Why Can't Women Preach in the Catholic Church?

Question

Where in the Bible does it suggest that women should not be priests and preach to the people during mass? Why is it like this? Why can't priests get married? I hope many can answer my questions! I'm a Catholic, I'm just curious and would like to know as I don't understand.

Answer 1

OK, first question first.

Christ did not choose any women for the priesthood. He bucked convention all the time, so that had nothing to do with it.

As Catholics, we see our priests as representing Christ to us. Jesus was a man, not a woman. Also, in Ephesians ch5, we see the comparison of Christ and His Church to Husband and Wife. Female priests would not fit that comparison.

It does not mean anything chauvanistic. Women are esteemed by God and the Church. We have the opportunity to be the ONE thing that is better than being a priest....we can be the MOTHERs of priests!

Why can't priests get married?

Darling, if you only knew one- you would understand. The priest I work for was my friend long beofre he was my boss. He is on call 24/7/365. He gets up at 5am and goes to the gym, comes home for breakfast and has 8am Mass. He talks to parishioners or the schoolchildren after Mass, then heads to the office. He manages the business of TWO parishes- finance, counseling, premarriage counseling, funeral planning....has a funeral in there at least once a week....various meetings for wither parish committees, our town Catholic conference meetings or Diocese meetings....if he is lucky, he slip in lunch. Parishioners prepare meals for him that he can heat-and-eat...then the evening starts with more meetings, counseling, etc. PLUS he writes a column for the bulletin each week AND his homily. Fridays, wedding rehearsals, Saturday morning weddings....afternoon Confessions...then Mass, then Sunday morning 2- and sometimes three more masses....

....then he drives 90 minutes home and does yardwork and maintenance for his elderly parents. He stays overnight with them and returns late Monday to start all over again.

In the years I have known him, we have joked that if he did have a wife, he wouldn't have children- he'd be too tired!

That's the practical side...the theological side is that Christ never married. The celibacy of the priest is a foreshadowing of heaven- where there will be NO marriage! It is also a reminder to the rest of us that there are things worth giving up in this life for the sake of heaven.

Answer 2

Church doctrine is not something that is voted on by priests and bishops. We receive what was first handed down to us. That said, it seems your larger question is regarding the role of women in the Church. Not only do we have the great female saints of history, even today there are many women who work tirelessly for the Church -- whether in Catholic universities, Catholic hospitals, Diocesan offices, parishes, etc., etc. Just go to a religious ed conference and count the number of men vs. women. I guarantee you will find a much higher percentage of women at such events than the average. But of course, it is not a competition. We all ought to be about building up the Church in any way we can. And we all (whether man or woman) have countless avenues available for us to do just that. Tradition is the teaching of Jesus as given directly to the Apostles. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God. All things came into being through Him, and without Him not one thing came into being. What has come into being. What came into being in Him was life, and the life was the light of all people.[John 1:1-4] The teachings of Christ, the doctrine of the Church, were entrusted to the Apostles and their descendents, the magisterium of the Church. The magisterium is the teaching authority of the Church, comprised of the pope and bishops. The magisterium is guided by the Holy Spirit, ensuring that through all generations we receive the same teachings, the Tradition, as the Apostles. In time, these teachings were written down. ...Sacred tradition, sacred Scripture, and the teaching authority of the Church, in accord with God's most wise design, are so linked and joined together that one cannot stand without the others, and that all together and each in its own way under the action of the Holy Spirit contribute to the salvation of souls [Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, Ch 2:10]

Answer 3

I would like to answer the question posed as the first one. Catholics don't have "preachers," we have priests. They do not simply go to the front and speak about God. Priests go to the altar and break the bread, that becomes the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
This comes from the last supper where Jesus told his apostles to do this (no women present).
Also Priests forgive sins through confession. This was established when Jesus returned from the dead and said "Whosever sins you forgive are forgiven, and whosever sins you retain are retained." Then he breathed on them, only the second time this happens in the entire bible. Not since God breathed on Adam and new life was given. Again, no women present.
God is not human, he does not make mistakes. It was not through mere coicedence did he only give these gifts to men and it was not through societal pressures because Jesus had done many things that society found wrong. Men are the material that God chose to use to do these things. It's not that women aren't "allowed" to be priests, they can not be priests. How could a Bishop on Earth do what Jesus could not.

Answer 4

Priests cannot marry as a Tradition of the Church....not as a doctrine. St. Paul put it best when he wrote in his first letter to the Corinthians: "He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. 33 But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife" (1 COR 7:32b-33).

Many Protestant pastors, by the way, were once polled about their feelings of being both a pastor and a husband at the same time. Not surprisingly, most pastors reported that if they had to do it all over again, they would not be both. It is absolutely exhausting to always carry about two roles.

As far as women preaching, it is part of preaching the Gospel, obviously. It is a priestly duty and as such, it is reserved for men: "the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God" (ROM 15:16).

As a Catholic, I am not at all insulted by this. Jesus did not call women to be a part of the 12 apostles and so I accept this in faith.

Answer 5

1 Corinthians 14:33-35

"For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church."

As for priests not getting married... that is based on the Bible saying that it is better to never touch a woman, but if you can't resist, you should marry. See 1 Corinthians 7:1-9.

I really suggest you read your Bible before you believe it. Just a thought.

Answer 6

okay.. thats whats so crazy... your Catholic and you dont know anything about your religion!!!! Alright... I'm Christian and I know more about your religion than anything... Why cant PRiest get married.... Because they take the bible to a ridicoulus extent. Just because Paul never got married...they believe that because they are "Priest" they should be like Paul which Paul states in 1 Corintians chapter 7 of singlesness. as well as in the book of Corintians.. (not sure if its 1st book or 2nd book) but it as well states that women arent allowed to speak in service, nor where they allowed to ask questions. thats as much as I know...

Answer 7

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 8

1 Corinthians 14:34
Timothy 2:11

Answer 9

Actually, my family has belonged to a Jewish Temple with two female Rabbis and one female Cantor for the last 15 or so years. They all do a fine job. I don't know much about the Catholic religion but I suspect that people who say that women can't preach are the same ones who used to say that women can't work or women can't go to college.

Same crappola, different day.

Answer 10

ksu, I had some issues with this when I was younger, however, now I consider it a matter of obedience to the Holy Father. He said the issue was closed and not subject to further discussion. Being a faithful daughter of the Church, I submit my will to His.