbol of Apollo on the shields of all of his soldiers before a decisive battle. (For those of you who dont know, all the gods and goddesses of Greek, Roman and Norse mythos are listed as angels and saints in the Bible.)

After wining the battle, Constantine was hailed as the savior of Rome, and the persecution of Christianity was at an end. However, once he had power, he set about re-writing many things regarding the Christian religion in general. He changed the writings of many sections of the New Testament, and even changed to location of where Christ was ressurected from the cave in Mount of Olives to the Temple of Venus in Jerusalem. The temple was torn down and the church of the Holy Sepulchre was put there in its place. From this point onward, Christianity was tainted and corrupted, just as warned in Revelations.

So, in closing, if you friends are serious about being a Christian, they should look to align themselves not with what has an outward appearance of being in vogue, but should instead do the nearly impossible and align themselves with the TRUE teachings of Christ and form temples that are headed by priestesses where men are relagated to only teaching roles and not the roles of power.

Answer 6

Women cannot be ordained as priests because a priest stand in the place of Jesus as an icon. An icon is a symbolic representation and since Jesus is male, those who represent Him in the ordained priesthood must also be male.
If your friends are going to be Catholic they should ask the questions of someone who should know the answers.

Answer 7

The Catechism of the Catholic Church currently 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.

For more information see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 1577: http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt2sect2chpt3.htm#1577

With love in Christ.

Answer 8

It does not subject if I could or now not, considering the fact that what I could permit isn't authorized as doctrine via the Roman Catholic Church. Still: no, I could now not permit ladies to turn out to be clergymen. Women *are* allowed to turn out to be pope (although it has by no means occurred- regardless of a few solutions who will declare that it has).

Answer 9

1 Timothy 2: 8 - 15

I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting; 9in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, 10but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works. 11Let a woman learn in silence with all submission. 12And I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man, but to be in silence. 13For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived, fell into transgression. 15Nevertheless she will be saved in childbearing if they continue in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control.

Answer 10

Have you seen any catholic woman at all become a priestess?

Have you even heard of a catholic priestess?

Tradition.