Inter-Faith Series, Sacrament of Holy Orders: Why can’t women be priests of the Church?

Question

Last question for the day. God bless!

Tough Guy
Same to you!

Tough Guy
By same to you I meant May the Lord's peace be with you!

"Happy are you when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of evil lies against you because you are my followers. Be happy and glad, for a great reward is kept for you in heaven. This is how the prophets who lived before you were persecuted." (Matthew 5, 9-12)

Please don't report Tough Guy. I need his comments for my trophy room.

Answer 1

Christ, who had no qualms about shattering the cultural norms regarding interaction with women (Matt. 9:20; Luke 7:37; John 4:27). The idea of priestesses was not unknown to him, since it was a common practice in religions of his time and culture, though not Judaism. (If Jesus had wanted women as priestesses, he would have had the ideal candidate in Mary. Here was a woman who could have spoken the words of consecration literally: "This is my body. This is my blood.")

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.

Two thousand years later, no one—including the pope—has the authority to change the designs of the Church that Christ instituted. Specifically, the Church is unable to change the substance of a sacrament. For example, a person cannot be baptized in wine, nor may a substance other than bread be used for the consecration at Mass. If invalid matter is used, then the sacrament does not take place. Likewise, since the priest acts in the person of Christ, the Church has no authority to confer the sacrament on those who are unable to represent the male Jesus Christ.
Paul acknowledges the universality of God’s plan for salvation, he’s clear that there are different roles within the body of Christ. Men and woman are equal in the eyes of God, but this equality is not synonymous with sameness. They play different roles within the Church, as there are different instruments within an orchestra. Just as the instruments are arranged for a symphony, God has "arranged the organs of the body" (1 Cor. 12:18), and we are not to reconstruct the design that he has established.

Since God is the one who has appointed the different roles within the Church, no one can claim a right to any position within the body of Christ. This is especially the case with sacraments. No one—male or female—has a "right" to be a priest. It is not like a governmental office that anyone can run for. It is a sacrament, and no one has a title to grace. It is an unmerited gift from Christ.

This may strike some as unfair, but realize that God has given women other gifts that he has not given to men. For example, women bring the body of Christ (souls) into the world one birth at a time. Men do not have this privilege. Priests bring the body of Christ (Eucharist) into the world one Mass at a time—a gift reserved to them, acting in the person of Christ.

Answer 2

Hmmm...I wonder if someone's answer to your celibacy question might have sparked this one. ;) It's an excellent question!

I suppose I should point out that women CAN be priests in the Anglican/Episcopalian Churches.

I know that there were women deacons in the early Church. I think there are two reasons.

First, women were not thought of as people worth listening to or knowledgeable. So, many followers wouldn't have allowed them to be in a place of authority in the early days of the Church. Many would have thought it to be a joke.

Secondly, I think St. Augustine had something to do with it. For a good part of his life, he "shacked up" with a woman and even had a child with her. Then, he "found the Lord" and became a priest, a bishop, and finally a doctor of the Church. In his writings, he blamed his inability to "keep it in his toga," on women and their evil wiles. Their seductiveness was seen as evil and able to sort of put a spell on otherwise intelligent, good men. For centuries after he wrote these things, women were thought of by the men in charge of the Church as evil and bad.

Sure, things might have changed since then, but it takes this Church hundreds of years to change things. Remember Capernicus was just recently cleared.

Answer 3

Because of "God's Order" - Christ was a male, born of a woman. This is key! Both sexes, have access to the Godhead, the Trinity, through the Incarnation. Jesus Christ, male, born of a woman (The Word Made Flesh).

Now....this male Person, this Christ, Who dwelt among us...our Great High Priest from Whom we receive our Priesthood in the first place...instituted the Most Holy and Blessed Sacrament of the Altar - Holy Communion, Eucharist, Mass...whatever you care to call it.

The Priesthood, also instituted by Christ Himself, celebrates the Holy Mysteries of the Eucharist. When He stands at the Altar, as an "alter-Christus" - "another Christ" - he is doing much more that "playing a part" - he becomes another Christ and joins - with all of the Church throughout the ages - "the Communion of Saints" - Christ with His Bride - the Church.

A woman in that Holy Place is against God's Order, Christ's Order (He chose Twelve Apostles who were men)

Scripture is clear. Tradition is Clear. Holy Reason (above) is clear.

Answer 4

Absolutely he did! Not only are the offices of Bishop, Priest and Deacon (Episkopos, Presbyteros, Diakonos) specifically described in Scripture...Jesus Himself gave the command. Examples: John 20:21 - before He grants them the authority to forgive sins, Jesus says to the apostles, "as the Father sent me, so I send you." As Christ was sent by the Father to forgive sins, so Christ sends the apostles and their successors forgive sins. John 20:22 - the Lord "breathes" on the apostles, and then gives them the power to forgive and retain sins. The only other moment in Scripture where God breathes on man is in Gen. 2:7, when the Lord "breathes" divine life into man. When this happens, a significant transformation takes place. John 20:23 - Jesus says, "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained." In order for the apostles to exercise this gift of forgiving sins, the penitents must orally confess their sins to them because the apostles are not mind readers. The text makes this very clear.

Answer 5

The Catholic Church currently teaches:

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 6

Jesus the priest is male
Orthodox Churches have never ordained women into the ministerial priesthood in the orders of bishop or presbyters

Answer 7

Once anyone becomes a true, genuine Christian, according to the Scriptures they became a Priest and a Saint and that there is no male nor female in Christ.

So any religion which makes such a claim is rejecting the teaching from the Holy Scriptures.

Pastor Art

Answer 8

Because the book was written by men, for men, about men.
Peace

Answer 9

Because they'd interfere with the priests and their altar boys.

Answer 10

Because religions are one tool men use to keep power over women. And you thought they were spiritual.