Posted on 05/04/2008 1:47:36 PM PDT by NYer
On May 29, Monica Kilburn Smith of Calgary will be welcomed into the small worldwide community of female Roman Catholic priests.
Her ordination ceremony will take place in a United Church in Victoria and, of course, will not be recognized by the global Roman Catholic Church. However, Kilburn Smith and local supporters of major reform within the world's largest Christian church say it will be one more small step in a campaign to bring up questions, start discussion, open eyes and, eventually, win hearts.
"Many Catholics, both women and men, have been working for change within the church for centuries," says Kilburn Smith, a chaplain with the Calgary Health Region.
"But the Roman Catholic Womenpriests movement is doing something tangible about it. It seems prophetic and courageous, something I feel called to be a part of."
The first ordinations of Catholic women as priests were held in 2002 in Europe. More than 50 women, including two other Canadians, have taken the bold step since then.
Kilburn Smith says she's eager to play a pastoral role for what she believes is a growing community of people who feel disconnected from the current church, but who remain Catholic at heart.
Local members of a group called Friends of Vatican II, who are working for reform within the Catholic church, say they don't hide their opinions when talking to other Catholics, but they don't actively try to proselytize.
"It comes up in conversations after church and in other settings," says Shelagh Mikulak.
"I think there are a lot of Catholics who wouldn't have a problem with female priests, but they don't feel comfortable to come out in the open with their support."
Those actively seeking reform have been holding silent vigils across the street from St. Mary's, the Calgary Catholic diocese cathedral, for the past few years during holy week.
Some women who have been ordained as priests have been excommunicated from the Catholic fold. Reform supporters say they're not looking to pick a fight with the Vatican, but they steadfastly maintain their position is an elemental matter of conscience and justice deeply rooted in their faith.
"It's not about being contentious, but we believe there's a need for reform within the church to welcome both women and married male priests," says Fred Williams.
"Clearly the law is unjust. These people want to follow their conscience and their spiritual calling and to deny that is wrong."
Kilburn Smith says she and other Roman Catholic women priests value the sacramental tradition of their church, but are practising a non-clerical, non-hierarchical form of ordained ministry.
"It's leadership modelled on Jesus' example of inclusivity and non-judgmental love," she says.
Kilburn Smith says her concept of a priest's role is, among other things, one who is "the holder of the sacred space" and who, like many, feels moved to use his or her God-given gifts in compassionate ministry.
"Jesus says the Kingdom of God is within you, and that statement doesn't just apply to men. We are each called to minister in our own way. I believe being a priest is my way."
Kilburn Smith says the historic Catholic rejection of
a female priesthood is akin to "gender apartheid" and amounts to a tragic waste of human potential at a time when many Catholic parishes worldwide are without priests.
Supporter Angelina Waldon draws a comparison to the American civil rights movement and its early pioneers who faced entrenched attitudes with courage.
"It's like Rosa Parks; someone, somewhere has to be the first to stand up for what is right," says Waldon.
Kilburn Smith says she and other Catholic women who aspire to the priesthood are often asked why they don't simply move to another Christian denomination, such as Anglican, United or Presbyterian, where female clergy are welcomed.
"I'm Catholic in my bones," she says. "If you want to bring about change, you have to stay within, not walk away and give up. If we didn't care about the church and its future, we wouldn't be doing this."
Supporter Catherine Williams adds, "We the people are the church, not the buildings or the hierarchy."
Will supporters of a female Catholic priesthood see their vision embraced by the church in their lifetime?
"I have to believe it will happen," says Mikulak. "Gender equality is now established in so many other segments of society. But it took courageous women, and courageous men who supported them, to make it happen."
As the spring sun warms the earth and thoughts turn to the leafy renewal of spring, Kilburn Smith is convinced a more inclusive Catholic Church will bloom in the years ahead.
"This is a transition time in the Catholic world. We've been a long time in that moist soil," Kilburn Smith says of those advocating for renewal.
"But now we are starting to sprout up. There is nothing that lives that does not change."
He did give Jesus to a woman to raise. He also had many women followers, and many women served the early Church.
He didn’t call any to be apostles, though, did He? Not a one. And that’s from Scripture, without even factoring in Church Tradition.
It isn’t about God loving men more. Men and women simply aren’t called to the same types of service.
Not true! They made Steve Guttenberg a star!
How do we know that?
The History, after all, is His-story.
Not true! They made Steve Guttenberg a star!
That was a mistake!
So...you’re saying you don’t believe the Gospels just because they were written down by men?
If you don’t believe there’s any objectivity even there, it makes it a little hard to do any explaining. :-\ There has to be some common accepted ground.
LOL!!
I appreciate your response. They may be analogous in terms of who can serve in leadership roles, but I don’t think one sees the same treatment of women in Christianity (Catholicism in particular), that one sees with the way Muslims treat women. True women can’t be Mullahs/Imams/Ayatollahs, but that doesn’t result in their poor treatment under Sharia. Rather the whole of Sharia results in their poor treatment.
I see us all as humans, made in GOD's image, by GOD. He wants the best for all of us, but it's up to us to do the right thing.
I don't need organized religion, with all it's bureaucracy, and, politics, to know that.
The 'words' of Jesus were written down as much as what, 40, 50 ,100 years after HIS death? And yet his teachings shone through.
(That, is a miracle, if you ask me. Ever play broken telephone?)
But yes, I believe that people have betrayed his church.
There will not be women priests, and this woman is a good reason why there should not be any.
I agree that women are treated better under Christianity, (Jeez, did I just type that?) but why is this being discussed at all?
If a Female Catholic Priest helps bring another soul to GOD, how is that wrong?
The GOD I believe in would be pleased with his humble servant, and joyous about the soul that was rescued.
“Monica Kilburn Smith of Calgary will be welcomed into the small worldwide community of female Roman Catholic priests.”
There is no such thing. This is an oxymoron.
There is a woman pretending to be a priest and getting co-conspirators to engage in the farce through a phony and unrecognized ordination.
And you are forced to become Catholic??? Did I miss that part. By the way the Orthodox also do not ordain women as priests and many Protestant churches do not allow women to serve as Pastors.
“If a Female Catholic Priest helps bring another soul to GOD, how is that wrong?”
Since you posit a faulty premise (a female Catholic priest) your question is moot.
No, I won’t allow myself to be “forced” to become anything, and I wasn’t accusing anyone of trying to convert me.
To answer the question you posed, yes, the “Churches” do all kinds of things that I don’t understand.
That is why I am asking questions on this thread.
If you would like to be helpful, please explain the enigma I brought up in post #30
Since you posit a faulty premise (a female Catholic priest) your question is moot.
Ok.
A woman brings another human soul to GOD, but don't you dare call her a Priest.
This is important to GOD, WHY?
Thanks NYer.
I’ll look at it in the morning.
Thanks for letting me ask questions on your thread.
Have a great night.
ping for later
You do deserve a more respectful and kinder answer than I first gave. I hope you will forgive my snippyness. I well return later when I have more time to explain in more detail and with more charity.
This is simply NOT journalism. The author should be fired. The piece is activist tripe, wholly unresearched, and offered as an article.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.