|
|
|
|
| Power and the Priesthood: Women's Exclusion |
The Papacy | Arguments for the exclusion of women from the priesthood | Arguments for the inclusion of women in the priesthood | Links |
In the Catholic and Orthodox Christian traditions, women are not permitted to be ordained as priests of thechurch. According to Catholic doctrine, priests are supposed to represent the likeness of Jesus, a male figure.The Catholic argument is therefore that women are not suitable to represent the male figure of Christ. Within theCatholic institution, the Pope reinforces what he views as Biblical law, demanded by God. In a Letter to Womenin June 1995 the Pope stated:
"the presence of a certain diversity of roles is in no way prejudicialto women, provided that this diversity is not the result of an arbitrary imposition, but is rather an expressionof what is specific to being male and female".
Furthermore, the Pope seems to express his vision of women morein the image of the Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus Christ, rather than Jesus himself. Although the Virgin Mary isan important figure of the Christian tradition, she herself is not a direct representation of God, like Jesus.The Pope says in his Letter to Women in preparation for the Beijing Conference in 1995,
"Thank you, consecrated women! Following the example ofthe greatest of women, the mother of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word, you open yourselves with obedience and fidelityto the gift of God's love. You help the church and all mankind to experience a "spousal" relationshipto God, one which magnificently expresses the fellowship which God wishes to establish with his creatures".
For full text of the Letter to Women from the Pope click here.
| Although the Papacy mandates that women not be ordained as priests, decreed by Biblical law, there is debateamong people as to whether the interpretation of the law is valid. Many people believe that women are denied equalpower in the church by their exclusion from the priesthood. Although women have other important roles in the churchand can be nuns, none of the roles they play have the decision making capacity and the power that the priesthoodhas. In other words, they are denied access to the top of the hierarchy and thus cannot make other decisions anddoctrine which could better women's situation in the church in general. Some women feel as though they are beingcheated within their faith because they cannot become priests and therefore cannot counsel the congregation, saymass, and perform other priestly duties. However, there are also some Catholic women who agree with the laws ofthe Catholic tradition and think that only men should be priests. |
|
Arguments for the Continued Exclusion of Women fromthe Priesthood
In early Christianity some priests considered the ordination of women as priestesses but decided that itwas incompatible with Christian law. Today, most priests agree that women serving as priests is contrary to thelaw of God. In a Statement on the Ordination of Women by Rev. Anthony M. Pilla, President of the NationalConference of Catholic Bishops (United States), Pilla upholds the statements made by the Pope in his Letter toWomen (see above). He claims that although men and women do not hold the same positions in the Catholic churchor in society in general, these differences do not necessarily make them unequal. He claims that a masculine priesthooddoes not make women unequal but rather that human dignity has been equally bestowed upon men and women by God.He talks about the past opportunities of women in the church by saying:
"Historically the Church has been a place of great opportunity for women. Theyhave been founders and heads of great religious orders of women. They have been leaders in the development of someof the Church's most important ministries, especially in health care and education. Women have headed Catholichospitals and colleges, when in the rest of society such opportunities were all but unknown to women. Two examplesof women who were truly "Church leaders" are St. Frances Xavier Cabrini and St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.As the first U.S. citizens to be canonized, theirs remains a lasting reminder of the contributions women have madeand do make to the life of the Church. Today, our parishes and dioceses could hardly function without the leadershipprovided by women".
He goes on to say:
"To those who have questioned this teaching in the past, I ask you now to prayerfullyallow the Holy Spirit to fill you with the wisdom and understanding that will enable you to accept it. For thewhole Catholic community, the reaffirmation of this teaching is the opportunity for a deeper reflection on thenature of both the ministerial priesthood and the common priesthood of all the faithful. It is also a reminderthat the most important and fundamental Christian calling -- the call to holiness -- is open to all and that bothwomen and men of every state of life have been honored by the Church for answering it".
Pilla argues, like the Pope, that the role of women is important yet different from men and should be accepted without question. He believes the Catholic church is still an equal space for women despite their exclusion from the priesthood.
Arguments for Women's Inclusion in the Priesthood
Both the Pope and clergy such as Rev. Pilla argue that it is mandated by Biblical law that only men can hold the position of priest in the Church. However, their opinions and decisions are influenced by a patriarchal institution. Although they argue that women are important to the church despite their exclusion from the hierarchy, the language used implies that women should not question their position in the Church. When arguing that women too have held important positions in the Church and made significant contributions, they tend to forget that although this is true, women are excluded from the highest positions in the church. The compliments given to women in the speeches attempt to quell any resistance. If women have made significant contributions to the Church shouldn't their position be raised in the Church? By not having access to the priesthood, women have significantly less power in the official hierarchy of the Church. How can women be equal if they have less power than men? The Pope compares women with the Virgin Mary, a "spousal" relationship. Although a "spousal" role connotes a partnership, often times spouses are not equal or are kept in subordination. The Virgin Mary is an important Catholic symbol. However the Virgin Mary is not divine. In order for women to be allowed into the priesthood, a new Christology must be created to incorporate women in the image of Christ.
Links to Sites on Priesthood Debates
