Women and the Priesthood

[ann_d]

Women's priesthood is one of the main obstacles to the orthodox-protestant dialogue. So we decided to put together the main orthodox points in  this argument, why we are against it. Hope you'll find it not uninteresting to read... : Women and the Priesthood

Comments

[miafeliz]

I am definitely curious myself as to what the essay or paper says. I have never sat down to really articulate my thoughts on Women's Priesthood. I mean, yes, I have an opinion about it and I know why I feel the way that I do though I have a hard time trying to answer the question as to why I don't support women's ordination in the Catholic Church. I feel like a bad feminist for it too. One of my reasons, which has created a few heated debates among my girl friends is that I'm not comfortable with the idea of a woman priest in my church. In another religion or faith tradition, I'm supportive and applaud it. I guess for me it's a Catholic thing. Yes, I'm used to the male only priesthood and fall into the it's something we've always done category too. I know the historical, tradition and other reasons that support a male only priesthood. And it really doesn't bother me at all. I know a lot of people who like so much about Catholicism won't convert because they see the church as a sexist institution for not ordaining women. I've never felt like that was the case. I think the Catholic church has been better for women historically than other faith traditions.

I also know the Church's tradition of an all male priesthood is a discipline, not a dogma or doctrine. I'm also pragmatic enough to know it won't be changed in my lifetime, maybe not even the next generation's lifetime. And I can live with that and I can be comfortable with that as well.

[xenaclone]

There is [some] historical evidence suggesting that male only priesthood isn't something that's always been done, even in the Catholic/Orthodox church.

Of course, such ordinations can be dismissed as apostate, not historical or heretical.

[miafeliz]

I think there is evidence that points to an early tradition of women deaconesses, and I believe their purpose was to baptize other women and girls. I know there were many women very strongly and actively involved in the early Church, especially in Ireland, but I don't think there has ever been any evidence of women priests.

[ramy_al_hakim]

http://www.cin.org/cdfrad.html