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you can have women priests. Join the Episcopalians. Or start your own denomination. You are free to do so. But, the Catholic and Orthodox churches can't ordain women. They would cease to be, at a very deep and mysterious level, what they have historically claimed to be.

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This is the part of controversies like this that I always have trouble with. "Being Catholic" has always meant to me buying the whole bit, papal infallability, trans substantiation, etcetera, etcetera. There are plenty of others houses in which to worship if you disagree. Don't make the Catholic church change to match your beliefs if they differ from what the Catholic church says its beliefs are.

Now, having said that, I agree that there is a place within any community, the Catholic church included, for discussion of such issues. The church (should that be capitalized?) has been doing this since day one. It's where the great dialogues and amazing writings came from and the church has modified it's position on any number of issues, over time. But to claim that a "protest" should suffice to get the church, any church, to change fundamental beliefs strikes me as silly and counterproductive.

Everyone should read people like St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas. And I have just begun to discover the wonderful body of work by Pope John Paul II. I'm not a Catholic. In fact I don't belong to any church (bad experiences with churches on both the right and the left in my younger days, so I'm very cynical about institutions run by men), but I take great joy when I find beautifully written and well thought out arguments on the great questions.

Of course, I also really like my Heinlein.

Blessed Easter to all.

FINALLY, I have found a kindred spirit re: Church.

I don't belong to a church, or any organized "religion"...for the same reasons as you.

I have had some very bad experiences in the past..and they were all from different denominations...as I was searching to find one where I "fit"...

I have decided I am the square peg that just won't fit into the round hole of "organized religion".

Like you, that doesn't keep me from being a voracious reader and admirer of books and authors of and about religion.

I consider myself a reader, student and believer.

The church (should that be capitalized?) has been doing this since day one. It's where the great dialogues and amazing writings came from and the church has modified it's position on any number of issues, over time.

Sadly, few Christians take the time and effort to learn of our heritage. The Ecumenical Councils (Orthodox claim 7 - Rome has more) are fascinating and vital reading to get a grip on what the Christian faith is.

Take the Arian heresy. Almost overtook the Church. Had the East in thrall. (Jesus was a created being.) That's still an alive belief - JW's I know. Maybe the LDS (not sure on that). But, in 325 at the Council of Nicea, that nonsense was anathematized.

There is a deep history that one can learn of. Don't need to take someone elses word for it. Close as your favorite search engine, as a matter of fact.

There are "issues" that can be a matter for debate. Have been settled. Ordaining women to preisthood is not one of those. Never will be.