Women bishops and gays ? That's the church for me

Times Online ^ | June 22, 2006 | Mary Ann Sieghart

[Aquinasfan]

Ah, but it does say "in Christ there is neither male nor female"...

The Third Person of the Trinity took on a male human nature and selected only men as his Apostles. The bishops, the successors of the Apostles, act in the person of Christ when they dispense the Sacraments. So it is impossible for women to represent Christ as priests. Paraphrasing the previous pope, "The Church does not have the authority to make women priests."

[Vanders9]

"The Third Person of the Trinity took on a male human nature and selected only men as his Apostles."

True..but that doesn't neccesarily mean He wouldn't select women now.

"The bishops, the successors of the Apostles, act in the person of Christ when they dispense the Sacraments."

Christ, in whom, there is no male or female (or freeman or slave either but thats irrelevent to this discussion)

"So it is impossible for women to represent Christ as priests."

Hmm...God chose a male human nature to reveal Himself. But that Person also died at 33, was a circumcised Jew, and was a jobbing builder. By your logic then, wouldn't that mean old men, Gentiles, and the unemployed could also not be Priests?

"Paraphrasing the previous pope, "The Church does not have the authority to make women priests."

The church doesnt have authority to make ANYONE priests. Thats a prerogative of God Himself.

[Aquinasfan]

"The Third Person of the Trinity took on a male human nature and selected only men as his Apostles."

True..but that doesn't neccesarily mean He wouldn't select women now.

Christ eternally possesses a glorified male human nature in union with his divine nature. That will never change. So when priests act "in the person of Christ," they must be male, since Christ's human personhood is male. That is why he chose males as His Apostles.

Christ, in whom, there is no male or female (or freeman or slave either but thats irrelevent to this discussion)

This refers to the mystical body of Christ, more of a participation in Christ's divine nature (which is pure spirit and sexless) than a participation in His glorified human nature.

Hmm...God chose a male human nature to reveal Himself. But that Person also died at 33

Yes, but the Third Person of the Trinity is eternally united with a glorified male human nature.

...was a circumcised Jew, and was a jobbing builder. By your logic then, wouldn't that mean old men, Gentiles, and the unemployed could also not be Priests?

See above.

"Paraphrasing the previous pope, "The Church does not have the authority to make women priests."

The church doesnt have authority to make ANYONE priests. Thats a prerogative of God Himself.

Christ acts through His Church, "the pillar and foundation of truth." Christ is the ultimate head of the Church.